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Sharks board hail Smit's impact

Durban - The chairperson of the Sharks board, Stephen Saad, has lauded CEO John Smit after an improvement in the union’s finances in the last year.

At a recent KZNRU AGM, the consolidated accounts showed a financial turnaround of nearly R22m in a single year and the largest part of this turnaround can be attributed to the Sharks’ financial improvements.

“John has not only managed his expenses well and implemented the needed governance, but has been instrumental in driving the sponsorship revenue,” Saad told the Sharks’ official website.

“This was sorely needed to underpin the investment we need to make in our squad to help impact the future strength of Sharks Rugby.

“On the rugby front, the Board does recognise that we are not where we would like to be, but need to acknowledge that John and his team, in less than two years, have won a Currie Cup, been in a Currie Cup Semi Final with their very young squad, and topped the SA conference in Super Rugby last year for the first time, probably making the Sharks the best performing of any franchise.

“We wish John and his team well for the rest of the season.”

Meanwhile, Saad also confirmed the union’s intentions to implement further internal penalties to players who are suspended for foul play.

“The Sharks board agree that red cards and dirty play are neither acceptable nor do we condone that such behaviour be associated with the Sharks brand.

“At the board meeting, we endorsed the executive management’s suggestion that the current censure is inadequate and can confirm that further sanction on the players has been taken over and above that served from SANZAR.”

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