NSW: Key figures in Bulldogs crisis stand down
By Anthony Stavrinos and Peter Williams
SYDNEY, Aug 26 AAP - Two key players in the Bulldogs salary cap scandal took theirleave today as further allegations of impropriety in the club's Oasis project emerged.
Mayor of Liverpool City Council, George Paciullo, announced he was standing aside duringcorruption investigations and Canterbury Leagues Club president Gary McIntyre resignedover his role in the Bulldogs NRL salary cap affair.
Mr McIntyre had already been forced to stand down as solicitor of the Bulldogs footballclub following revelations the club breached the NRL salary cap by $1 million over thepast two seasons.
"The ongoing debate over my role is damaging and I appreciate the need for the footballand leagues clubs to both move on to a fresh era," he said today after a board meeting.
"I am confident that any inquiries or investigations conducted in coming weeks willclear me of any wrongdoing."
The Bulldogs were docked 37 competition points and fined $500,000 by the NRL followingan investigation into the finances of the football club and leagues club.
Meanwhile, Mr Paciullo said he was stepping aside to allow allegations about mattersreflecting on his integrity to be examined by the Independent Commission Against Corruption(ICAC).
"Following allegations about recent travel trips, I will asking the ICAC to assessthese claims, and will offer the full assistance in their inquiries," he said.
"It would not be proper for me to be civic leader while there are questions about my integrity."
Cr Paciullo reportedly took interstate trips paid for by the Bulldogs to watch theclub's basketball team, the Razorbacks.
He was to have been pressured at a council meeting tonight to stand aside over an allegedconflict of interest because of his key role in the Oasis project, an $843 million footballstadium and entertainment complex development in Liverpool.
The Bulldogs and Liverpool council are partners in the project.
Liverpool city councillor Colin Harrington said he welcomed the corruption watchdog's inquiry.
"I believe there's a possible conflict of interest because of the key role that he(Cr Paciullo's) played in this whole Oasis project," he said.
The ICAC said it was looking into claims Bulldogs rugby league officials acted corruptlyafter $854,751 was taken out of Oasis's funding last December 17, even though fundingat that stage had come solely from Liverpool Council.
The ICAC today said Commissioner Irene Moss would not be be involved in the inquirybecause she was married to Alan Moss, chief executive of Macquarie Bank, which has beeninvolved in the Oasis project.
"The matter is being handled by Deputy Commissioner (Kieran Pehm)," a spokeswoman said.
Liverpool council today said work would resume on the Oasis project at the end of thisweek after a stoppage since August 9.
"Work originally stopped because the developers failed to provide the proper documentationfor a work certificate," a council statement said.
"Any costs incurred as a result of this stop work will come out of the development'sprofit margin down the track."
AAP pw/arb/mo/br
KEYWORD: BULLDOGS NIGHTLEAD
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