Cronulla chief executive Barry Russell has reiterated that Shane Flanagan will remain as Sharks coach in 2019.
The club released a statement on Wednesday afternoon in response to a NewsCorp report that Flanagan could potentially be banned for breaching the conditions of his 2014 suspension for his role in Cronulla's peptide scandal by communicating with officials to plan for the following season.
Russell spoke to the media on Wednesday afternoon, saying Flanagan would remain in charge.
"We've been working with the NRL for six months now. It came to light a couple of weeks ago around 2014 and the salary cap. To date, it is pure speculation until we sit down with the NRL and an outcome is determined," he said.
"Shane Flanagan is our coach, contracted in 2019 and has done a wonderful job. I've met with the players and staff today and have sent the same message. It's important we stay focused on and off the field.
"This has been ongoing, we've been working with the NRL. We don't know what the outcome is, we'll deal with it when we do."
Russell said it would now be business as usual for the Sharks.
Sharks say they won't sack Flanagan
"I'm not going to speculate about that [his future] nothing is going to change unless we have an outcome," he said.
"It's business as usual for Shane. No one likes to read the papers but Shane is our coach. Training is on again tomorrow.
"Until we sit down with the NRL that's all I know."
"I was aware there was some issues in relation to 2014. What they are and how far they spread I'm not sure.
"Shane's been here for sometime so there's no reason why [he won't be here long term].
"These things aren't ideal. Until we have a determination from the NRL on this issue we'll continue to operate."
The NRL Integrity Unit has informed the club the investigation into the 2014 matter will be finalised prior to Christmas, while the salary cap investigation is unlikely to reach a conclusion until the New Year.
I was aware there was some issues in relation to 2014. What they are and how far they spread I'm not sure.
Barry Russell
Luke Lewis, who won the Clive Churchill Medal under Flanagan in the 2016 grand final, hoped his former coach would emerge unscathed from the investigations.
"I don't know a whole lot about it. There's a lot more detail out there than what I would know but hopefully for the club's sake, hopefully it all goes through and everything is fine and the club can just worry about 2019," he said.
"If there is a finding and something happens and Flanno has to be stood down, the best thing for Flanno and for the club and for all the players that are involved is that the quicker the decision either way needs to be done as soon as possible so they can go away from footy, focus on having a good break over Christmas and come back in January and everything's done and dusted and they can get on with 2019.
"Flanno's been a big part of Cronulla's success. He's built the team over the last six to eight years. He's been getting a lot of good players in, just got another great signing in Shaun Johnson, he's brought some young kids through, his young kid's just re-signed, Kyle.
"They've got a really good coaching staff. Andrew Gray is amazing. Everything is lined up pretty well to have some more success at Cronulla. For this outcome, the sooner the better either way so that way everyone can move forward."
