Australian Football League club Greater Western Sydney Chair Tony Shepherd has "played down reports of divisions within his fledgling football club" and has declared his "complete confidence" in CEO Dave Matthews, who comes out of contract next month, according to Caroline Wilson of THE AGE. Admitting the Giants faced a "challenging trade period" and that recruiting and trade decisions had been the subject of "robust debate," Shepherd said, "All footy clubs have tensions and tensions are good." He said that GWS was negotiating a new long-term deal with Matthews. Shepherd confirmed that both he and Matthews had "separately held talks with AFL bosses in recent weeks," with Shepherd meeting AFL Chair Mike Fitzpatrick and CEO Gillon McLachlan late last month. The AFL is "understood to remain keen to bolster the Giants executive," having last year spoken with former A-League side Western Sydney Wanderers Exec Chair Lyall Gorman regarding a "senior role beneath Matthews." The league "also insisted upon the club placing a senior new human resources boss onto its executive during the season." In an improved position from last year's A$500,000 budget shortfall, the club has this year met "all its targets," according to Shepherd, "from sponsorship, membership to on-field" (THE AGE, 9/14).
