Sharks stand down coach Flanagan

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Cronulla Sharks ... coach Shane Flanagan questioned by ASADA. Source: Mark Evans / News Limited

Shane Flanagan has been stood down as coach of the Cronulla Sharks as the drug scandal widens, saying he's "shattered" and believes the players have done nothing wrong.

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The Cronulla board has also sacked football general manager Darren Mooney and head trainer Mark Noakes.

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"I'm shattered," Flanagan said.

"None of us had any knowledge of what was happening."

He added: "I've got to support the players here. I still believe that the players have not done anything wrong. I don't oversee anything. My involvement ... I've got no idea, bar being coach at the time.

"I've worked really hard to get this footy team together and I feel sorry for all the current players as well as the new players who have come to our club.

"Now they've just been ripped apart."

Assistant coach Peter Sharp will take control of the Sharks for Sunday's match against the Gold Coast Titans at Shark Park.

Flanagan was questioned by ASADA officials on Thursday over the Sharks drug scandal.

Investigators met Flanagan at Sharks Park in a development that occurred as the NRL players association finally went public to support the game's stars.

Sharks physiotherapist Konrad Schultz and club doctor David Givney have also reportedly been sacked.

Fox Sports expert Mark Gasnier said he had sympathy for Flanagan.

"At the end of the day we're speculating what his involvement is. If he had involvement and knew players were taking performance-enhancing drugs and turning a blind eye or giving a tick of approval that's a different story.

"I think the ramifications have already been big enough with the impact on the reputation of the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks."

After recruiting impressively during the off-season with the likes of Luke Lewis, Michael Gordon and Beau Ryan joining the club, the Sharks were seen as genuine premiership contenders but their season now lies in tatters.

Flanagan was also played an integral role in bringing troubled star Todd Carney to the club.

Interim coach Sharp, formerly head coach of the Northern Eagles and Manly Sea Eagles, joined the Sharks as an assistant at the end of the 2011 season.

Flanagan was questioned by ASADA officials today over the Sharks drug scandal, the latest development in a saga that has engulfed the sport.

Earlier this week, senior players Paul Gallen, Ben Pomeroy and John Morris confronted ex-Cronulla head conditioner Trent Elkin wanting answers after they had been summoned to an extraordinary meeting where sports lawyer and ex-ASADA senior counsel Richard Redman had advised a group of 14 players to plead guilty and accept six-month suspensions.

Thursday's development that occurred as the NRL players association finally went public to support the game's stars.

The chief executive of the Rugby League Players Association David Garnsey said that anti-doping authorities must take into account the reality of the status of footballers as employees when determining culpability for doping offences.

"Rugby league players ultimately place their trust in those who are in positions of knowledge and authority at their clubs and, as employees, follow the directions of their employers," he said.

The Sharks called a press conference for 6pm on Friday night at the Sharkies Leagues Club.

Present will be Sharks Deputy Chairman Mr Keith Ward, along with Dr Tricia Kavanagh former Justice of the Industrial Court and Deputy Chair of the Australian Sports Drug Agency.

Dr Kavanagh has been assisting the Sharks with an investigation and legal review of club activities during a period in 2011 that is the subject of a current ASADA investigation.

Flanagan started his coaching career as Parramatta SG Ball coach in 1997 and after stints in the Roosters lower grades, he followed Stuart to the Sutherland Shire in 2007.

Flanagan took over from Ricky Stuart in late 2010 season afetr Stuart stood down.

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