‘‘The board wishes to reassure our members, sponsors and fans that we intend to support Shane Flanagan, who we believe is an integral part of our club. In the interim, Peter Sharp will coach the team with the support of James Shepherd and our premiership-winning NSW Cup coach Tony Herman.’’

That will at least give the Sharks time to take a breath following the events of this week. But as they ponder their more immediate concerns, the club is also bracing for a longer-term battle with a host of players off-contract at the end of next season. The board met knowing many of their decisions would flow into 2015 and beyond.

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Front of mind will be the fact that more than a dozen players, including Andrew Fifita, Wade Graham, Isaac De Gois and Sosaia Feki, are off contract at the end of next year. The uncertainty over Cronulla’s future could tempt some to look elsewhere, although Sharks boss Steve Noyce was hopeful the players would not be swayed by recent events.

‘‘We haven’t talked about it at this stage,’’ he said. ‘‘I don’t think it matters what organisation you work at, if people genuinely want to stay in your organisation and be part of something, you’ll keep them ... Everyone’s well aware of some of the challenges we might have, but they also see an exciting future. They are a tight group. A vast number of them live in the Shire. That builds and breeds its own culture. There’s a couple of good young kids coming through. That’s exciting as well.’’