"We certainly have made the decision to withdraw from the sponsorship with the Eels," said Cleanaway's head of marketing and communications, Alison Chalmer. "We did that last week. We wish the club the best moving forward but it wasn't a relationship we wanted to continue at this time, so we made that decision. Obviously the club is facing a number of different challenges at the moment. From our perspective it's not a sponsorship we wanted to continue with."

In happier times: L-R: Davin Magee (Cleanaway - GM Sales and Marketing), David Clancy (Cleanaway - GM NSW), Scott Seward (Eels - CEO), Jack Perko (Cleanaway - Managing Director) in 2015. Credit:www.parraeels.com.au

Cleanaway has a strong presence in the Northern Territory and Parramatta's commitment to taking games to the Top End was part of the appeal. However, that wasn't enough to save the relationship. "We wish the club well as they work through the governance issues and the challenges they face ahead," Chalmer said. "Our goal is to focus on our business and let them run theirs."

While the Eels have the backing of the Parramatta Leagues Club, they can ill afford more hits to the hip pocket. The ongoing mismanagement could result in a number of payouts including the NRL's $1million fine; a $1.8million damages claim from former player Will Hopoate; a $465,000 fine from the governing body for previous salary cap breaches; and the handing back of $370,000 earned by winning the Auckland Nines.

The club is believed to be footing the legal costs of the 'gang of five' as they take Supreme Court action and prepare to answer their breach notices.