Shane Flanagan will be at Cronulla in 2019

Cronulla chief executive Barry Russell insists that Shane Flanagan will remain as head coach of the Sharks in 2019.

The club have released a statement in response to reports Down Under suggesting 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.

When speaking to the media earlier this week, Russell confirmed that Flanagan would remain in charge of the Sharks next year.

Russell said: “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.

“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.”

The NRL Integreity Unit has informed the Sharks that 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.