League: Sharks CEO stands down

SYDNEY - Besieged Cronulla chief executive Tony Zappia has stood down from his position at the NRL club.

The Sharks board met on Monday and accepted Zappia's offer to stand down immediately.

Zappia's position came under threat following the broadcast of recorded conversations allegedly between he and former employee Jenny Hall.

A Seven Network report on Sunday claimed that Hall covertly taped a meeting with Zappia following an incident in August last year which left the then Sharks community liaison officer with a black eye.

"Tony has reserved the right to seek independent legal advice to answer fresh allegations brought forward on a news report last night," a club statement said.

"With the Channel 7 report coming on Sunday evening, prior to a public holiday, the board felt Tony deserved due process and the opportunity to respond.

"While the board acknowledges the media and public interest in this matter, they thought it necessary to afford the staff their full support and to give themselves the chance to consider the complete evidence.

"There will be a request to Channel 7 to provide the tape so as the board can establish the authenticity of the recordings and the context in which a number of the statements attributed to Mr Zappia have been used, while the board will also interview staff members in relation to the new allegations."

The Cronulla board has requested a response from Zappia by Thursday.

- AAP