John Grant is under threat of losing his position as Chairman of the ARLC after a club revolt has threatened to oust him. Here’s the low down on why he might be out the door.
WHAT ARE THE MAIN STICKING POINTS?
The clubs were promised 130% of the salary cap in funding by the NRL late last year, however they were told on Wednesday parts of that original memorandum of understanding were off the table. They also want a greater say in the running of the game. The NRL says it’s focusing on finalising the collective bargaining agreement and salary cap first, as well as directing money into grassroots rugby league
* WHO WANTS ARLC CHAIRMAN JOHN GRANT GONE?:
The clubs are understood to have sent a letter of no confidence in Grant to the ARLC, which could result in an emergency general meeting next week if he doesn’t stand down. Newcastle, St George Illawarra and the Wests Tigers – all of whom have recently been bailed out by the NRL – are understood to have signed the letter, while Gold Coast are believed to be weighing up their options. Grant claims he has not received such a letter
* HOW COULD GRANT BE REMOVED?:
There are 26 members of the ARLC, eight of whom are commissioners. Of the remaining 18 (16 clubs, NSWRL and QRL), 75 per cent – or 14 members – would need to support an emergency general meeting, where a vote would be taken on Grant’s future
* WHO COULD REPLACE HIM?:
Any replacement director is appointed by the remaining members of the commission, as per its constitution. The clubs could suggest they appoint former ARL chief John Quayle, NSWRL chairman George Peponis or former Nine Network boss David Gyngell to the role. If the new chair was to come from within the ARLC, it’s understood CSR chairman Jeremy Sutcliffe could be a popular option among the clubs
* WOULD THERE BE FURTHER CHANGES?:
The clubs are also understood to want two seats on the independent commission – they currently have none. There is also the possibility of giving the states one seat. Changes would have to be made to the constitution for that to happen
* WHAT IMPACT COULD THIS HAVE ON THE COMPETITION?:
This is potentially the biggest threat to the game since the Super League war, however the possibility of a breakaway competition is remote. Only the Wests Tigers, St George Illawarra, Newcastle and Gold Coast have signed participation agreements beyond 2018
* WHAT’S GRANT’S RESPONSE BEEN?:
Grant fronted the media on Friday to say he planned on being in the job for a further five years. He is attempting to organise another meeting with the clubs for next week, and has appointed Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates to lead a review of the constitution
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
Russel Crowe, Nick Pappas Blake Solly and Shane Richardson are all highly respected and honourable men. They would all do the best for Rugby League and for the good of the game. Souths officials never ever complain about anything! We don't have any agendas. Unlike the rest of the Sydney clubs. Souths are set up completely different to these other community clubs and/or Mergers. Private Ownership, with No corrupt Leagues Club officials Have a look at the "football politics" within the NSWRL. It has representatives from the Roosters, Bulldogs, Tigers, Dragons, Eels, Panthers and the Sea Eagles EVERY Sydney club except Souths and Cronulla WHY is that so? NSWRL Board of Directors Chairman Dr George Peponis OAM A former Canterbury, NSW and Australian representative, Dr George Peponis OAM has been at the helm of the NSWRL since May 2013. He is also the Chairman of the Canterbury League Club Ltd. President John Chalk (Tigers) The former NSWRL and ARL Chairman was recently awarded Life Membership of the NSWRL. He has over 20 years of service as a top administrator in rugby league. Elected Directors Raymond Dib GAICD – Chairman; Bulldogs FLFC, Director; Canterbury League Club Ltd. Geoffrey Gerard – Past player of Manly Sea Eagles, Penrith Panthers, Parramatta Eels, NSW Blues and Kangaroos teams; Member of Company’s Risk and Governance Committee. Robert Millward OAM – Director; Illawarra District Rugby League Football Club Ltd, St George Illawarra Rugby League Football Club Pty Ltd. Nick Politis – Chairman of the Sydney Roosters’ Board of Directors, Chairman of the Eastern Suburbs Leagues Club Ltd. Independent Directors William 'Smiley' Johnstone – CEO; Indigenous Development Corporation, Director; KMK Consulting, Director; Far West Medicare Local, Director; Far West Local Health District (Ministerial appointment). Deborah Healey – Deborah Healey; Associate Professor, Director – Corporate and Commercial, LLM Program, UNSW Faculty of Law
Gary Magpie
Roar Guru
But Sydneysiders can run mis-communications campaigns and run them well. I expect the NRL clubs will win this battle, they will take even more control of the NRL/ARLC, there will be no expansion and there will be no investment in grassroots rugby league. A new model is required - therefore a new model will come... eventually...
Gary Magpie
Roar Guru
I disagree, SAMMY. The QRL's Intrust Super Cup has shown that having clubs in regional areas gets fantastic support and only makes the game better. The QRL had to endure short term pain and lose some historic Brisbane based clubs along the way. But the result is an awesome, vibrant competition with fans across the state. Great for the game!
Gary Magpie
Roar Guru
KEN - YOU ARE AN EXPERT! You're an expert at stating the obvious truth. The Independent Commission needs to be independent and having a position allocated to the state bodies or to the NRL clubs is without doubt a step in the WRONG direction. You're correct - it would be a massive conflict of interest, defeating the purpose of the ARLC and giving even more power to the NRL clubs who want to keep the profits for themselves and not share them with the grassroots clubs.
Gary Magpie
Roar Guru
Max, your conclusion is incorrect. They only need 14 votes out of 26 - one more than half - to oust a Commissioner. Therefore it is not difficult to oust a Commissioner at all. This was explained in the article. The more important factor is WHO can oust a Commissioner. If the 16 NRL clubs vote together, they can remove a Commissioner even if he has the full support of both QLDRL and NSWRL state bodies and all of the other Independent Commissioners. But why do we want the 16 NRL clubs to have such power - some of which are companies and all of which have a vested interest in keeping the profits to themselves even if it removes resources from grassroots footy. I think the QRL will stick with John Grant - because he is proposing investing money into rugby league whereas the 16 clubs are proposing keeping it for themselves. The NSWRL directors are appointed by the Sydney-based NRL clubs (and North Sydney Bears). The QRL directors are NOT appointed by the Broncos, Titans or Cowboys - but are appointed by the grassroots clubs and regions. This episode is highlighting shortcomings in the ARLC constitution - just not the ones you're suggesting...
turbodewd
Roar Guru
As long as my Raiders gain independence from Channel 9 or Sydney Im happy. Breakaway league is fine by me. Raiders independence! We are sick of Sydneysiders ruining the league. Sydneysiders cant run sports.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I'm sure Souths officials can be trusted to put the league before their own interests.
Sammy
Guest
Don't panic, there will be no forced mergers or relocations. While the number of teams in Sydney might often appear to be excessive when examining the "dots on the map", these NSW clubs actually have a wider reach then what their names suggest. Over 45% of NSW population live outside Sydney but of course it is impractical to have NRL teams in places like Orange and Wagga. However the NSW clubs must take more NRL matches to NSW regional areas and formalize their alliances with CRL juniors.
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
There are 8 commissioners, having ONLY 1 will do nothing at all. Lip service at best. By the way, Scott tell us all, what are the other lot of commissioners doing for League?
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
Wel,l Steve, which Sydney clubs would you kick out? You are naive mate, the first thing Politis will do if he gets his mate on the commission is to kick souths out again.
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
There is NO WAY in HELL that any Roosters aligned men or women should be allowed anywhere near the commission and including David Gyngell, why should they? Television Networks have stuffed up Rugby league with their greed. Have a look at the competition Draw since 1998... It is pathetic, these cronies can't even organise a flea race. Politis orchestrated my club in being kicked out in 1999 so that he could take over the Souths Juniors territory. The Roosters can't even organise a Junior competition in their own area. It seems that the 3 Clubs who have control of the NSWRL, Easts, Canterbury and Manly are at the heart of these "Juniors Grassroots" issues in neglecting their own juniors and pinching everyone else's juniors. PUT a Souths man on the Commission, then you will get fair and equitable results for everyone.
Pomoz
Roar Rookie
Well said Scott. Ideally, the Chairman is independent and has a business background preferably in the sporting industry. More club aligned, inward looking types we most certainly don't need.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Hi Ken, Having just one person representing the clubs is a fundamentally different configuration to the old ARL. That one person would have the opportunity to input into the wider views and also offer feedback to the clubs. It would enhance communication and greater quality decision making with the Commission. Obviously NSW and QLD RLs also want a chair. Fair enough.
Ken
Guest
Regardless of Grant's actual performance (or the performance of the board as a whole), wasn't the point of an 'independent commission' that it wasn't the same old structure where the clubs, NSWRL, QRL, CRL, etc, etc all fought for their own agendas with no thought of the bigger picture? Wouldn't putting the clubs & state boards on the commission be sliding back into old habits. Being able to annoy these stakeholders is therefore part of the job responsibility and would be why it isn't so easy to remove them. Feel free to correct if I'm wrong, I'm no expert.
steve
Guest
According to the Courier Mail article today from Mike Coleman I think it was, Nick Politos wants his mate David Gyngell to head up the commission. He also wrote of rumours going around that if there is any new form of super league war again, the clubs and the RLPA will look to run the game themselves. Which I hope never happens. Mainly for the reasons that there will never be a rationalisation of the already too many Sydney clubs, they are hardly going to vote to get rid of themselves are they. And I would suggest expansion in any form would be a distant thought also.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Mike It was naive and illogical not to have a rep on the Comm from Qld and NSW (who own our most valuable product Origin) plus the Clubs, who own the players.
Mike from tari
Guest
Everybody wanted a Commission to run Rugby League, the clubs & Qld & NSW & fans all had an input, my worry was that Commissioners would be very hard to get rid of if not performing.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Why is the AAP copying News Limited with the exact names for a potential Grant replacement? This is NOT a job for "the boys". * For the record John Quayle was in charge of the ARL which prompted a Super League conflict because the players were being ripped off. * George Peponis is the Chair of the Bulldogs * David Gyngell is still with Ch Nine making future TV negotiations with Fox conflicting. The game will be fine what ever happens, it always is because it is bigger than all of this. Lets hope that the powers that be work out a win/win, but for that to happen, Chairman Grant must acknowledge that he has more than a "glitch" with the club's chairs. 18/18 signatures to oust him, including his beloved Q'land is more than a "glitch". I for one would like to know what has happened to the $60m he got from Sportsbet as their Digital partner, not to mention the incremental product fees from all the bookies.
kk
Roar Pro
Thank you for the one page summary. Now we know. If QRL sticks with JG (will the Sun rise tomorrow?) and one other chairperson reportedly not signing the no confidence letter it is likely that Grant may yet survive. This situation has revealed how difficult it is to remove a chairman of the ARLC. A Coates review may make it even more difficult in the future. That would not be good for Rugby League.