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Phil Gardner stepping down

Burwood

Burwood

First Grade
Messages
5,046
Newcastle Knights CEO Phil Gardner to step down clearing path for Peter Parr promotion

Knights CEO Phil Gardner is preparing to stand down after eight years in charge of Newcastle.


The major development has emerged with the Newcastle board working on a succession plan that would include current director of football Peter Parr being elevated into the CEO role.


Parr’s current position would be filled by former NRL referee turned sports administrator Chris James, who moved from the Roosters as head of football operations to the Knights this season as their GM of football operations.

Hugely respected across the game, Parr’s elevation to the most powerful position at the Knights would also eliminate the prospect of the North Queensland Cowboys head hunting the experienced administrator following the sudden resignation of Cowboys CEO Jeff Reibel last week.

Parr spent 19 years at the Cowboys, helping build the club from the ground-up, reaching the pinnacle by helping shape the roster that won the 2015 premiership.

The former NSW State of Origin team manager still has many strong relationships at the club.

Gardner confirmed to News Corp that the club had a plan to change their leadership, which would include his stepping down.


“All well run organisations have succession planning in place,” Gardner said.


“Wests Group has a plan in place across all our executive positions. The Newcastle Knights succession plan includes Peter Parr becoming CEO and Chris James to head of football.


“All decisions and the timelines will be determined by the Wests Group board of directors.”


Speculation surrounding Gardner’s future has gained momentum ever since Parr and the club’s head of commercial Lee Smith were sent to Las Vegas last month on a fact-finding mission.


The duo joined other club CEOs at NRL meetings and events. Rival club CEOs made note that Parr had been sent to the US at the specific request of Gardner.


The anticipated decision by Gardner to stand down, likely at the end of the 2025 season, will be viewed with contrasting opinion.

Gardner has overseen the club since 2017 when the Wests Group, of which he is also CEO, took full ownership of the Knights.

With a background in leading profit margins for leagues clubs, Gardner’s inexperience in leading a sporting franchise has often been criticised.


His formative years in the role included a wooden spoon in 2017, the sacking of former coach Nathan Brown and several off-field issues.


He was also key to the appointment of current head coach Adam O’Brien, while he also helped spearhead the club’s opening of a world-class centre of excellence in 2023.


News of Gardner’s impending decision to stand down has also emerged just one week after he signed-off on recruiting Eels five-eighth Dylan Brown to a record 10-year $13 million deal with Newcastle from next season.
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Yosh

Yosh

Coach
Messages
12,094
I think he has done pretty good job overall but I know he gets a lot of heat from people here. Hopefully Parr can take us to that next level!
 
Woody90

Woody90

Bench
Messages
2,653
I think people are a bit harsh on him tbh. Some of his comments are a bit embarrassing and he obviously speaks before he thinks sometimes, but we were in such an awful state as a club and always at high risk of going under before he and Wests took it over. So I’ll always be grateful for that.

Saying that though, having Parr in the role who actually has a footy background is very reassuring. Hopefully Chris James can step into his role effectively.
 
A

Alex28

Coach
Messages
12,031
There is a difference between being a registered club manager (pokies) and a rugby league club manager. He’s brilliant at being the Wests CEO, had to learn on the go as Knights CEO and didn’t really listen to the right people along the way…

Good to see there are some adults running the club now.
 
Woody90

Woody90

Bench
Messages
2,653
Alex28 said:
There is a difference between being a registered club manager (pokies) and a rugby league club manager. He’s brilliant at being the Wests CEO, had to learn on the go as Knights CEO and didn’t really listen to the right people along the way…

Good to see there are some adults running the club now.
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Before he and Wests took over we were in administration owned by the NRL and before that we were training out of shipping containers.

Yes he’s made some mistakes and I’m also happy he’s stepping down, but nobody can deny the club is in a significantly better place now. The fact that we haven’t been sitting here worried about the club going under for a couple of years now, and we’re talking about things like going to Vegas that never would have been a possibility for us before is huge.
 
Reflector

Reflector

Bench
Messages
2,553
Woody90 said:
Before he and Wests took over we were in administration owned by the NRL and before that we were training out of shipping containers.

Yes he’s made some mistakes and I’m also happy he’s stepping down, but nobody can deny the club is in a significantly better place now. The fact that we haven’t been sitting here worried about the club going under for a couple of years now, and we’re talking about things like going to Vegas that never would have been a possibility for us before is huge.
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I've said before that there is a vacant space to become THE regional club of choice for players who prefer the country lifestyle to living in one of the major capital cities. Knights, Raiders and Cowboys could all become that club. Knights have the advantage of proximity to the beach, located close enough to Sydney to easily make a day-trip and just 1.5 hours flight from Qld.

With the right management in place, Newcastle could easily become that team, and with the right pathways (considering the juniors) could become what Penrith have been for the past 5 years.
 
macavity

macavity

Referee
Messages
20,743
Reflector said:
I've said before that there is a vacant space to become THE regional club of choice for players who prefer the country lifestyle to living in one of the major capital cities. Knights, Raiders and Cowboys could all become that club. Knights have the advantage of proximity to the beach, located close enough to Sydney to easily make a day-trip and just 1.5 hours flight from Qld.

With the right management in place, Newcastle could easily become that team, and with the right pathways (considering the juniors) could become what Penrith have been for the past 5 years.
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Reality is, Penrith IS that club. How many of their best come from the central west!
 
Knight Tales

Knight Tales

Bench
Messages
3,129
As much as Phil G can sometimes come off as a little out of his depth football wise, there is no disputing his financial nous. Good call all round. Without him there is no Kalyn. There is no Pearce. There is no Brown. There is no Zammit. There is no Sully. There is no Parr. A steady approach and recognition of how far down the hole we were pre WESTS.
 
Woody90

Woody90

Bench
Messages
2,653
Knight Tales said:
As much as Phil G can sometimes come off as a little out of his depth football wise, there is no disputing his financial nous. Good call all round. Without him there is no Kalyn. There is no Pearce. There is no Brown. There is no Zammit. There is no Sully. There is no Parr. A steady approach and recognition of how far down the hole we were pre WESTS.
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I agree with your general post but no Zammit might have helped us avoid the current clean out/rebuild lol
 
Dr Dr Gimedanews

Dr Dr Gimedanews

Juniors
Messages
1,316
Wests took over when the club was rubble and have built it to where we are now - fair crack ........

however, putting aside the red and blue glasses for a moment. I think it is fair to say that Penrith are the bench mark of the NRL, and it's more than fair to compare the operations and the success achieved.

Panthers
On the brink of insolvency the Panthers appointed Phil Gould head of football mid 2011.

Under his guidance and restructuring the club was set on a path of success culminating in a GF 9 years later in 2020. They've since won 4.

Knights
Debt free the NRL handed the Knights over to the Wests Group end 2017

Under their guidance and restructuring the club has been set on a path of just making the 8 (mid table team) , culminating 9 years later...........are we competing for a Premiership next year? year after Premiers?
 
Yosh

Yosh

Coach
Messages
12,094
G
Dr Dr Gimedanews said:
Wests took over when the club was rubble and have built it to where we are now - fair crack ........

however, putting aside the red and blue glasses for a moment. I think it is fair to say that Penrith are the bench mark of the NRL, and it's more than fair to compare the operations and the success achieved.

Panthers
On the brink of insolvency the Panthers appointed Phil Gould head of football mid 2011.

Under his guidance and restructuring the club was set on a path of success culminating in a GF 9 years later in 2020. They've since won 4.

Knights
Debt free the NRL handed the Knights over to the Wests Group end 2017

Under their guidance and restructuring the club has been set on a path of just making the 8 (mid table team) , culminating 9 years later...........are we competing for a Premiership next year? year after Premiers?
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Great points but Penrith are the outlier. Would be nice to be the next Penrith but I think we did plenty well as well.
 
Dr Dr Gimedanews

Dr Dr Gimedanews

Juniors
Messages
1,316
Yosh said:
G

Great points but Penrith are the outlier. Would be nice to be the next Penrith but I think we did plenty well as well.
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No doubt near on impossible to repeat what the Panthers have done. Whole lot a luck thrown in also.

If we're serious contenders in the next couple of years I'll be more than happy. We need to crack a Premiership with Ponga - players with his natural talent only come once a generation.
 
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