John Grant keen to extend time as ARL Commission chairman
The Australian
October 31, 2014 12:00AM
JOHN Grant is the latest high-ranking official to find himself at the centre of a storm over the Paul Gallen affair but the ARL Commission chairman has no plans to walk away ? instead, he is preparing to seek an extension of his tenure in the game?s most powerful role.
The Australian understands Grant has privately raised the prospect of continuing as chairman beyond next February, when his initial two-year term as a commissioner comes to an end.
Revelations of his desire to extend his time at the helm come amid heavy criticism of the game?s governing body over its handling of the social media saga enveloping Gallen.
Gallen, currently serving a backdated one-year ban from the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Agency over the club?s supplement regime in 2011, was fined $50,000 by the NRL and ordered to undergo a leadership accountability course after criticising the game?s governance in a vulgar message on Twitter.
The punishment prompted widespread criticism and led to the resignation of judiciary chairman Paul Conlon. Veteran broadcaster Ray Hadley also weighed into the issue yesterday, calling for Grant?s resignation over the treatment of NSW Rugby League chairman George Peponis, who was asked for a ?please explain? after voicing his support of Gallen.
Chief executive Dave Smith was also subject to withering *assault from Hadley. The poisonous atmosphere engulfing the code has led some to suggest privately that the game needs a change of leadership, although is understood those *agitating for change are in a *minority.
The majority of NRL clubs would need to oppose Grant to remove him as chairman. Under rules that govern the commission, in the absence of support from the Queensland and NSW Rugby leagues, at least 14 members of the 26-member body are required to oppose the appointment of a commissioner.
While the NSWRL has butted heads with Grant over the treatment of Peponis, the QRL remains firmly behind the *chairman.
That means at least 14 of the remaining members of the commission, which includes each of the 16 clubs as well as the existing eight commissioners, would be required to topple Grant. The chances of that happening would appear remote at best, meaning Grant has only to put his hand up to have his tenure extended.
That appears certain to happen as Grant sets about finishing the job he began close to two years ago when he accepted the role as inaugural chairman of the independent commission.
His time in charge has been noteworthy for two landmark decisions ? the negotiations that resulted in the game securing its first billion-dollar broadcasting deal and the appointment of Smith as chief executive following the removal of David Gallop.
your just cranky because i called your son a dipstick. (gallen)
