We are not dragging the chain, says ARL boss
GREG PRICHARD
December 10, 2009
THE ARL would want any agreement with News Limited on an independent commission to include a guarantee the game's proposed future shareholders - the NRL clubs - would not be able to reduce funding for grassroots development in years to come.
ARL chief executive Geoff Carr said last night his organisation did not see clubs pushing for a reduction of input to grassroots in the near future, should the ARL and News reach an agreement to step away from joint control of the game, but added he could not be sure it wouldn't happen beyond that - particularly if private ownership of clubs increased.
The ARL has been criticised for allegedly holding up the independent commission process because of a refusal to relinquish power, but Carr said it has been painted wrongly and that it would make no apologies for taking the time to try to get the process right.
''We have got the right to protect grassroots development, whether it delays it by a matter of weeks or months,'' Carr said. ''The clubs aren't shareholders in the game under the current structure, but under a corporate structure a legal majority of shareholders can change things at any time.
''We believe we're entitled to get a deal on behalf of the 450,000 participants and 70,000 volunteers in the game to make sure they aren't disenfranchised down the track.
''I see the clubs being very supportive of the concept of grassroots development now, but what if private ownership of clubs increases and we end up with 10 or more privately owned clubs at some stage in the future? A majority of privately owned clubs could have a different view.
''You don't get too many opportunities to get things right when you are talking about major changes in the game and if there is going to be an independent body introduced then there has got to be some long-term protection of grassroots development included in the agreement.''
Carr said the ARL would detail its concerns to News Ltd as soon as was practical.
''We need to discuss it a bit more ourselves first,'' he said. ''And we will forward something to News when we have it ready.
''The ARL meeting on Monday was the first opportunity for us to tweak a few things.
''News, the ARL and the clubs have all acted in good faith in this process and I would anticipate that continuing. Some onlookers seemed to think it was all going to be done before Christmas, but it takes time to get these things right.''
Meanwhile, the Rugby League Players' Association has taken issue with the NRL's decision to hire a former police officer to investigate off-field incidents involving players if the NRL considers that the clubs have not taken appropriate action in the first place.
''I find it astounding that the NRL would not seek the RLPA's input before introducing changes like this, which have the potential to significantly affect players' careers,'' RLPA chief executive David Garnsey said yesterday.
''While I am not naive enough to expect that the NRL would uncritically adopt any suggestions made by me, it is apparently not even prepared to have the debate.''
