I was driven out: Grant Mayer
By Dean Ritchie | June 18, 2009
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,25652036-5006066,00.html
IN THE end, he could no longer work with Max Delmege. After nine months of bitter and ugly boardroom infighting, a fed-up chief executive Grant Mayer yesterday quit the Manly Sea Eagles.
His resignation was accepted at a Sea Eagles board meeting last night.
Mayer has negotiated a settlement and will stay on with the club for four weeks to assist the board with the transition to a new CEO. He has not applied for the vacant CEO positions at Parramatta or Cronulla.
Manly's board was split 5-2 against Mayer. He had unqualified support from co-owners Rick and Scott Penn but opponents in Delmege, Brett Delmege, Bob Reilly, Peter Bryant and Phil Dean.
The Daily Telegraph first broke the Mayer decision on its website yesterday at 3pm. By 4.30pm, members of Delmege's faction shut down Manly's website after fans flooded the forum criticising the decision. Scott Penn then demanded it be reopened.
A management committee has been formed to help find a new CEO and assist in running the club.
Manly Leagues Club CEO Peter Spray will become interim Sea Eagles CEO for the rest of this season.
The Daily Telegraph had lunch with Mayer yesterday and he revealed the reason he was driven out.
"The sad part is that this decision was based on politics, not performance," he said. "I can't help but take this personally - but no CEO can operate with a split board.
"(However) I can walk away knowing I have done my best for Manly and I think the results speak for themselves. My relationship with the chairman (Scott Penn) it seems has caused much of the political heartache.
"I'm sad but the ongoing boardroom issues have taken their toll on me and my family.
"Five board members decided I wasn't the man for the job and they made it quite clear they believe the organisation needs a change. I'm still not sure on what basis they've made this decision but I've no option but to accept five beats two every time."
Although Mayer won't admit it publicly, he simply could not work with the Delmege family. The Penns and Delmeges now must agree on a new CEO - that will be difficult.
Mayer took Manly from a $9 million business in 2006 to a $12.5 million business today, despite cuts in Leagues Club funding. He was under contract until the end of this season.
Asked whether he disliked Delmege, he said: "I don't dislike anybody . . . this is not personal.
"I always treated my job as a business. Merchandise has tripled and membership has tripled. And in terms of sponsorship dollars, Manly is rated No. 2 in the difficult Sydney market.
"I take great pride in that."
Manly coach Des Hasler, who was a staunch supporter of Mayer, was upset last night at the news.
He said: "Grant is a very good CEO. He has done a tremendous job.
"It is a real shame he has resigned. I'm disappointed he's going. He has runs on the board (with) premiership success and sponsorship."
Mayer said he was not interested in the Sharks or Eels jobs but would take his young family on a holiday.
"Speculation I will reappear at another club is off target . . . I have no intentions of joining another club at this stage," he said. "I intend to take four to six weeks off to give some time to my wife and three sons."
