Top Knight falls on his sword after coup
Brett Keeble
February 1, 2007
MIKE Tyler was dumped as Knights chairman last night as the club's factions clashed at a heated board meeting in Newcastle.
In an equally stunning aftermath, the chief executive of one faction, Wests Group boss Phil Gardner, accused the Knights' Newcastle Rugby League faction directors of staging a "palace coup" that had the potential to cause more damage to the club's corporate reputation than that caused by the 12 players who broke a curfew in Bathurst after a pre-season game two years ago.
Vince Murphy, one of the four Newcastle group directors, moved a vote of no confidence in Tyler's chairmanship and it was seconded by Peter Corcoran, who has replaced Tyler as acting chairman.
Murphy, fellow Newcastle RL appointments Trevor Crow, Kevin Parker and Kevin Smith, and Corcoran voted in favour and, in the absence of elected directors Paul Harragon and Mark Fitzgibbon, who left shortly after the meeting began when frustrated by issues Murphy tried to raise, the motion was carried and Tyler resigned.
A livid Gardner indicated the Wests faction board could decide to review its long-term financial partnership with the Knights as a result of Tyler's demise, and he was scathing in his criticism of the four Newcastle RL directors.
"We've worked so hard with Michael and the Knights to take the club from a $600,000 loss last year to a significant profit this year. It's been a very difficult process, and we've worked so hard at this," Gardner said. "I can't believe these unelected people, these Newcastle Rugby League people, operating out of their own self-interests, have operated like this and taken these steps against their chairman."
Gardner was supported by Fitzgibbon, who said: "The ordinary members of the club have lost control of the club. The club is now being run by the Newcastle Rugby League."
Last night Tyler told the Herald he was disappointed to be forced out, "but once the vote went the way it went, I had no option but to resign. If the ultimate outcome of this results in a more professional organisation, then I'll be happy to have been the sacrificial lamb."
The developments last night arose from a well-publicised falling out between Tyler and Knights chief executive Ken Conway late last year. Conway did not return the Herald's call.
