Final six to face panel in quest to replace Gallop as ARLC chief
Date
July 31, 2012
INTERVIEWS for the vacant ARL Commission chief executive's job will begin next week, with the contenders to replace David Gallop down to a shortlist of six.
Since Gallop's sudden departure from the job on June 5 after serving just four months of a four-year contract, the search has been on for his successor and it is understood an announcement will be made before the end of next month.
International recruitment consultants Spencer Stuart, who were involved in the appointment of the eight members of the code's inaugural independent commission, compiled a long list of interested candidates that was whittled down to a final six.
Among those to have been linked to the job are:
Peter V'landys, Racing NSW chief executive
Daryl Kerry, ANZ Stadium chief executive
Todd Greenberg, Canterbury Bulldogs chief executive
Warren Wilson, Panthers Group chief executive
Jim Doyle, New Zealand Rugby League chief executive
Ian Robson, Essendon AFL club chief executive
Mark Arbib, former federal sports minister
John Brogden, former NSW opposition leader
Stephen Humphreys, Wests Tigers chief executive
Shane Mattiske, interim ARLC chief executive
The Herald attempted to contact some of the candidates yesterday but none confirmed they had been invited to an interview.
However, several sources said the interviews with the final six contenders would take place next week.
It has also been suggested the successful candidate is unlikely to come from an NRL club but will have a background in sport administration and an interest in league.
There is also speculation Queensland officials are pushing for the new chief executive to be from that state as they want to send a message the code is no longer run by NSW.
Four of the commissioners are either Queenslanders or live there, including ARLC chairman John Grant, who is due back from an overseas holiday this week.
Mattiske, who has been described by several sources as ''impressive'' since stepping up from ARLC special projects director to Gallop's job, is expected to be among the candidates on the final shortlist of six.
An announcement on Gallop's replacement could be made at the next meeting of NRL club chief executives late next month.
The final decision will be made by all eight commissioners after the candidates are interviewed by members of Catherine Harris's subcommittee, which includes Grant.
The ARLC chairman had been a strong supporter of Gallop's when the commission was formed on February 10 but the pair fell out over how the game should be run, Grant believing Gallop was too ''reactive''.
Gallop had been responsible for most of the major decisions in the game as the code was run by a dysfunctional partnership committee comprising three representatives each from News Ltd and the ARL.
Gallop is holidaying in Britain and he was seen on Channel Nine's Olympics coverage on Sunday night at the basketball, cheering on the Boomers against Brazil.
The Australian Financial Review reported yesterday Gallop, who is acting chairman of the Australian Sports Commission, had been spotted in conversation with Football Federation Australia chairman Frank Lowy at the Australian Olympic team reception on Friday night.
