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Politis offers to stand downBy Greg Prichard
July 21, 2005
Sydney Roosters chairman Nick Politis last night offered to stand down from his position on the NRL partnership committee if league chief executive David Gallop thought he should.
Politis was reacting to a vote by club chief executives at a meeting yesterday to recommend a dramatic restructuring of the game's controlling bodies.
The chief executives voted 12-0 to cut the partnership committee and NRL board to one body, and also to remove individuals with club affiliations from that body.
"We have an NRL board and an NRL partnership both overseeing the game," club council chairman and Parramatta chief executive Denis Fitzgerald said in a statement after yesterday's meeting. "At the same time we have representatives of some clubs on those groups, which leaves the game open to suggestions regarding the independence of the board and the partnership.
"The chief executives feel that we have moved a long way since the formation of the NRL and it is time to seriously review the structure of the organisation.
"We feel there should be only one board and that it should be made up of independent thinkers who can bring new ideas to assist the administration. The NRL has a strong management team and it should have a more effective board structure."
Two clubs - the Roosters and Cronulla - abstained from the vote and Newcastle was not represented. Sharks chairman Barry Pierce is the chairman of the NRL board.
Asked to respond to the vote and Fitzgerald's statement, Politis said: "I've got no comment to make because this issue comes up every year but if Mr Fitzgerald feels so strong about it he should maybe get Mr Gallop to tap me on the shoulder and I'll be quite happy to stand down."
But Gallop pointed out that it was not within his job description to suggest to members of the board or partnership committee that they should step down.
"It isn't my role to tell any board member what to do," Gallop said last night. "My role is to report the outcome of the meeting to the board."
Asked what would happen with the clubs' recommendation in regard to restructuring, Gallop said: "I'll report it to the partnership committee but beyond that it isn't an issue that I can deal with."
Fitzgerald said last night the recommendation was not directed at individuals on the board or partnership committee but rather the perception that neither body could be objective in its decision-making when it included some individuals tied to clubs.
"There has to be a perception of impartiality and objectivity when it comes to the controlling bodies," he said. "But that isn't there at the moment.
"There has to be transparency in terms of decision-making, and the way it is now some people think some clubs have too much to say in the decision-making of the league."
The meeting also saw the clubs receive a breakdown of the free-to-air and pay television agreements that were recently negotiated, and an outline of match scheduling from 2007. That information was generally well-received.
"The [television] package is a good one for the game and it provides us with some certainty," Canberra chief executive Simon Hawkins said. "The clubs fully support the actions of the NRL in allocating the game's funding, particularly given the uncertainty we face and will continue to face because of the State Government's poker machine taxes."
The meeting agreed plans should be made during the off season to determine the allocation of funds, which will not change substantially until 2007.
That would include allocation of club grants and changes to the collective bargaining agreement.
The clubs also emphasised their commitment to ensuring an effective players' association.
"We realise the value of an effective players' association and we need to ensure that it is one prepared to work with the clubs and the NRL rather than look to spark conflict," Souths chief executive Shane Richardson said.
NRL judiciary chairman Greg Woods has denied Canberra leave to appeal against the eight-match suspension of Simon Woolford for a dangerous throw.
Source: SMH
July 21, 2005
Sydney Roosters chairman Nick Politis last night offered to stand down from his position on the NRL partnership committee if league chief executive David Gallop thought he should.
Politis was reacting to a vote by club chief executives at a meeting yesterday to recommend a dramatic restructuring of the game's controlling bodies.
The chief executives voted 12-0 to cut the partnership committee and NRL board to one body, and also to remove individuals with club affiliations from that body.
"We have an NRL board and an NRL partnership both overseeing the game," club council chairman and Parramatta chief executive Denis Fitzgerald said in a statement after yesterday's meeting. "At the same time we have representatives of some clubs on those groups, which leaves the game open to suggestions regarding the independence of the board and the partnership.
"The chief executives feel that we have moved a long way since the formation of the NRL and it is time to seriously review the structure of the organisation.
"We feel there should be only one board and that it should be made up of independent thinkers who can bring new ideas to assist the administration. The NRL has a strong management team and it should have a more effective board structure."
Two clubs - the Roosters and Cronulla - abstained from the vote and Newcastle was not represented. Sharks chairman Barry Pierce is the chairman of the NRL board.
Asked to respond to the vote and Fitzgerald's statement, Politis said: "I've got no comment to make because this issue comes up every year but if Mr Fitzgerald feels so strong about it he should maybe get Mr Gallop to tap me on the shoulder and I'll be quite happy to stand down."
But Gallop pointed out that it was not within his job description to suggest to members of the board or partnership committee that they should step down.
"It isn't my role to tell any board member what to do," Gallop said last night. "My role is to report the outcome of the meeting to the board."
Asked what would happen with the clubs' recommendation in regard to restructuring, Gallop said: "I'll report it to the partnership committee but beyond that it isn't an issue that I can deal with."
Fitzgerald said last night the recommendation was not directed at individuals on the board or partnership committee but rather the perception that neither body could be objective in its decision-making when it included some individuals tied to clubs.
"There has to be a perception of impartiality and objectivity when it comes to the controlling bodies," he said. "But that isn't there at the moment.
"There has to be transparency in terms of decision-making, and the way it is now some people think some clubs have too much to say in the decision-making of the league."
The meeting also saw the clubs receive a breakdown of the free-to-air and pay television agreements that were recently negotiated, and an outline of match scheduling from 2007. That information was generally well-received.
"The [television] package is a good one for the game and it provides us with some certainty," Canberra chief executive Simon Hawkins said. "The clubs fully support the actions of the NRL in allocating the game's funding, particularly given the uncertainty we face and will continue to face because of the State Government's poker machine taxes."
The meeting agreed plans should be made during the off season to determine the allocation of funds, which will not change substantially until 2007.
That would include allocation of club grants and changes to the collective bargaining agreement.
The clubs also emphasised their commitment to ensuring an effective players' association.
"We realise the value of an effective players' association and we need to ensure that it is one prepared to work with the clubs and the NRL rather than look to spark conflict," Souths chief executive Shane Richardson said.
NRL judiciary chairman Greg Woods has denied Canberra leave to appeal against the eight-match suspension of Simon Woolford for a dangerous throw.
Source: SMH
