ARL, News face off over Marsden and rebel option
Brad Walter
June 28, 2011
AN ANTICIPATED showdown between representatives of the ARL and News Ltd could today result in the historic announcement of the eight people to sit on the game's inaugural independent commission - or leave negotiations over its formation in tatters.
Almost three years after Gold Coast CEO Michael Searle and Sydney Roosters boss Nick Politis kicked off talks with News aimed at forming an independent commission to take over the running of the code, only two issues remain unresolved.
Still being disputed are the appointment of former Wests Magpies and Wests Tigers chairman Jim Marsden and the media group's refusal to guarantee it will not form another rebel competition.
The issues were discussed yesterday at a gathering of the Sydney-based NRL club chairmen at Beppi's Restaurant in East Sydney, and they will dominate a scheduled NSWRL board meeting today ahead of a meeting of the independent sub-committee charged with appointing the inaugural commissioners.
ARL officials and club chairmen want Marsden to represent the game's western Sydney heartland on the new body, but News and the QRL favour Ansett executive Mark Williamson, who has ties to both organisations.
The other seven positions are understood to have been agreed by the sub-committee, which comprises News chief operating officer Peter Macourt, ARL chairman John Chalk, QRL director Terry Mackenroth and, for the 16 NRL clubs, South Sydney chairman Nicholas Pappas.
The seven commissioners are:
2000 Sydney Olympics boss Gary Pemberton,
IT guru and former Kangaroo John Grant;
Adman Ian Elliot,
Harris Farm Markets founder Catherine Harris,
Former Qantas chief financial officer Peter Gregg,
CSR executive director Jeremy Sutcliffe, and,
League great Wayne Pearce.
Mackenroth is thought to be siding with Macourt in the selection of candidates after News brokered a deal that assured the QRL responsibility for the code in Queensland, thereby preventing Queensland Cup clubs from forming their own competition and dealing directly with the independent commission over funding.
The NSWRL controls the ARL board by a 6-4 vote, however, and a final decision on the eight commissioners has to be ratified by the ARL and News as joint stakeholders in the NRL, effectively leaving the QRL sidelined.
It is understood that ARL officials and the NRL clubs initially supported NSW Police deputy commissioner Catherine Burn, while News would not accept the appointment of former ARL chief executive John Quayle, who has been working as a global sports consultant since quitting his role during the Super League war to assist the peace process.
However, they are set to insist that Marsden be appointed. NSWRL directors, who include Canterbury chairman Ray Dib and Wests Tigers powerbroker David Trodden, are expected to instruct Chalk not to surrender over his appointment.
Marsden, the senior partner at Marsdens Law Group, comes from one's of Campbelltown's oldest and best-known families and is heavily involved in the local community.
As well as once chairing Wests Magpies and Wests Tigers, he has previously been chairman of the Campbelltown Chamber of Commerce.
If he was appointed, his background would ensure the new commission includes someone with experience in running a football club.
Since the Herald revealed the push to appoint Marsden, he has become the victim of a smear campaign in News publications over his decision to join the advisory board of the AFL's new western Sydney franchise, now the GWS Giants, in 2009.
However, Marsden has told officials he accepted the GWS role only because of the benefits it would bring to Campbelltown and supporters say the fact that the AFL targeted him shows why he is a worthy candidate for the independent commission.
It is unclear what will happen if News does not accept Marsden's appointment at today's meeting.
