We want Wayne Bennett to be a big part of Newcastle Knights future, says Dave Smith
22 HOURS AGO
JUNE 15, 2014 12:00AM
NEWCASTLE coach Wayne Bennett will be encouraged to remain at the Knights long term, with NRL boss Dave Smith declaring he is a terrific leader of men and very important to the future of the club.
Smith has ended months of speculation surrounding the Knights ownership by confirming the NRL will take control until a new ownership model is put in place.
Current CEO Matt Gidley and chairman Paul Harragon will remain in their roles supported by management from the NRL until a new board is chosen over the next few months.
But Smith said the long-term reality is the NRL is not in the business of owning clubs and once a stabilising period is completed, future ownership options will be considered.
The NRL has already held preliminary talks with Wests Group in Newcastle with a view to them becoming a major financial backer.
Smiths announcement brings to an end Nathan Tinklers tumultuous three-year reign as Knights owner after months of negotiations involving Tinklers Hunter Sports Group and the Knights Members Club.
The new entity, to be known as Knights Rugby League Pty Ltd, will kick off debt-free with $5.1 million in the bank, the part proceeds of Tinklers $10.52 million bank guarantee. The remainder of the guarantee will go towards paying existing debt.
A seven member board will be established with four independent directors, two stakeholder directors and a community director initially appointed by the Members Club.
Smith claimed Newcastle was in as strong a financial position as any club in the NRL because of the new deal and stressed the head bodys involvement will have no impact on the clubs identity.
The Knights will continue to be Newcastle through and through, Smith said at a press conference at Hunter Stadium. The team will look the same, they will continue to be based in Newcastle and they will represent this region proudly like they have for the last 26 years.
The difference is that, financially, they will be one of the top tier clubs in the competition.
We have secured the long term future for Newcastle Knights. This is about Newcastle. This is about the community of Newcastle and we are going to make that community connection stronger, not weaker.
Smith was reluctant to spell out whether the new entity would completely honour all existing staff contracts except to say that it was business as usual, presumably until at least the end of the season.
But quizzed later on Bennetts contract, which is in place until the end of 2015, he told The Sunday Telegraph he wants to see the coach stay.
Waynes a very important part of the club and hopefully this (agreement) clears away the uncertainty for him and he can now make an informed decision, he said. I know he loves the place and he loves the club and we want to keep people of his calibre involved here. Personally, I hope he is part of the club long term.
Smith said the Knights ownership structure could well be the blueprint for other NRL clubs in the future.
Its similar to some of the other structures that we are thinking about across other clubs in the NRL, Smith said.
In terms of governance, having a skills-based board that has a proper level of independence, the right leadership with clubs that are well capitalised, I think that is a really good model for other clubs to be thinking about as well.
