Australian Rugby League Commission Chair John Grant claims he will not "be breaching the ARLC constitution by taking on additional duties" during the search for a new National Rugby League CEO, but "club powerbrokers wanting his scalp will be seeking their own legal advice on the matter," according to Adrian Proszenko of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. There is a clear "line of demarcation" drawn between ARLC directors and those performing exec functions at the NRL under the ARLC constitution. In order for a director to take up a CEO or managerial role at the NRL, "they would need to step off the ARLC board." Outgoing NRL CEO Dave Smith will finish up at the NRL on Nov. 30 and Grant has stated he will "take on extra responsibilities" while recruiting firm Signium Int'l seeks a replacement. The "potential conflict of interest" will be discussed when a sub-committee of "powerful club bosses" gathers for a meeting next Wednesday. One powerbroker said, "We'll be asking some questions to see if he is breaching the constitution." Grant claimed his agreement to take on extra duties "would not affect his position as chairman of the commission." However, some club bosses will be "watching with interest" whether Grant acts as a pseudo-CEO during the transition period. Several of them were "already planning to pressure the NRL over funding, believing more of the game's funds needed to flow onto the clubs to ensure their survival" (SMH, 10/21).
