Australian Rugby League Commission Chair John Grant said that he "will not resign despite mounting pressure" from the heads of all National Rugby League clubs for him to quit, according to Worsley & Stuart of ABC NEWS. The 16 clubs "have written a letter expressing a lack of confidence in Grant's leadership." But "a defiant Grant fronted the media" outside NRL HQ in Sydney and "seemed bemused when asked if he would stand down." Grant: "Why would I be standing down? I haven't received anything to indicate I should be." When asked if the letter had arrived, he said, "I haven't seen any letter, no." On Wednesday, four club chairs "walked out on Grant during a meeting about how much money the clubs will get under the NRL's new TV rights deal." They claim the NRL "took off the table an in-principle agreement struck last year" to fund clubs at 130% of the salary cap (ABC NEWS, 11/25).
KEEPING CONTROL: In Sydney, Brent Read reported the ARL Commission’s decision to "put future funding on the backburner is likely to ensure it remains in control" of Newcastle and Gold Coast and "hamper talks" over the part-sale of St. George Illawarra, which have been going on for more than a year. The commission "has already ploughed tens of millions of dollars into the three clubs." While Wests Tigers have "subsequently ironed out their financial issues," the Knights and Titans remain in the hands of the commission. Both clubs "have parties circling, although it is highly unlikely any individual party or consortium would pay the money required by the commission while funding remains in doubt" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 11/28).
