John Grant's days as Australian Rugby League Commission chair "appear to be numbered" after disgruntled National Rugby League clubs on Monday called an emergency general meeting and signaled their intention to have him removed, according to the AAP. Under the ARLC constitution, "the votes of 14 of the game's 26 shareholders" -- comprising the 16 clubs, Queensland Rugby League, New South Wales Rugby League and eight commissioners -- "are required" to effect change. The documents were signed by 14 NRL clubs plus the NSWRL. That would "give the bloc the numbers required to pass a resolution to have Grant removed as a director." The Newcastle Knights and Gold Coast Titans, which are both owned by the NRL, are "abstaining from the attempt to overthrow Grant." An NRL spokesperson on Monday confirmed "the governing body had received an application for an EGM." The NRL has eight days to respond and the NRL has 21 days from then to call the meeting. Newcastle Chair Brian McGuigan said that the club, backed by the governing body, could "scarcely become involved in an uprising against it." McGuigan: "You can't bite the hand that feeds you" (AAP, 11/28). ABC NEWS reported that former rugby league player Peter Sterling "called for strong leadership from league central as the standoff between Grant and the NRL clubs enters a second week." Relationships between league central and clubs have reached "crisis point" after the governing body last week reneged on a funding model agreed to a year ago. Clubs were "expected to be invited back to the negotiation table later this week, however some chairs have vowed to boycott the meeting, refusing to re-open talks with Grant." Sterling said that "the major issues in the game such as the collective bargaining agreement and future salary caps needed to be addressed before the holiday season." Sterling: "We're not far away from kickoff. We need some leadership now -- some strong leadership -- especially after what has happened over the last week" (ABC NEWS, 11/28). The AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW's Bryce Corbett reported that signatories to Monday's letter include Broncos Chair Dennis Watt, Souths Chair Nick Pappas, Melbourne Storm Chair Bart Campbell, Manly Chair Scott Penn, Wests Tigers Chair Marina Go, Raiders Chair Allan Hawke and Cowboys Chair Laurence Lancini. In an "unusual show of solidarity," the 14 NRL clubs have collectively engaged the services of law firm Baker McKenzie to prosecute their case. Should Grant choose to "call the bluff" of the NRL clubs now rallying to remove him, he has 21 days to respond to their request for an EGM. Observers said that he could use this time to "lobby some of the recalcitrant clubs to get behind him and fight the revolt" (AFR, 11/28).
