Manly Rugby's Major Sponsor Gives Stipulations To Extend Contract

Australia's National Rugby League Manly-Warringah club's main sponsor has threatened to pull out of a $2.8M contract extension "unless controversial board member Peter Peters steps down immediately," according to Adrian Proszenko of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. Antivirus software company Kaspersky Lab Managing Dir Harry Cheung told Sea Eagles officials that they "will walk away" from the deal when its contract lapses at the end of the year if Peters remains a director. Kaspersky Execs believe that Peters has been a "divisive force since joining the board" in place of Rick Penn, and they are "concerned about the negative publicity he has brought their company and the Manly brand." In addition, other sponsors "have complained about Peters since his return." Sea Eagles officials must decide if keeping Peters on the job is "worth almost $1M a year in lost sponsorship revenue" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 7/27).