The Australian Rugby League Commission "has settled on a candidate" for CEO who will be "announced within days," according to Brad Walter of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. A meeting of all eight commissioners is understood to have been scheduled for Tuesday "to confirm the appointment of a replacement for David Gallop." A decision had been made, and it is believed "a subcommittee chaired by Catherine Harris has prepared a recommendation for the meeting of the full ARLC." The identity of the candidate was "a closely guarded secret" Sunday night, but a number of sources said that Australian Football League COO Gill McLachlan "had either got cold feet or wanted more money than the ARLC was prepared to pay" for a CEO. Racing New South Wales boss Peter V'landys "is believed to still be in contention for the job," while ARLC interim CEO Shane Mattiske "has been mentioned as a possible appointment." Meanwhile, National Rugby League clubs are expected to be told Monday "when they will receive a $500,000 sustainability allowance guaranteed to them once the TV rights deal was finalised." The $500,000 payment to clubs "is expected to be lodged in the bank accounts of clubs within two weeks" following last week's announcement of a five-year $1B TV-rights deal with Channel Nine and Fox Sports. Players are also "set to receive bonus payments from the broadcast deal" as the salary cap has already been set at $5M for next year (SMH, 8/27).
