Bulldogs chairman Ray Dib says he’s lost faith in the NRL and the ARLC

A ONE-SENTENCE “Dear John” letter has intensified the war between NRL clubs and ARL Commission chairman John Grant.

Ray Dib says he’s lost faith in the NRL and ARLC. Picture Gregg Porteous

• BUZZ: NRL funding just doesn’t add up

• MONDAY BUZZ: Highlight, Lowlights

IT was the one-­sentence “Dear John” letter which has intensified the war between NRL clubs and ARL Commission chairman John Grant.

And it will help ensure clubs boycott a meeting with Grant and the NRL over funding later this week.

Fed-up Canterbury chairman Ray Dib sent Grant a strongly worded email stating he would refuse to have any dealings with the commission or the NRL.

Dib said he had lost “faith and confidence” in both organisations after the NRL reneged on a funding agreement for clubs reached last December.

Ray Dib is done dealing with John Grant.

The Daily Telegraph obtained a copy of the letter, which read: “John, I will not be attending any further meetings with the ARLC or the NRL as I no longer have any faith or confidence under your chairmanship. Regards, Ray Dib.”

It is understood the NRL will email clubs on Monday with details of the next meeting, expected to be either Thursday or Friday, and accompanied with an agenda. Grant may be sitting in the room with no clubs to talk to.

The NRL hopes to reach a settlement on the ugly issue later in the week but the clubs simply won’t deal with Grant anymore.

Other clubs are expected to follow Canterbury’s lead and snub any meetings or dealings with Grant until he walks away.

Damien Keogh, Laurence Lancini, Ray Dib and Bart Campbell after storming out of an NRL meeting with ARLC chairman John Grant. Picture: Brett Costello

“We want him (Grant) to step down — do the right thing for the sake of the game. He should put the game first,” Dib said. “All of us are custodians of the game and our clubs. We all have an ­expiry date or a due-by date.

“It’s not personal against John. Absolutely not personal. But you know what? The clubs have lost faith and confidence — what stronger message do you need? They keep changing the landscape and moving the goalposts. I’ve had a gutful.

“Everyone has to put the game first. If everyone puts the game first, their clubs and state bodies second and put the individual third, we will get the right outcome. We have made a stance.

“I have already replied to John Grant when he sent an email out the other the day. I was the first to respond. We are all united. There’s no question about that, we’re united.”

There must now be doubts as to whether the NRL will even bother to arrange a meeting with the disgruntled clubs. The clubs last week issued a vote of no confidence in Grant.

Nick Pappas and Ray Dib at Rugby League Headquarters in Moore Park. Picture Gregg Porteous

Another chairman said Grant’s position was “untenable’’.

“We’re being treated like mugs, like fools,’’ he said. “Sixteen members have signed individual letters saying they want Grant to stand down. If that happened in any other field, whether in business, politics or a corporation, what would happen? He would stand down if he had any pride.

“It’s untenable. How can we turn up now to any meeting and sit across the table after we sent in that (vote of no confidence) letter. It would be a bit hypocritical.”

The NRL offered each club a $1.5 million advance for 2016 and 2017, a deal which was secured last year. The first payment for next season was due on November 1 but clubs were told the money — which has to be repaid — would now arrive on November 30, and the next payment on December 1.

That means those clubs wanting the money would receive $250,000 in two days. The NRL claims any club wanting the advance would be given the money, but clubs are unsure whether the money would be issued given they are at war with the NRL

Originally published as Bulldogs chairman Ray Dib says he’s lost faith in the NRL and the ARLC