Jason Allen opens up on departure from NSW Waratahs, reveals ‘challenging’ relationship with coach Michael Cheika helped achieve success

OUTGOING Waratahs CEO Jason Allen insists he wasn’t pushed and says a “challenging” relationship with Michael Cheika helped NSW achieve success.

New CEO of NSW Rugby Union Jason Allen, looks on during training for NSW Waratahs for upcoming Super Rugby season at Moore Park in Sydney.

OUTGOING Waratahs CEO Jason Allen insists he wasn’t pushed from his post and says a “challenging” relationship with coach Michael Cheika helped NSW achieve success.

Allen announced his resignation as chief executive on Monday after four years in the role, saying he couldn’t have picked a better time to pursue new career options following the Waratahs’ historic Super Rugby title in August.

Rumours of a poor relationship with Cheika have circulated since last year and The Daily Telegraph reported this month Cheika had warned powerbrokers he’d walk away if Allen remained.

But Allen on Tuesday said that his resignation was not forced.

“I surprised the board. They didn’t see it coming. We were talking about next year,” Allen said.

“The funny thing about sport, and what I’ve seen in rugby, is it often appears there is a bigger story floating around where one doesn’t exist.

“This was absolutely my decision and timing was really important, so I can allow enough time for the business to get their heads around the next steps, whether they privatise or not and who they recruit, so they’re ready for the next season.

“We are in much better shape, so I feel that’s important as well; that you leave with the club in much better nick than when you started.”

Jason Allen has resigned as NSW Waratahs CEO.

Asked to describe the state of his relationship with Cheika, Allen didn’t paint a picture of harmony but said that it got results.

“There are always challenging conversations with all your senior leaders, and there always will be. I think that should be there. It gets great outcomes, if its handled appropriately,” Allen said.

“But I read so much that is news to me. I read that’s all on for young and old in here, and I have such a small team, it becomes a bit of a giggle.”

Pressed as to whether he’ll leave on cordial terms with Cheika, Allen said: “I will leave on a very constructive relationship with all the people I’ve worked with.”

Allen began at the Waratahs in late 2010 and oversaw arguably both the lowest and highest points of the club’s history, with the catastrophic 2012 season leading to widespread upheaval and the oft-touted recruitment of Cheika.

Cheika swiftly partitioned the rugby department as his domain alone, and success has built the coach a powerbase unlike that of any of his predecessors at the Waratahs.

Allen said a recent holiday had made him realise it was a good time to move on and pursue other opportunities.

“Four years is a long time in these sorts of roles, and when I look back and say “where have we come from in four years and where have we ended up?”, that’s a big driver,” Allen said.

“I have always been straight up with the board and I always said there’d be a certain time. I just couldn’t have finished at a better time, with winning the championship and the overall improvement of the business.”

Allen said the Waratahs were a club too distracted by politics when he first stepped into the head office.

“There are always going to be different challenges at any point in time, aren’t there? When I arrived we needed a lot of change management,” Allen said.

“In the whole environment, there were a lot of people ducking around in shadows, rather than dealing with what’s in front of them. There was a lot of time spent in the political sphere than getting on and cracking on with the work they were good at.

“Next year’s challenge is a totally different challenge, to capitalise on this year and there are some super signs right now. Membership is absolutely flying, it’s nearly 250% — in financial figures — ahead of last year. The Reds and the Brumbies are back here (at Allianz) and an Anzac Day game at ANZ, there are lot of things to be excited about.”

Allen’s early days also coincided with the split between the professional and community arms of NSW Rugby, which saw the separated Waratahs business commit to paying more than $1 million a year for the licence.

Allen subsequently registered two small profits and a small loss the financial years of 2011-2013 and with a million-dollar boost from hosting this year’s final, it’s likely a profit will be recorded for 2014.

Allen says he is proud to boast all-time high membership numbers — and satisfaction levels — and maintaining strong sponsorship revenue in a flat market. He is also proud of the Waratahs’ success in re-engaging with the community and grassroots level of rugby after a concerted push in the past two seasons.

A replacement for Allen is likely to depend on a decision by the NSW Rugby board about whether they will progress with a privatisation of the Waratahs in coming weeks.

A short-list of private equity consortiums who’ve expressed interest in stumping up $2 million a year for five or more years has been made.

“My personal opinion is I think it is a very good idea. Getting the right engagement model, and licence model in particular, is critical,” Allen said.

“It gives it a sustainability that takes a lot of risk off the table potentially, but also gives you a capital injection which is important in this competitive market.”

Asked if the Waratahs’ title could make the club worth more, Allen said: “It is all relative; it is how worth more looks, because that could be longer tenure versus income up front, there are lots of ways to roll that dice. But the potential has been exposed a great level.”

Allen has been linked to the vacant Wests Tigers CEO position but while interested in staying in sports administration, he was still assessing his next career move.