Dear John, it’s time to stand down and let the NRL move on without you, writes Phil Rothfield

BUZZ Rothfield pens an open letter to ARLC Chairman John Grant asking him to stop delaying the inevitable and stand down from his position to let the game move on without him.

Buzz: It’s time for the game to move on without Grant

AN open letter to John Grant

Dear John,

This is a heartfelt plea on behalf of the fans, clubs and all stakeholders of rugby league.

Our game can no longer remain at a standstill and it is time for you to go.

Every independent club in the competition and the NSW Rugby League have now voted you out.

By refusing to go you are only stalling the inevitable for when their proxy votes become official at the emergency general meeting on December 20.

Why should we remain in a holding pattern for another two weeks?

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Buzz: It’s time for the game to move on without Grant

You’ve already delayed the process by spending six weeks in Samoa, then Perth and England while frustrated clubs were desperately trying to finalise funding arrangements.

You thought it was more important to be on stage at Anfield handing out trophies.

You’ve shown the stakeholders no respect.

Only your resignation will give the clubs and the NRL management the opportunity to meet before Christmas.

Every other major sport in this country has long term plans for the future.

Everyone except the NRL. Corporate Australia is laughing at us.

Premiers Cronulla and the Parramatta Eels can’t find major sponsors.

You promised the clubs a funding arrangement of 30 per cent above the salary cap a year ago.

You even included the details in the NRL’s annual report — a formal document lodged with ASIC.

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ARL Commission chairman John Grant needs to delay the inevitable and stand down from his position

Now you say the game cannot afford it.

That your management team got it so wrong is bordering on incompetence.

As the chairman you have to take responsibility for an error of that magnitude.

In four decades covering rugby league I have never known there to be such collective anger and outrage among the clubs.

Super League was different. It split club against club, players against players, Foxtel against Optus.

This time all are united except for the two clubs you own.

Your only supporters are your colleagues on the commission.

Sadly many of them are as out of touch as you are.

They don’t know rugby league. They don’t understand the culture in club land. They don’t listen to or respect the clubs.

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These are the people who provide the product and pay the entertainers.

You have admitted the game is going backwards.

Right now we have no collective bargaining agreement with the players.

No salary cap beyond 2017.

No participation licences with the clubs beyond next year.

And no deal on funding model for the 16 clubs.

This is a fully blown crisis.

If it was happening in a public company, shareholders would vote the management out.

The clubs and the fans are the shareholders of rugby league. They have voted. They demand you go. Not in two weeks at the EGM. Now. It is our game, not yours.

Buzz