Titans CEO Graham Annesley to leave Gold Coast for job with NRL
OUTGOING Titans boss Graham Annesley says he’s leaving the club in good shape ahead of taking up a role as the NRL’s head of elite football programs.
NRL
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DEPARTING chief executive Graham Annesley has declared the Gold Coast Titans will become a major premiership force next season as the punchline to their comeback from death’s door.
The former top referee will head back to Sydney to become the NRL’s head of elite football programs satisfied he has left the Titans in robust shape after jumping on board when they were wobbling on the brink of extinction.
Every good word that Annesley said about the club only reaffirmed that the new model Titans have no excuse not to improve on their modest return of one top eight appearances in the past eight years.
“My decision to accept the new role has not been easy as I genuinely believe this club is on the cusp of great success,’’ said Annesley, who was headhunted by NRL boss Todd Greenberg.
“The club is now well positioned to be one of the real forces in the NRL as early as next year on the field — off the field we are in as good a position as we have been in.
“The club will thrive in future. Our team is as competitive on paper as most teams in the competition. I honestly believe they can compete with the best in the competition and we will see that next year.
“In many ways it is a sad day for me not being around to experience that success. I never thought I would be going back to Sydney. I sold my house there. I will have to rent. I hope to return to the Coast one day and contribute to the community.’’
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“We have amazingly committed owners, model independent corporate governance, talented and dedicated staff and executive team, first-class high-performance facilities, responsible and sustainable financial management, a roster full of experience and youthful potential, and a head coach who has all the required attributes to guide the team to success in 2019 and beyond.’’
Annesley’s parting gift to the club was the one thing they craved — stability.
The club accepts it is on its last chance and the fact that it will finish close to breaking square financially after a modest on field year is a portent of better times ahead.
Annesley joined the Titans under the previous ownership of Michael Searle and has steered the club through numerous crises including a cocaine scandal, the club’s financial collapse, the takeover by the NRL and ultimate sale to Darryl Kelly and Rebecca Frizelle who plan to gift the team back to the local community when it is financially strong enough.
“We have done a lot of hard yards here at the Titans and the time is right for someone to come in with fresh ideas. The situation when I came here was very dire. The club could have folded. The NRL could easily have walked away but they decided to stick with the club because this is rugby league heartland. To not have representation on the Gold Coast would have been terrible for the game.’’
Annesley, who will depart in October, said he will assist the club owners in the recruitment process for the new CEO but the decision would not be rushed.
Executive chairman Dennis Watt said the club was “extraordinarily grateful’’ for Annesley’s effort to rescue the Titans when it was “staring at the abyss.’’
“Graham is the man you want by your side when things get tough,’’ Watt said. “He leaves here as one of the most respected figures in the game. His legacy will be the ongoing success of this club.
“We are very confident Graham will continue to serve and advance the game at the highest levels in his new role.”
Originally published as Titans CEO Graham Annesley to leave Gold Coast for job with NRL