ARL boss John Grant’s 2:45am rant over funding slammed by clubs

ARL Commission chairman John Grant’s desperate 2.45am pitch to save his job by blaming NRL boss Todd Greenberg has been labelled “an absolute disgrace”.

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ARL Commission chairman John Grant’s desperate 2.45am pitch to save his job by blaming NRL boss Todd Greenberg has been labelled “an absolute disgrace”.

The Daily Telegraph has obtained a copy of the email titled “CBA — Media Release & Discussion Points” that Grant sent to all 16 NRL club chairman in the early hours of Tuesday.

Greenberg, along with the ARL commissioners, were copied into the late-night email. One club chair said Grant’s extraordinary email was a blatant attempt to hold Greenberg and the NRL’s chief financial officer Tony Crawford responsible for last week’s mishandled club funding negotiations.

“I can’t believe the commission chairman would email all us of at 2.45am in the morning. It’s an absolute disgrace,” one club chair told The Daily Telegraph.

ARL chairman John Grant is under fire again ... this time for an email fired off at 2:45am.

Another club official who has seen the email said: “He (Grant) doesn’t take personal responsibility for anything. Where is the leadership the game so desperately needs.”

Earlier on Monday night, Grant attended the NSW Rugby League’s gala Hall of Fame dinner at The Star in Sydney, where rumours quickly circulated of a new coup to bring down the commission chairman.

The email sent by John Grant.

Grant was questioned about his shaky future at the dinner before he left around midnight to return to his hotel to fire off the email.

The NRL club chairs had a telephone hook-up scheduled for 1.30pm on Tuesday to discussed the funding crisis, constitutional reform and Grant’s tenure.

Grant’s email also informed the club chairs he was launching an internal inquiry into last week’s embarrassing revelations that the game has a significant cashflow problem and the clubs would no longer received the $13 million-a-season funding as promised.

Grant claims the commission was not properly informed of the new funding proposal that Greenberg and Crawford put forward to the clubs to take into account the game’s $50 million cash black hole.

“Our team’s proposal regarding ­alleviation of the NRL’s short-term cash flow requirements understandably caused concern, including within the Commission,” Grant wrote.

Grant has appointed ARLC commissioner Tony McGrath to now provide “direct oversight” of the troubled club funding negotiations, effectively sidelining Greenberg.

“We have asked Tony McGrath to provide direct oversight of the process Todd is leading,” Grant said.

Copping the blame ... Todd Greenberg was thrown under the bus in Grant’s email.

Greenberg and Grant will come face-to-face today at a commission meeting in Sydney.

Grant’s email made it clear his CEO has a lot of explaining to do.

“Separately the Commission will meet with Todd to understand why this issue arose and discuss the steps needed to ensure future executive actions that relate to the Deed receive the appropriate oversight and consideration by the Commission,” he wrote.

However, sources have told The Daily Telegraph that members of Greenberg’s executive raised ­concerns with Grant last December that the club funding model was unsustainable for next year.

Originally published as ARL boss John Grant’s 2:45am rant over funding slammed by clubs