Can-do Greyhound Racing NSW boss Rob Macaulay’s tenure ends in anguish

Like a lot of marriages, Rob Macaulay’s two-year stint as boss of Greyhound Racing NSW began in bliss yet ended in anguish.

Rob Macaulay’s time at Greyhound Racing NSW has come to a close following his resignation on Tuesday. Picture: Adam Yip

Like a lot of marriages, Rob Macaulay’s two-year stint as boss of Greyhound Racing NSW began in bliss yet ended in anguish.

Ushered into the role with a can-do attitude following the departure of Tony Mestrov, it didn’t take long for Macaulay, a former partner at PTW Law, to begin ruffling feathers.

Turnover of staff at GRNSW quickly climbed to rapid levels but with prize money booming on the back of Covid and confidence among clubs and participants in tack, these were seen as mere growing pains.

But the narrative quickly shifted this time a year ago when a raft of ex-employees and contractors began levelling complaints about the management style and awarding of contracts under the Macaulay regime.

The board’s response was to investigate the allegations – at an eye watering cost – where it’s been widely reported that no wrongdoing was found.

But the noise didn’t stop.

Rob Macaulay’s two-year stint as boss of Greyhound Racing NSW began in bliss yet ended in anguish. Picture: Justin Lloyd

For Macaulay to have any hope of surviving he needed the support of the clubs and participants – the lifeblood of the industry.

In recent months, he lost both.

His move to slash club funding by $2 million this year incensed those in charge of the clubs and resulted in the genuine threat of strike action.

Those threats only intensified in May when this masthead revealed an NRL player agent had been paid upwards of $700,000 to facilitate the deal with the sport’s major sponsor Ladbrokes.

The clubs and the major partner were fuming.

To avert strike action, the proposed club cuts were shelved with Macaulay instead finding the savings from prize money in recent weeks.

With no defence mechanism, the participants have had to wear it but the trust was quickly gone and sealed Macaulay’s fate.

Originally published as Can-do Greyhound Racing NSW boss Rob Macaulay’s tenure ends in anguish