Uncle Nick Politis runs the show at the Roosters

THE Sydney Roosters have never offered great job security unless you're the chairman and own a chain of car yards.

THE Sydney Roosters have never offered great job security unless you're the chairman and own a chain of car yards.

They used to be known as the NRL's transit lounge because of the high turnover of players and poaching raids on rival clubs.

More recently it's been coaches - Brian Smith, Brad Fittler, Chris Anderson, Ricky Stuart and Graham Murray - all in a bit more than a decade.

Now we have the sacking of chief executive Steve Noyce, replaced by Brian Canavan, a man moved on and considered not good enough for the job four years ago.

Noyce is a big loss for the Roosters. He is - or he was - the most experienced club administrator in the game and a thoroughly decent and honourable man.

The Roosters are going to need strong and inspired leadership next year.

They are in the toughest sporting market in this city.

Their neighbours are the Sydney Swans and Sydney FC, probably the two best-run footy clubs in the country.

One is the AFL premier and the other is attracting 35,000 to home games courtesy of a superstar called Alessandro Del Piero.

I wrote recently that the Swans are a far bigger danger and more serious opposition to the NRL than GWS are to rugby league in Sydney's west.

The struggling Roosters also share Moore Park with the Waratahs, who might have failed in recent times but at least have a new coach and new direction.

The challenge for the Roosters is on and off the field.

They have a rookie new coach in Trent Robinson, combined with the signing of Sonny Bill Williams, a superstar of a player but one who is difficult to manage.

Already we are hearing reports that his agent Khoder Nasser will not allow him to play in the opening round if the Roosters are drawn to meet his old club Canterbury in a blockbuster at ANZ Stadium because it would only be boosting the Bulldogs' gate takings.

Already we know he is earning millions in Japan while his teammates will be getting flogged, running up and down sandhills, in off-season training.

We also know he has been given permission to continue his boxing career in the following off-season, another privilege not afforded to his teammates.

Whatever happens, chairman Nick Politis must surely be under the pump if the club fails again next season.

Everyone knows Politis has been running the Roosters from his various car yards here and overseas since he replaced Ron Jones in the 1980s.

No players are signed without his permission.

No appointments are made at the football club without his approval.

With respect to board members, no commercial decisions are made without Politis' final endorsement.

It was Politis, not Noyce, who sacked Todd Carney and Nate Myles, who went on to have great seasons at the Cronulla Sharks and Gold Coast Titans respectively.

It was Politis, not Noyce, who signed Willie Mason and other big names who didn't aim up.

It was Politis, not Noyce, who sacked Brian Smith and every other coach since Phil Gould.

At some stage, he has to become accountable himself, otherwise nothing will ever change at the Roosters.