The Rugby Football League's chairman, Simon Johnson, appears to be on borrowed time after a proposal was put forward to remove him from his position immediately.
Johnson's future will be discussed at an RFL council meeting on March 12th with a resolution put forward by Super League club Leigh Leopards and seconded by Championship Batley Bulldogs to be voted on when members meet in Wakefield.
In an email obtained by All Out Rugby League, the RFL had outlined its resolutions for the meeting, which included the commission of a strategic review of the sport and for Johnson to step down from his position in December.
However, countering those proposals, members have put forward a notion to remove him from office with immediate effect as well as Senior Independent Non-Executive Director, Sandy Lindsay.RFL (GOVERNING BODY) LTD
(Company Number: 5835638)
("the Company")
NOTICE OF COUNCIL MEETING
Notice is hereby given that a Council Meeting of the Company will be held at the LED Studio Lounge, Wakefield Trinity, Doncaster Road, Wakefield, WF1 5EY on 12 March 2025
at 10:00am for the following purposes:
Ordinary Business
RFL Resolutions 1. "IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED THAT a strategic review of the sport is to be
commissioned, its terms to include;
a The appointment of an Implementation Committee, in which Members and the
RFL will be represented
b The appointment of an Independent Chair of the Implementation Committee
to be agreed between the RFL and its Members
c The Implementation Committee's findings to be reported to RFL Council in
July 2025
d The scope of the strategic review to be agreed by the Implementation
Committee following its appointment." 2. "IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED THAT the Chair of the RFL (Simon Johnson) will step down from office immediately following the December RFL Council meeting in
2025."
Proposed Member Resolutions The following resolutions are proposed by Leigh Leopards and seconded by Batley
Bulldogs. 1. "IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED THAT the Chair of the RFL (Simon Johnson) be
removed from office with immediate effect."
2. "IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED THAT Senior Independent Non-Executive Director (Sandy Lindsay) be removed from office with immediate effect."
3. "IT IS HEREBY FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the sport approve a Member led strategic review of Tiers 1 to 3 of the sport, with Derek Beaumont and Gary Hetherington as the Club nominated representatives having the power to appoint an Implementation Committee and a Chair with its findings to be reported to and
approved at Council in July 2025"
4. "IT IS HEREBY FURTHER RESOLVED THAT no appointments are to be made to the RFL Board until the Implementation Committee reports its findings and that the Chair of the Implementation Committee be installed as Interim Chair of the RFL until the next AGM of the company in July 2025"
By order of the Board
Simon Johnson
Chair
12 February 2025
Registered Office
Gate 13 Rowsley Street Etihad Campus,
Manchester
M11 3FF
Furthermore, a large number of clubs want a review to be driven by themselves, rather than the governing body. In the counter resolutions it is proposed that the power to appoint a committee and chair would be with Leigh owner Derek Beaumont and Leeds Rhinos CEO Gary Hetherington, who have been named as club-nominated representatives.
It is further proposed that the chair of the aforementioned committee would be installed as interim chair of the RFL.
There is growing discontent among clubs regarding the leadership of the governing body and with a vote now set to take place at next month's meeting, it appears both Johnson and Lindsay are at threat of being removed from their positions when clubs meet at Wakefield next month.
Clubs at all levels of the professional game are frustrated with the current state of the game, particularly the health of the television deal and the general governance of the sport. A number of clubs, particularly at Super League level, have been left dismayed by the handling of Salford Red Devils' financial issues during the off-season as well as the continued absence of Rob Hicks, the RFL's head of legal and operation. Hicks, highly-respected among clubs, has been suspended since the end of September pending an investigation, with his future still yet to be resolved.
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