St Helens chairman Eamonn McManus pens extraordinary statement taking no prisoners in RFL, Salford, Nigel Wood debate

[josie andrews]

Eamonn McManus releases 688-word statement ridiculing the governing body's previous regime and supporting Nigel Wood's return

St Helens chairman Eamonn McManus has launched a withering blast at the outgoing RFL board.

Ahead of tonight's game against Warrington, he has fired numerous shots at departed chair Simon Johnson and fellow directors who recently resigned, claiming "we clearly seek to be the best governed bankrupt sport in the world."

McManus went on to ridicule the state of England's international itinerary in recent times under the RFL's watch before supporting the return of Nigel Wood - someone he helped oust as RFL CEO in 2018 - as its interim chair.

The 688-word statement reads: "Like most people in rugby league, I’ve been rendered dizzy by the self-congratulatory resignations from the board of the RFL recently.

"Some even perversely set out their personal CVs as if to introduce themselves to the sport and to its followers. Even the International Rugby League board momentarily woke up to join in the back-slapping jamboree.


"Added to the mix have been the tiresomely predictable anonymous open letters, without quoting a scintilla of fact or backed by a shred of evidence, referring to misogyny and governance models. We clearly seek to be the best governed bankrupt sport in the world."It will be revealing to see who will constitute the RFL’s replacement board: a continuation of the same old, same old, as appointed by the current board, or a new well qualified board pursuant to legally binding acceptance of the issued resolution of its members."In any event, it all indicates that immediate change and improvement is critical. Let us hope that the best qualified people are put in place to take on the incredibly challenging tasks at hand."

McManus continued: "We are fortunate that Nigel Wood has been proposed and has volunteered, without compensation, to act as an interim Chair of the RFL and to Chair an independent strategic working party comprising of Lord Jonathan Caine, Emma Rosewarne, Abi Ekoku, and Dermot Power - each of them is passionate and knowledgeable of our sport and brilliantly qualified to advise."Domestically, the last four years have seen a £30 million per year downturn in the financial performance of our sport. Super League clubs and their owners pay £5 million per year to the RFL for their services: the above clearly indicates that we are not getting value for money and have witnessed a major destruction in shareholder value."On the international front, we experienced a loss-making World Cup in 2022, despite considerable government support, followed by the announcement of the next World Cup in France only for it to be withdrawn shortly afterwards."Our England men’s team played in front of two men et un chien in France, sandwiched between two cobbled-together loss-making series against Tonga and Samoa. Thank goodness Simon Moran of Warrington Wolves has assumed the reins to promote the likely Ashes series this autumn."The final international debacle was the recent public execution and national humiliation of our gallant England girls at the hands of the long-time professionalised Australian Jillaroos on the high-profile stage of Vegas.

"Unsurprisingly, no one assumed responsibility for the insane decision to hold this fixture and thereby destroy the hard-earned confidence and exuberance of our girls.

"However, at least RFL directors and senior executives were there in force expressing how much they were enjoying the trip: so everything is fine then. Maybe they could have spent their time conducting a misogyny review on the trauma inflicted on our brave women’s team instead."There could be no better qualified or motivated person than Nigel Wood to grab the game by the scruff of the neck, now that it has been left rudderless, and to seek to address its many recent abject failures. I trust that he will be joined by similarly qualified people.

"During his previous 16-year career at the RFL, Nigel negotiated four broadcast deals, each of which doubled in value that of its predecessor.

"Each year the RFL broke even or was profitable, and each year the central distributions to clubs increased: heady days indeed. More importantly, Nigel is a rugby league man to his boots and totally committed to its success. He has my full confidence and support."He is currently on the receiving end of a clearly coordinated campaign to undermine his good name, track record, and achievements.

"If you didn’t know better, you may think that some people may be worried about the changes which his arrival may result in. It really is shameful."Nigel has also inherited the greatest hospital pass in the history of our sport: the longstanding psychodrama that is all things Salford.

"He’s left behind a happy and contented semi-retirement to deal with this and other seemingly intractable problems. I applaud him and support him

https://www.alloutrugbyleague.co.uk/new ... ommunities

[josie andrews]

Former SL referee appointed to new RFL Board as replacements for directors revealed

THE RFL’s Nominations Committee have appointed a new interim Board, to allow the sport to remain compliant with Sport England’s Code for Sports Governance until the next meeting of the Rugby League Council in July.

This follows the resignations in recent weeks of Simon Johnson as Chair, Sandy Lindsay MBE as the senior Non-Executive Director, and of Dr Cherrie Daley and Julia Newton as Non-Executive Directors – the latter two taking effect today (March 21), having been announced last Friday (March 14).

The focus has been on achieving the best possible interim board for the RFL to govern the sport over the coming months. This has involved working closely with Sport England to ensure steps taken are acceptable in the interim and therefore avoiding any immediate risks to funding streams through non-compliance.

The Board will consist of three Executive members and five Non-Executive members, in addition to three observers.

It aims to meet for the first time on April 1 and in the coming days it will elect its Interim Chair.

The Executive members of the Board are, in alphabetical order:

Rob Graham, the RFL’s Director of Finance, Facilities and Central Services;
Tony Sutton, the RFL’s Chief Executive;
Nigel Wood OBE, Chair of the Implementation Committee that has been formed at the request of members to conduct a Strategic Review of the sport.

The Non-Executive members of the Board are, in alphabetical order:

James Child, former Match Official who is a member of the RFL’s Inclusion Board;
Joanna Coates, former NGB CEO and Commercial Director, Board member of the FA Women’s National League;
Martin Coyd OBE, Chair of Wheelchair Rugby League and a member of the RFL’s Community Board;
Ian Roberts, Major Account Director for Bartletts and a member of the RFL’s Audit and Risk Committee and Brain Health Committee;
Emma Rosewarne MBE, formerly the RFL’s first Head of Welfare and a member of the Implementation Committee.

The Board Observers are, in alphabetical order:

Jo Drapier, Head of Partner Relationships at Sport England;
Jamie Jones-Buchanan MBE, former England international, Leeds Rhinos director and RFL Inclusion Board member;
Ed Mallaburn, Senior Vice President at IMG.
The Nominations Committee also confirms the appointment of Joanna Coates and Tony Sutton as RFL Board nominated directors on the board of RL Commercial Ltd.

Tony Sutton, the RFL Chief Executive, said: “I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to both Julia and Cherrie for not only their period of time as Non-Executive Directors of the RFL but particularly for their support, guidance and advice in the last week, having agreed to stay on to ensure the sport remains in the strongest possible position.”

https://www.totalrl.com/former-super-le ... -revealed/

[Caboosegg]

McManus really is a McAnus.
Nigel Wood was a disgrace who walked away with a giant packet because he new his poor management was going to cause a downturn.

I still can't get over the own goal of turning up to a England RL event wearing the England RU hat live on TV.

[moto748]

It seems there's quite the power-play going on. Nobody else seems to want to stand with Wigan and Wire, even if that makes their stance (like McManus) seem contradictory.

[fozzie58]

I must admit I was surprised to hear the sky chaps laying into this move,really thought they’d line up and say how great it was.

McManus is not someone I take seriously he was as I’ve said before one of the prime mover behind bringing in Elstone (along with wire and Wigan). He soon jumped ship back to the other side though didn’t he fair weather friend comes to mind.

The clubs behind this are bordering on the delusional that he will bring mega money back to the sport woods won’t it seems even the NRL aren’t overly fond of him either according to John Davidson so if that’s true why bring him back? As Carney and Wilkin rightly pointed out it’s to go back to the status quo with this move I do genuinely fear for the sport.

[Raging Penguin]

The date of the first meeting is at least apt...

[DaveO]

McManus is now part of the problem. This is a move is to prevent any interest from the NRL coming to anything in my opinion.

He is not the first chairman to sing Wood’s praises and he even mentions the TV deal as a good thing!

When it was made it was negotiated three years early and was for a further five years. The reason it was made is because it secured an immediate cash injection which Wood’s went for as two clubs, one which was Bradford, were in danger of going bust mid-season.

It was snort term thinking with the deal put to SL clubs at the last minute as a take it or leave it option motivated by that cash injection. IL voted in favour but the day after said he felt railroaded into it and regretted he voted for it. Koukcash who owned Salford at the time was also against it because like IL he was furious the deal was not put out to tender particularly as back then BT Sport was throwing money around to build up a sports TV offering.

Wood’s reaction to the criticism was patronising and did not address that concern but said more or less there is democracy in the sport to tough luck. And that “democracy” is what lies behind this move again in my opinion.

With Hetherington, Beumont and now McManus backing this move they clearly are happy to have the sport to be effectively governed by referenda. That is they are giving power to every club in the RFL to vote on whatever proposals come up. For some reason Leigh, Leeds and Saints seem to tnink that is Ok. Perhaps because they see themselves as big fish in a small pond and are happy with that this means the tail can wag to dog.

I was unsure about the idea of the NRL buying SL but thinking about it I hope it comes off. The elite level of the sport needs to get away from one run by the likes of Wood who will sell it out to secure a cash injection to save a championship club.

I don’t think there is another top level sport out there that does not separate the elite level from the next tier down and it is about time SL was in that position. Having to rejoin the RFL after covid has led to this current situation but if the opportunity arises to go with the NRL they should go for it.

I did think that would make us a feeder league for the NRL but thinking about it, that would not make any sense as killing off SL in that way would be stupid. It would be in the NRL’s interest to nave a strong SL if they actually own it.

[buttmonkey2]

McManus is a hypocrite of the highest order. Took him 7 years to forget his previous statement regarding the fat controller leaving

https://x.com/GavWilson/status/1903119423973491077

[doc]

Re McManus statement; the good points were the decision to put Simon Moran in charge of promoting the ashes (it's his day job after all) and the comment of how insane it was to hold the women's international in Vegas.

The bad points were everything else. Wood never had to cope with the effects of Covid on the sport which impacted TV deals and the international/world cup games. The professional game, in my opinion, was lucky to survive both these. The loss of Sally Lindsay is a shame as she has a track record in administration in a number of sports.

I see Leeds have managed to smuggle their new CEO JJB in to the mix but no one from this side of the Pennines is listed. It's essentially a Yorkshire coup into which McManus has been sucked along with Beaumont. Moran, who runs a successful business promoting entertainment events, is the one person that should have been co-opted on to the board whether you like Wire or not.

[widdenoldboy]

Re McManus statement; the good points were the decision to put Simon Moran in charge of promoting the ashes (it's his day job after all) and the comment of how insane it was to hold the women's international in Vegas.

The bad points were everything else. Wood never had to cope with the effects of Covid on the sport which impacted TV deals and the international/world cup games. The professional game, in my opinion, was lucky to survive both these. The loss of Sally Lindsay is a shame as she has a track record in administration in a number of sports.

I see Leeds have managed to smuggle their new CEO JJB in to the mix but no one from this side of the Pennines is listed. It's essentially a Yorkshire coup into which McManus has been sucked along with Beaumont. Moran, who runs a successful business promoting entertainment events, is the one person that should have been co-opted on to the board whether you like Wire or not.

I was drafting a reply about the "messiah" status given to Wood and the TV deals. you beat me to it

My question is - are we sure what Wood did and was it really down to him?

100% agree on Covid's impact on the game.