KEY POINTS:
The NZRL has pulled out of funding the Alliance competitions and there's a real threat the provincial competitions could be next.
The news comes on the back of the disestablishment of Graham Lowe's position as director of football, even though he was only eight months into a three-year contract.
The national body has said this was done for financial reasons, given they are facing an estimated $1.25 million loss for 2007, but it's understood Lowe will be asked to organise the Kiwis' World Cup campaign.
Whether he will want to do this after the criticism directed his way and the NZRL's handling of recent events is debatable. Lowe didn't return calls yesterday.
There was growing dissatisfaction within the NZRL with Lowe's outspokenness over the Gary Kemble affair and this might have hastened his departure as director of football.
A number of districts are upset after the NZRL withdrew funding for the Alliance competitions. The NZRL forked out $400,000 last year for these regional competitions, which involve clubs from areas that can't sustain their own meaningful club competitions.
NZRL general manager Peter Cordtz said the decision was reached because of the level of debt the organisation is facing and especially after trusts such as the Lion Foundation have suspended their support of the sport.
"They have turned the tap off so it would be irresponsible of us to spend money we don't have," Cordtz said.
Sponsors and gaming trusts are nervous about the state of the NZRL and there is widespread speculation the provincial competitions will also be canned this year.
Cordtz said they had encouraged organisers of Alliance competitions to seek their own funding from gaming trusts.
