League: Haffenden must stand for election

The man who led the New Zealand Rugby League out of the wilderness has to stand for election to the new Sparc-managed board that will carry on his work.

Chairman-in-limbo Ray Haffenden is one of three "proposed directors" Sparc will support when the sport's districts get to vote for the three places that are left on the board after the Government agency yesterday appointed four of the seven.

The new chairman is former policeman Scott Carter, who started and runs the Matrix Security Group and was a director on the board that agreed in March to step down after the Sparc review of finances and governance.

The other appointees are two chartered accountants - John Bishop, who is one of those who stood aside, and former Te Atatu player Gary Fissenden, plus Michele Teague, who is a marketer for Telecom.

The other two Sparc-recommended candidates at elections to be held in June are Gisborne Mayor Meng Foon, who has been involved in league for 20 years as an administrator or sponsor, and former Labour Cabinet minister Mark Gosche.

Sparc wants Haffenden elected as vice-chairman "in recognition of the significant contribution he can make in that position and to ensure continuity" - so you have to wonder why they made him stand.

There were 79 applications for the four Sparc-appointed places, which were whittled down by Sparc chairman John Wells, Sir John Anderson, who chaired the review of league, Peter Kerridge from the old NZRL board and Auckland Rugby League chairman Cameron McGregor.

The first task for new board has to be to re-establish links with disgruntled former sponsors.