KEY POINTS:
The storm clouds that had been hanging over the New Zealand Rugby League broke yesterday when chairman Andrew Chalmers walked out and was followed by the three independent directors appointed this year.
Chalmers resigned before yesterday's board meeting had started, telling his fellow directors he had reached his
decision due to ongoing pressure on his family and his own business commitments.
Independent directors Glenda Hughes, Simon Doig and Eddie Mathews, the chosen applicants from 39 people who put their names forward to join the six members elected in May, issued a statement saying they had decided to stand aside to enable the remaining elected directors to set the platform for the game's future.
The new chairman is Ray Haffenden who served on the board for five years in the 1990s and was returned to it in May, with Vinnie Weir as his deputy.
The other three elected representatives - Phil Campbell who was deputy to Chalmers, former referee Neville Kesha and Peter Kerridge - are staying.
Rumour has pushed the NZRL debt, that was known to be $500,000 before the England and France tour, out to $1.8 million but Haffenden said yesterday that he had no idea what the correct figure was and wouldn't have until tour returns were finalised in coming weeks.
"In all sincerity I haven't looked at that yet and until we work through the results of the tour we don't know where we are," he said. The NZRL wanted to resolve speculation as soon as possible but yesterday's events sidetracked the agenda and it was decided to put the budget add-up for 2007 and the 2008 budget planning off until tomorrow.
The board would make a decision on finances following that meeting, he said.
Chalmers' resignation was as much a surprise to him as it was to everyone on the board, Haffenden said. Chalmers explained his reasons and then each of the board members spoke, he said. It is believed Chalmers had faced mounting pressure for financial details.
One board member, who would not be named, described the board processes as "destructive" and said it was untenable that all business was conducted through the media.
Haffenden said the situation was not unusual. "There's always been issues, detractors, problems. We have to confront this and get on with it."
Haffenden said he was "absolutely" confident the game was in a healthy state and management would recover.
"I wouldn't be here if I didn't think so."
They would work slowly through the books and their processes before making any decisions on a sixth board appointment or bringing in further independents.
One thing that won't change is the review of the Kiwis tour and Gary Kemble's coaching position.
The NZRL board statement said Chalmers had been responsible for a number of achievements during his term as chairman.
These included renegotiating the Tri-Nations agreement, enabling the NZRL to re-craft its television and commercial arrangements to ensure the commercial value of the Kiwis is maximised; rebuilding relationships with the NZRL's international and commercial partners; initiating and leading the independent governance review which had resulted in the NZRL's constitutional reforms; instigating special advisory panel meetings to ensure consultation with members; leading the competitions reform which was unanimously supported by a vote at a meeting in Wellington; leaving the game with an improved commercial television deal as well as improved ball supplier, kit supplier and licensing deals.
He also leaves it without any major sponsors, with many disgruntled staff and volunteers and with the wider rugby league community of players, coaches, administrators and fans concerned at the financial implications.
One former chairman said tour parties to England used to be limited to 23 players and eight coaching staff and administrators at a cost of around $20,000 each.
The 2007 tour had 54. Some in the management were on $200 per day expenses.