Senate hearing - Wednesday

[Jules]

First order of business should be the sacking of the rest of the board!

[Kalahard]

Phil Kearns is the frontrunner for Rats Arse CEO? Well, if they need another patsy CEO they can scapegoat then Kearns fits the bill perfectly. The no sports administration experience bit is the kicker. While Kearns is spending 6 months learning the job, DeClyne will be making more autocratic decisions that defy logic, leading Rats Arse further down the drain. Bill Pulver had no sports administration experience and look how that turned out. There goes the games future if these idiots appoint Kearns to CEO, it will be a pro NSW, pro Victoria closed shop that will leave only QLD and ACT with any chance of toppling the power structure which they dont have the votes to achieve. More years of underperforming administration appointed by the previous underperforming administration. The mind boggles.

[Moz]

There’s also the issue of how the ARU actively sabotaged the ‘Own The Force’ campaign. Because of the continuous uncertainty about the Force, they created doubt around the scheme thereby discouraging everyone from investing. To me that smells of dirty trade - sabotaging a company from free trade with potential shareholders must surely be an offence. Without the ARU’s sabotaging, ‘Own The Force’ would have been a great success, but it proved too be too threatening to the ARU’s plans as we found out, hence they actively interfered in The Force being able to trade. Any of you legals out there au fait on the rules of fair trade?

I know that shareholders have been known to start a class action and sue the company for the loss of their capital, through bad decisions made by the directors. Therefore, I was wondering if a similar action could be taken against the ARU. Not too sure who the actual stakeholders are in this case - would it have to be the actual state bodies, or could it go down to the individual members of any of the state unions? Just a different way of looking at how the ARU could be made to pay for these terrible decisions destroying the game in this country.

[Moz]

Having a chat with a friend from Sydney last night, and the following story came out....

The friend in Sydney was talking with a guy who was associated with the SANZAR board meeting where Pulver agreed to drop one Aus team. He said Pulver didn't consult his board and was basically sold a turd. Or more accurately he bought a turd. The word this guy used to describe Pulver was inept.

He said the SA had already decided to drop 2 teams and had already planned a soft landing for them in the European comp. So SA said we gave up ours now you do the same. But ARU had no plans in place yet agreed to something they couldn't deliver without a contract breach of some sort.

The ARU worked out that the team that should go was actually the Brumbies. But being the most successful franchise and being underwritten by Vikings rugby club. The richest club in Australia who are based around Canberra and pay a lot of ARU bills. So they turned to Force or Rebels.

Now word on Rebels is ARU did the dirty on Cox as well. He signed up with a plan but revenues failed to materliase. Then ARU cut off his broadcast revenue stream with a slippery legal trick. So Rebels were left highly and dry.

Cox was going to court and ARU had non choice as Cox was pissed with them and was going to force the issue legally being a private company. So again ARU ended up in a worse situation by trying to do a shifty.

No matter which way you look at it ARU were inept, lost a ton of money and failed to be good stewards of the game in Aust.

This is also a slightly different slant on the belief that the Alliance Agreement was framed in part so that they could use it to drop the Force at some stage. Rather, they worked out at a later stage that it could be used to remove the Force, after their other two options (Brumbies and Rebels) failed.

[Kalahard]

I know that shareholders have been known to start a class action and sue the company for the loss of their capital, through bad decisions made by the directors. Therefore, I was wondering if a similar action could be taken against the ARU. Not too sure who the actual stakeholders are in this case - would it have to be the actual state bodies, or could it go down to the individual members of any of the state unions? Just a different way of looking at how the ARU could be made to pay for these terrible decisions destroying the game in this country.

The Australian Sports Commission is the regulatory body that is supposed to oversee National Sporting Bodies but did not get a recommendation from the senate inquiry so probably won't get involved. A class action is possible, who starts it and funds it is the question i would think. There are rumblings out of NSW about the continued nepotism and failings of the ARU. Letting the whole thing implode in a slow motion train crash seems most likely as to what will happen although that will lead to NSW leading a pro NSW restructure which will just start the cycle again. The only thing for certain though is that change needs to occur.

[shasta]

Phil Kearns is the frontrunner for Rats Arse CEO? Well, if they need another patsy CEO they can scapegoat then Kearns fits the bill perfectly. The no sports administration experience bit is the kicker. While Kearns is spending 6 months learning the job, DeClyne will be making more autocratic decisions that defy logic, leading Rats Arse further down the drain. Bill Pulver had no sports administration experience and look how that turned out. There goes the games future if these idiots appoint Kearns to CEO, it will be a pro NSW, pro Victoria closed shop that will leave only QLD and ACT with any chance of toppling the power structure which they dont have the votes to achieve. More years of underperforming administration appointed by the previous underperforming administration. The mind boggles.

Given Kearns' public criticism of Clyne, ("grow a set") and support of continuing with the Western Force he would start with a prickly relationship with the Chair. I don't think Clyne is the forgive and forget type and he would effectively be Kearns' boss. He might believe he can turn the ship around, but that will not an easy job. It is currently about to capsise. He has a solid career in finance and a gig at Fox- which he'd be foregoing. Bad move I reckon.

Someone from outside the old boys network with a solid background in sports admin is required. That points to Castle. So, given it's a Rat's Arse appointment, Kearns is likely to get the gig.

[andrewg]

Haha- has no previous sport administrative experience...! Hope he gets the job, we can watch the ARU spiral out of control down the gurgler, thank god the Force/WA are out of it.

And VERY limited International managerial experience.

SANZAAR, SA Rugby and NZ Rugby and World Rugby would have him for breakfast.

The same is true for the ex Western Bulldogs CEO.

[Bakkies]

The Australian Sports Commission is the regulatory body that is supposed to oversee National Sporting Bodies but did not get a recommendation from the senate inquiry so probably won't get involved. A class action is possible, who starts it and funds it is the question i would think. There are rumblings out of NSW about the continued nepotism and failings of the ARU. Letting the whole thing implode in a slow motion train crash seems most likely as to what will happen although that will lead to NSW leading a pro NSW restructure which will just start the cycle again. The only thing for certain though is that change needs to occur.

Surely trying to stop the share release is a restraint of trade?

As for the ASC they did get a recommendation to add in their constitution in regards all governing bodies in regards to grassroots and national footprint. That's probably a dig at the NRL, FFA and ACB all three organisations have cut teams in their respective comps. Remember when the ACB scrapped the Canberra Comets from the one day comp. I don't think that the Vica ever got a win against the Comets. Now they have this farcical CA XI side in the poorly run BBQ Cup played out of Sydney club grounds. The CAXI sounds a Greg Chappell idea which does no good for the youngsters' confidence. The Comets were at least competitive and launched the careers of Mark Higgs and Brad Haddin.

As for the other we know their track record of cutting or rebranding sides

[andrewg]

No matter which way you look at it ARU were inept, lost a ton of money and failed to be good stewards of the game in Aust.

This is also a slightly different slant on the belief that the Alliance Agreement was framed in part so that they could use it to drop the Force at some stage. Rather, they worked out at a later stage that it could be used to remove the Force, after their other two options (Brumbies and Rebels) failed.

This chain of events makes a lot more sense than others.

When viewed in the light of what we know it has credibility.

Once North had access to the Alliance Agreement he was happy to assist the EARU in chopping the Force.
At the same time the Rebels were being told to start working out who they wanted from the Western Force.

I do hope that this gets verified as it means that everything publicly provided by the EARU has been false/deceptive/contrived.
WE already know that but the powers-that-be need to be dragged to the same understanding.

[Alison]

My money is on Kearns. As a Tah-worshipping, big-headed Sydneysider, he fits the RA mould perfectly.

[UAUdiver1959]

Absolutely agree that Mr North viewed the Alliance agreement with a view of assisting the ARU in terminating the Force.

[UAUdiver1959]

Kearns at least cares about the sport and his reputation. He just has to work on getting rid of Clyne and some of the other dead wood on the Board. Not saying he will do an excellent job but at least he is not like the two f*kc wits we currently have.

[UAUdiver1959]

Just love looking at quotes and definitions about what a Board is supposed to do....

The board of directors' key purpose is to ensure the company's prosperity by collectively directing the company's affairs, whilst meeting the appropriate interests of its shareholders and stakeholders.

Board Roles and Responsibilities.

Board members are the fiduciaries who steer the organization towards a sustainable future by adopting sound, ethical, and legal governance and financial management policies.

A board of directors

Is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. A board's activities are determined by the powers, duties, and responsibilities delegated to it or conferred on it by an authority outside itself.

[Bakkies]

There is also the matter of the CFO, COO and the vacant spot on the board to be filled

[lou]

There is also the matter of the CFO, COO and the vacant spot on the board to be filled

Chief legal counsel needs to be filled too