ARLC chairman John Grant meets with NRL clubs spokesman in attempt to keep job
Updated
Under-siege Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) chairman John Grant could save his job after a marathon meeting over the ongoing funding stoush between the 16 NRL clubs and the game's administration.
Grant spent all day in Melbourne on Monday with Melbourne Storm chairman Bart Campbell, who is the spokesperson for the NRL clubs, as he attempted to salvage a funding deal that has been on the negotiating table for the past 12 months.
The clubs remain furious that Grant and NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg reneged on the original future funding agreement.
The proposed deal to fund clubs at 130 per cent of the salary cap from 2018 would have delivered them about $100 million per year.
The funding proposal was pulled from negotiation talks late last month, with the NRL arguing it could no longer afford it because the league needed to direct the money to other areas, such as grassroots participation.
That prompted 14 of the 16 clubs to call for an emergency general meeting to be held on December 20 to have Grant sacked.
Those 14 clubs, as well as the New South Wales Rugby League, would be enough to remove Grant as one of the game's most senior officials, even though he has the backing of the entire Commission.
The NRL released a statement late on Monday night saying the clubs and the ARLC had agreed to continue discussions to try to resolve the current impasse.
The ABC understands the clubs want the original deal reinstated if Grant is to save his job.
They remain united that no further meetings will take place unless the 130 per cent proposal goes back on the table and there is constitutional reform.
Topics: nrl, rugby-league, sport, australia
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