PETER V’LANDYS may soon have a role in Rugby League in the northern hemisphere, if an agreement can be reached for the NRL to enter a partnership with RL Commercial in the UK.
But before then he will become the NRL’s first Executive Chairman before the end of this week.
The new position combines his previous role as Chairman with the chief executive’s role that was, until July, occupied by Andrew Abdo prior to his departure to become the CEO of Tennis Australia.
The NRL clubs have offered their unanimous support for V’landys to step into his new role on a three-year contract, despite some misgivings in some quarters about the dominant role he will now have by combining both roles.
The chairs of the clubs and state leagues had an online meeting on Saturday morning to discuss the change, with all of them giving their backing.
The appointment will be approved at a board meeting of the Australian Rugby League Commission this Wednesday.
V’landys has been the chief executive at Racing NSW for 22 years but when his appointment as Executive Chairman is confirmed he is expected to set a date to end his racing commitments.
South Sydney Rabbitohs chair Nick Pappas confirmed the level of support among the clubs that V’landys enjoys.
“There was broad consensus among the clubs and the states,” Pappas said.
“We have no objection to Peter taking that position – in fact we welcome it … There are some issues that require clarification in relation to guardrails around the position to ensure governance at the highest level, which is what Peter wants as well.
“We are not at cross purposes on this. There is nothing that would act as an obstacle to him taking up that position.”