0
Waratahs boss pays the price
By Peter Jenkins
July 17, 2007
NEW South Wales Rugby Union chief executive Fraser Neill has been sacked in the aftermath of the Waratahs' troubled Super 14 season.
Neill's departure will not be officially announced until this morning but The Daily Telegraph was told last night "performance and leadership" issues emerged as factors in the decision.
The Telegraph also understands the NSWRU has secretly sourced potential replacements over recent weeks and a successor - former banking executive Jim L'Estrange - will be named today.
The Waratahs struggled unexpectedly to finish second last in Super 14 this year - ahead of only Queensland in what was NSW's worst result in the 12-season history of the provincial competition.
Neill revealed at the close of the tournament that a stunning drop in crowds at Waratahs home matches had also left the NSWRU with a $2.3 million shortfall in their revenue forecasts for 2007.
Revealing a series of cost-cutting measures aimed at improving the bottom line, Neill said the game's largest state body might still "break even" after initially budgeting to post a profit of $1 million this year.
He opened the books in May to defuse increasing speculation that the slide in attendances, coupled with the Waratahs failing to reach the finals for the first time in three seasons, had the NSWRU heading towards a massive financial loss.
Twice this year during their seven matches at Aussie Stadium - now Sydney Football Stadium - the Waratahs attracted crowds of less than 20,000. They remain the only occasions NSW have dipped under that figure since the game went professional in 1996.
Neill said the NSWRU had budgeted for an average of 33,900 fans per game this season.
Its sales receipts returned an average of just 24,900 per match.
"We were looking at making an overall profit of $1 million this year but the drop in crowds had us looking at a $1.3 million loss," Neill said at the time.
"We had even earlier indications before we kicked off the season that we might have some financial issues because our memberships were down around 12 per cent."
Blues appoint new chief
July 17, 2007
FORMER Star City managing director Jim L'Estrange has been appointed as the new chief executive of New South Wales Rugby.
L'Estrange, 50, a former Sydney University captain, began work today following the sudden resignation of Fraser Neill yesterday in the wake of the Waratahs' woeful Super 14 season.
"Jim L'Estrange is the right person at the right time for NSW Rugby," said NSWRU chairman Arvid Petersen.
"He will bring a new level of leadership to the organisation.
"The game needs an injection of new ideas and new drive and that's what Jim brings to the table.
"He's improved market share and efficiency everywhere he's worked and it's that type of ability that we currently need at NSW.
"Our stocks have dipped this year and we need to get back on track fast."
L'Estrange said his business career has prepared him well for his new role.
"I'm used to working in a competitive marketplace and NSW Rugby is certainly in one of those," he said.
Petersen acknowledged outgoing CEO Fraser Neill for presiding over an important period for the game in NSW.
"Fraser's contribution was significant as NSW moved out of ARU administration and back to self-governance and we wish him well in the future," he said.
AAP