St Helens chairman criticizes RFL for poor governance

Eamonn McManus, chairman of St Helens rugby club, has criticized the Rugby Football League (RFL) for its management of the sport. He described the situation as causing "major destruction in shareholder value." McManus expressed strong support for Nigel Wood, the new interim head of the RFL. Wood returned to help lead a strategic review after the resignation of Simon Johnson, the RFL chairman. McManus accused the RFL board of having a coordinated campaign to undermine Wood's leadership. He highlighted concerns over governance and culture within the RFL as two directors recently resigned. The St Helens chairman noted that his club had been the most successful in the Super League era, winning four championships in a row from 2019 to 2022. However, he pointed out that over the last four years, the sport has faced a £30 million annual decline in financial performance. McManus also recalled better times for the RFL, when broadcast deals were negotiated, and finances improved. Additionally, he criticized a recent match where England's women team suffered a heavy defeat against Australia. He called the decision to hold the match "insane" and blamed it for damaging their confidence. The RFL declined to comment on McManus' statements. In response to the recent turmoil, the RFL announced a new interim board and stated that it is working to ensure compliance with regulations to protect funding. This comes after Johnson's resignation amid unrest from some Super League clubs regarding his leadership.