BY JOHN DAVIDSON
It’s an appointment that has left some fans scratching their heads, and others sharpening their pitchforks.
Interim Rugby Football League CEO Tony Sutton has been given the job permanently after three months, with an announcement confirmation this morning. Shocked, most were not.
Another inside appointment from the RFL. Another candidate promoted from within.
To find another internal staff member is best for the role, despite a ‘worldwide search’ and the organisation failing for several years, is both unsurprising and worrying.
Just like Ralph Rimmer taking over from Nigel Wood, and Wood from Richard Lewis, even Rhodri Jones recently moving into the position of managing director of RL Commerical, the inside man strikes again.
To Sutton’s credit, unlike some others, he has not worked in the sport his whole life.
He has been with the RFL for the past six years, joining the governing body in 2017 as director of finance & facilities, before becoming chief operating officer in 2019.
Before that he had two and half years as group finance director at Hull College Group and spent 13 years with Hull FC. At the Black & Whites he worked his way up from financial controller and finance director to chief operating officer of the club.
An accountant by trade, Sutton worked for Smailes Goldie Chartered Accountants previously and holds an economics degree from the University of Liverpool.
He has experience outside rugby league.
I have never spoken to or interviewed Sutton before. One influential figure has described him as a “quality bloke who will do well”. Â Another said he is a “good, smart guy”.
Let’s hope this is the case.
Something else to consider is that not only is the salary of the CEO position at the RFL no longer as high as it was previously, is also no longer as influential.
The main power in the sport now lies with RL Commerical and IMG. The RFL is much weaker than it has been in years gone by.
Regardless, the appointment does little to inspire or appease.
The RFL has not made a major hire outside of the sport since Lewis. Twenty-one years of constantly staying within the flock, without looking outside for leadership, new ideas or innovation, is some effort.
Many are not happy about it. They see it as another ‘jobs for the boys’ hire, another self-interest’ move. History repeating itself.
But let’s cut to the chase. TV rights income is down drastically, the RFL is losing money, the split with Super League was a costly failure, the finances of many clubs are in the toilet, the fanbase is fractured and so rugby league needs a circuit-breaker, it needs shaking up and proper change.
IMG has been enlisted to grow and save the sport. Will IMG be able to do it? We don’t know.
Sutton has been thrown into this mire. I only hope he can succeed, changing recent history and perceptions along with it.
The alternative is not worth considering.
