Panthers CEO Payne to depart club: reports

Penrith could be on the search for their second chief executive in four months following reports Corey Payne is set to depart the NRL club.

Payne was considered the successor to Panthers general manager Phil Gould after the 32-year-old’s appointment in April.

However the Seven Network and News Corp Australia are reporting an announcement on Payne’s future will be made on Monday.

His expected exit would mean three chief executives, including current Wests Tigers boss Justin Pascoe, will have left the club in the space of just 12 months.

Payne, the youngest chief executive in the NRL, attracted headlines last month after a controversial row with then-World Cup boss Michael Brown over Penrith not being awarded a tournament game.

It is understood Brown quit after he admitted to bullying Payne in a expletive-laden voicemail message which was then forwarded to NRL boss Todd Greenberg.

Payne was named NSW Young Australian of the Year in 2013 for his youth mentoring work.

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