Doyle takes over Warriors in restructure

Owner Eric Watson will relinquish his chairmanship of the New Zealand Warriors in a restructure announced by the NRL club.

Watson will step aside on Friday next week, with managing director Jim Doyle to move into the role as executive chairman.

Chief operating officer Cameron George will become chief executive.

“The changes are in the club’s best interests,” club owner Watson said.

“With succession in mind, this was always our plan and we’re ideally positioned to implement these moves with minimal disruption.

“The chairman’s role is best performed locally.”

The moves come at a time when Watson said he is investigating the sale of the club, which has endured another modest season on the field.

Auckland businessman Paul Davys this week pulled out of a deal to buy the Warriors, unhappy with the process.

Watson said this month he was in conversation with “a few different parties” about selling the Warriors but insisted he was in no hurry, having purchased the struggling NRL franchise in 2000 and nursed it back to health.

A Warriors release made no mention of sale plans but outlined why the restructure was necessary.

Watson said a change to the NRL funding model meant it made sense to promote Doyle into a role they had always intended for him when he joined the club in 2014.

“It’s a fast-paced business with a lot going on at any one time. In more recent times, I’ve had limited opportunities to spend time in New Zealand,” Watson said.

“In Jim, we have an experienced executive of the highest calibre, a proven businessman and someone with a tremendous passion for rugby league.

“He will be involved in not only ongoing board matters and supporting Cameron as CEO but also representing the club in NRL relations and overseeing board-level strategic initiatives.”

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