Former Australian rugby league supremo John Quayle is among the new-look board of the Newcastle Knights announced by the NRL as they look to secure the future of the troubled club.

The NRL took control of the NSW Hunter-based Knights in June after a turbulent period under former owner Nathan Tinkler, who relinquished ownership of the club in May.

Quayle, who was general manager of NSW Rugby League and chief executive of the Australian Rugby League between 1983 and 1996, has been advising the Knights since the governing body took over.

NRL boss Dave Smith said the board demonstrated the calibre of people interested in being part of rugby league in the Hunter region.

“It has expertise in all the right areas, including business, sport, sponsorship and rugby league,” Smith said in a NRL statement on Saturday.

“And, even more importantly, this is a board with strong links to the local community.

“So it is a board which has one goal – to ensure the Newcastle Knights have a strong, secure and successful future.”

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS BOARD

*BRIAN MCGUIGAN AM – Director Australian Vintage Limited

*EILEEN DOYLE – Director Newcastle Ports, Bradken, GPT and Boral, Chairman Hunter Valley Research Foundation

*MARK FITZGIBBON – CEO of NIB Health Funds.

*KATIE BRASSIL – General Manager of External Affairs at Centennial Coal

*PHILIP GARDNER – CEO of the Wests Group

*JOHN QUAYLE – Chairman of Venues NSW who is a former CEO of the Australian Rugby League

*PETER SHEAR – NRL adviser and former Lloyds Banking Group executive