St George Illawarra Dragons will part ways with their chief executive, Ryan Webb, after deciding not to extend his contract beyond its expiration in April next year. This decision was made during a board meeting on Tuesday, where the Dragons confirmed their intention to search for a new CEO outside the club. Webb, who has been at the helm for five years, primarily focused on overseeing the club’s commercial and financial operations. Despite his leadership, the Dragons have not qualified for the NRL finals during his tenure.
The decision follows other significant changes at the club, including the sacking of former coach Anthony Griffin and the recent appointment of Shane Flanagan as his replacement. Dragons chairman Andrew Lancaster praised Webb’s leadership during a challenging time, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic affecting the NRL. Lancaster acknowledged that Webb had implemented important reforms and positioned the club for future growth.
Although Webb’s contributions, such as record commercial revenues and the upcoming construction of the Dragons’ Community and High-Performance Centre, were recognized, the club believes it’s time for a fresh start. Webb will remain in his role through a transition period.
Reports suggest the Dragons had approached South Sydney Rabbitohs’ boss Blake Solly about the CEO position, but Solly opted to stay with South Sydney. Among the potential candidates for the role are Supercars COO Tim Watsford, former NRL general manager Jaymes Boland-Rudder, ex-South Sydney COO Brock Schaefer, and Newcastle Knights’ head of football Peter Parr.
Webb expressed pride in his time as CEO, stating, “Being CEO of St George Illawarra is an absolute privilege and an experience I will always be proud of.”