Inaugural Perth Bears CEO Anthony De Ceglie steps down six months before NRL inception

Inaugural Perth Bears chief executive Anthony De Ceglie has stepped down, six months before the club’s entry into the NRL .

De Ceglie was hand-picked by NRL executive chairman Peter V’Landys in March last year to lead the competition’s 18th club when it formed.

There had been speculation in recent weeks that De Ceglie was under pressure from the club’s board to keep his job, despite denials from coach Mal Meninga.

Though in a quirk, De Ceglie couldn’t be sacked by his own board because the club is still owned by the Australian Rugby League Commission.

Instead, De Ceglie has fallen on his own sword, weeks before the Bears’ first pre-season.

In a statement, De Ceglie said he was “extremely proud” of his stint in charge, but did not address why he quit.

Speaking to Fox Sports recently, Meninga poured cold water over suggestions his CEO was under any pressure.

“I don’t know what it is. It’s been an ongoing battle, it’s him and I around who’s going to get sacked next,” Meninga said earlier this month.

“I just forget about it now and I don’t even read the papers anymore, honestly. I just get on with the job.

“I know I’ve got great support and Anthony has got great support, internally, so we just get on with our business.

“We can only control what we control and that’s the internal things. We don’t want to fight any external battles.”

“I thank Anthony for his leadership of the Perth Bears in our startup phase and we will now turn our attention to the leadership of our organisation as we enter the next phase of our story,” he said.

“Under Anthony’s leadership, in our start-up phase the Perth Bears have secured record commercial partnership agreements, launched our merchandise range, successfully welcomed more than 20,000 people as our foundation members, progressed key infrastructure programs and most importantly recruited what will be a competitive on field team.”