NORTHERN PRIDE INTERVIEW CEO CANDIDATES TODAY

INTERVIEWS for the Northern Pride’s next CEO will start today with the club expected to name its top boss before preseason starts in early November.

The Pride’s selection panel whittled 38 applicants for the role down to four contenders with the QRL’s chief human resources officer Jane Shand rubberstamping the candidates.

While Pride chairman Tony Williamson wouldn’t name the final four applicants, the Cairns Post understands that acting CEO Mark Quinn and club legend Chey Bird have both been short-listed for the job.

“They’re all impressive candidates,” Williamson said.

“There is some amazing talent that didn’t make the interview stage. We have a lot of great people within Cairns and we’ve had some high-calibre professionals from further south apply as well.”

The Pride hope to name their new CEO next week, Williamson said.

“It’s so important because the players start training next month,” he said.

“So we need to get back to work and have someone in the chair putting things together behind the scenes.”

The selection panel consists of Williamson, Cowboys football boss Peter Parr, QRL director Darryl van der Velde and Pride board members Stephen Devenish and Gail Andrejic.

The successful applicant will replace former CEO Greg Dowling who walked out on the club in July after less than two years in the role.