Knowles resigns from MRU
John Knowles has called time on his career as chief executive of the Manawatu Rugby Union.
He handed his resignation to the union’s board on Wednesday, ending a nine-year run in the position. Knowles’ final day in the role will be December 31.
He said it was a decision that he had been discussing with his wife Judine for a while, but he stopped short of calling it his retirement.
‘‘Now is a good time to move on. I feel like you can spend too long in a job,’’ he said. ‘‘But I am not calling it retirement, I would still like to work.’’
Knowles has steered the union through some tough years after taking over when the union was on shaky ground. But what he leaves behind him is a much more stable organisation.
His involvement in Manawatu Rugby started back in 2006.
At the time, he came on board as the Turbos’ manager alongside coach Dave Rennie after Charlie Mcalister resigned as coach one month out from the Turbos’ return to the top flight of the provincial competition.
Knowles, a former school principal and Hurricanes and Taranaki team manager, was given an indefinite contract. A couple of months later he signed on as the union’s director of rugby, a role that kept him as the Turbos manager.
But at the end of the 2007 season, he opted to return to teaching due to the instability of provincial rugby and since his wife was based in Wellington.
The lure of Manawatu rugby was still appealing for him.
And one year later he was back, but this time as the chief executive of the Manawatu Rugby Union after being unanimously selected to replace Hadyn Smith at the end of 2008.
It was a time of financial instability for the union with Knowles stepping in as the union posted its second-biggest operating loss since the Central Vikings fell apart in 1998.
That had the Turbos’ future as a division one province on the ropes.
With New Zealand Rugby ready to cut two teams from the competition, Manawatu appeared to be in the firing line.
Knowles led the charge to make sure Manawatu avoided the cull.
With help from the Save the Turbos campaign, the union was able to get back on financial track.
By December 2009, New Zealand called off their decision to axe teams survived.
Knowles was named the Manawatu Standard‘s person of the year in 2009 for the his role in the battle.
From there, it has been much smoother sailing, despite him having to dodge a few icebergs over the years.
Under Knowles’ leadership the union has produced surpluses in six consecutive years.
In the meantime there was a growing Super Rugby contingent within the union and the undoubted high of winning the NPC Championship in 2014.
Regardless Knowles can rest easy knowing he has left Manawatu rugby in a stronger position than when he started. meaning Manawatu