DAVE Smith has quit after a tumultuous three years as the boss of the National Rugby League.

The search for Smith’s successor is underway but at a media conference Australian Rugby League Chairman John Grant could not guarantee a successor would be in place at the start of the 2016 season.

Grant will step into Smith’s shoes on an interim basis and take control of the turbulent television broadcasting rights negotiations until a new CEO is appointed.

The Daily Telegraph broke the news on Tuesday morning that Smith would be quitting the role that he has held for the past three years.

The breakdown in the broadcast rights negotiations and an unsettled relationship with NRL clubs was believed to be the pivotal reasons behind his decision to leave.

Smith only recently told the Daily Telegraph that he had no plans to quit, but pressure over his failure to complete a $1.7 billion TV and digital broadcast rights deal was one of the reasons for his decision to walk away.

Key broadcast executives were not prepared to negotiate with him after his decision to sign a five-year free-to-air television deal with Nine while snubbing Fox Sports.

In a media conference Smith said he was proud of his legacy and the direction that the game was heading in but it was time to “hand the baton over”.

“I have said to many of you in the last few weeks that I would know when the time was right for leadership renewal. After three big years, three successful years, that time has come,” Smith said.

Smith said the NRL achievements over the past three years included the free to air broadcast deal, $1.6 billion for investment in rugby league stadiums, the sustainability fund of $50m, a surplus of $100m and a 48% increase in non-broadcast revenue.

“I think hopefully a part of my legacy with the great team we have here at Rugby League Central is we have created momentum, change and we have started to realise the opportunity that is rugby league, is the NRL and the NRL product, the content that is the NRL, I think it is amazing,” Smith said.

“John (Grant) mentioned the international rights and a number of the other growth areas that we are thinking about. This game is really well placed to take advantage of that opportunity. What I hope I have played a very small part and had the privilege to play a small part in is setting that momentum.”

TIMELINE: A tumultuous three years

TIME TO GO: Smith explains his decision to quit

REACTION: What the rugby league world is saying

When pressed on the broadcast rights deal with only the $925 million free-to-air side of the deal completed, Smith said he would “not be going anywhere” if he didn’t think the game would be getting a good outcome.

“I think our broadcast rights are in really, really good shape. What we did was a landmark free-to-air deal because the free-to-air market of all of the markets is the most uncertain.

“We are proud of that deal. We are entirely comfortable that over the time period that we deliberately set ourselves, 2.5 years, that we are in great shape and we continue with commercially confident discussions but they are very productive and constructive discussions.”

media_camera Dave Smitth with John Grant at League Central after announcing he would be stepping down as CEO. Pic Stephen Cooper

Grant said a recruitment firm had been appointed in the search for a replacement for Smith and that both internal and external candidates would be considered.

“Dave has been a wonderful leader and change agent for our game,” Grant said.

“We all understood that it would take between three to five years to effect meaningful change and to build the platforms from which the game could continue to grow and succeed.

“We are now financially strong, organisationally sound and have strengthened the game’s connection to the fans,” Grant said.

Grant said he would have liked Smith to stay in the job longer but understood his reasons for stepping down.

When asked on who the contenders were to replace Smith, Grant said he hoped internal candidates would put their names forward, however, he would not say if the new boss would be in place by the start of next season.

“We have to do a search now which has started. It is an internal and external search. We are hopeful that internal candidates put up their hands. We will get the right candidate, that is the end job for the commission, get the right person for the job, it is the most important responsibility of the commission.”

media_camera Dave Smith following the announcement that he would be stepping down as NRL CEO.

Smith’s resignation comes despite repeated assurances he would be staying in the job.

In August when it was put to him if he would be in for the long haul, Smith said he hadn’t given any thought to the future.

“My focus, amongst other things, is on negotiating a TV rights deal which will set up the game for the future and ensure we have a strong finish to the Telstra Premiership,” he said.

“So I am not going anywhere!”

In a separate interview only last week he was evasive when asked about his current working relationship with chairman John Grant following reports the two were at loggerheads.

“John and I have a good working relationship but that doesn’t mean we always agree,” Smith said.

“You asked me when I first came into this job whether I am my own man. Well I am. You consult and you listen but you’ve got to run your own race in the end.

“(We) ave differences of opinion and we have for the three years I’ve been here. That’s natural and that’s normal. I’m not pushing hard enough if we don’t disagree sometimes.”