Let $q$ be odd. If $G$ is a finite group such that $G$ has a normal subgroup $H$ of order $3$ such that $G/H\cong {\rm PGL}(2,q)$, what can we say about $G$. Is it true in general that $G\cong {\Bbb Z}\_3\times {\rm PGL}(2,q)$?


The motivation for this question: If we change ${\rm PGL}(2,q)$ to ${\rm PSL}(2,q)$, then the result is true.



Extensions of $\Bbb Z_3$ by $PGL(2,q)$ where $q$ is odd
Since the Schur Multiplier of the perfect group ${\rm PSL}(2,q)$ has order $2$, $G$ must have a normal subgroup $N$ of index $2$ isomorphic to $C\_3 \times {\rm PSL}(2,q)$. Since ${\rm PGL}(2,q) \setminus {\rm PSL}(2,q)$ contains an element of order $2$, we have $G = \langle N,t \rangle$, with $t^2=1$. The direct factors of $N$ are both characteristic in $N$ and hence normalized by $t$, and clearly $\langle t, {\rm PSL}(2,q) \rangle = {\rm PGL}(2,q)$, so the group $G$ is determined by the conjugation action of $t$ on $H=C\_3$.


There are two possibilities for that, $t$ can either centralize of invert the elements of $H$, giving two isomorphism classes of groups.


*Added later*: As pointed out by Geoff Robinson, the case $q=9$ is exceptional, because the Schur Multiplier of ${\rm PSL}(2,9)$ has order $6$. There is a third isomorphism class of groups $G$ in this case, which is a group with a normal series $1 < H < K < G$ with $|H|=3$, $K$ isomorphic to the perfect triple cover $3.{\rm PSL}(2,9)$, and $G/H \cong {\rm PGL}(2,9)$.
In this example, an element outside of $K$ inverts the elements of $H$.


