Jeff Browne (right),Eddie McGuire and Browne’s wife Rhonda Wyllie in 2015.Credit:Jesse Marlow
Browne was responding to Sizer’s comments on SEN and also to the (seven-member) board’s rejection of his offer to have a four-three split,with Browne taking over the presidency in a negotiated outcome.
Browne said he had not enough information to make a decision on Buckley’s future,but expressed confidence in football boss Graham Wright.
“I’ve not spoken to Nathan Buckley,” Browne said. “I’ve not spoken to anyone who’s analysed the coaching performance in depth. I do know in high performance organisations there are times when you must make a change and there are times when you must back your own people. I don’t which applies to the coaching position because I haven’t had any access to detailed information.
“But I do acknowledge that I think Graham Wright is the right person in the job and if I were involved in the club I would obviously be speaking to him very closely but as well,to Nathan.“”
On the question of what he would do as president if Buckley exited,Browne said:“You’d have to see who was available and go your hardest for the best one you could identify.”
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He suggested a coach-search process would include external experts,mentioning Paul Roos and Jason Dunstall as expert advisers to other clubs. “I don’t know who,but I think that concept is a helpful one.”
Browne said he had never suggested he wanted to retain Buckley to board member Paul Licuria when the pair spoke.
Browne said he had never spoken toDavid Hatley,the member organising the EGM,confirming that he would put his name forward if there was an EGM with the number on his ticket “open to discussion.”
“The ultimate decision makers in relation to the Collingwood Football Club are the members,not the board. If the members want to petition for an extraordinary general meeting of the board,I’ll put my name forward.”
Browne revealed that Sizer,Wilson and Holgate would have been his preferred options in a composite board,ahead of ex-player Licuria.
“They’re the three I would welcome.
“Neil Wilson hasn’t had anything to do with the mistakes of the past. Jodie,nothwithstanding her comments about me this morning,is a good person to execute the Do Better report and I think that’s important. And Christine Holgate is a very talented executive.
Browne said it had been the “leadership vaccuum” - evident in the board’s initial sharing of the presidency,post-McGuire’s resignation,between Korda and Peter Murphy - that had led him to pursue the presidency.
“Now they settled on Mark,and here’s my problem with that - Mark was chairman of the club’s finance committee .... How could the chairman of the finance committee not know about the implications of the financial situation in relation to the salary cap?
“I don’t think he’s a natural leader,but he carries that very specific baggage that actually resulted in us showing very good footballers the door.”
Browne,asked about McGuire’s responsibility for the salary cap problems,compared to Korda,said:“The whole club needs to be accountable for that. I’ve called out Mark because ... he was was the one (director) closest to the issues that got us in trouble.”
Browne said of suggestions that McGuire,a close friend,would influence him:“He (McGuire) totally accepts that whoever is president ... should have a mandate to lead the club. He won’t seek to interfere.
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“But ... if I was president and I needed some help,some background or some information,I know that I could call on him to assist. But it would be my call.”
Browne said he did not expect the current board to go into caretaker mode on the issue of the coaching position until a board contest was decided.
Browne said that,since the Korda board had rejected his proposal,“I don’t know that we have a lot to talk about.
“I’m in the hands of the members at the moment. If there is a meeting called,then I will say the things that I think need to happen at Collingwood,the things that I think I can add. And will also acknowledge that there are many good things at Collingwood - the club is in a sound financial position.
“But I can’t come out now and publish a manifesto on what I think needs to happen at Collingwood,other than to say that I think it needs a change of leadership and strong leadership.
“I think the three critical issues at Collingwood are:a lack of leadership,secondly a lack of confidence that has caused across the membership base and thirdly...the fact that it’s the members who really own the Collingwood Football Club and they should be heard.”
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