It’s the first strong statement Buckley has made about the ructions at board level and the push for an extraordinary general meeting,with his future a key discussion point among supporters.

His comment came as battlelines began to be drawn in the fight for the Collingwood presidency with revered former Magpie Dane Swan throwing his support behind Korda,saying that any contest for board positions should occur at an annual general meeting rather than mid-season.

The 37-year-old - who retired after being injured in the opening match of 2016 with a premiership,a Brownlow Medal and three club best and fairests,including one in the 2010 premiership year in his decorated career - said on his weekly podcastHumpday with Swanny&Friends that a stoush would harm many who put the club’s interests first.

AFL identity Browne has told the board he wants it to hand over the presidency or he will contest an extraordinary general meeting if the members,led byDavid Hatley,choose to call one after collecting enough signatures for a board spill. TheMark Korda-led board rejected Browne’s demand on Wednesday.

“If Collingwood have an AGM at the end of the year why couldn’t Browne wait? Why does it have to be immediate and cause more unrest? I think it creates instability and I don’t think it’s the right way to go about it and cause unnecessary fractions in the footy club,” Swan said.

“Relationships and mateships that you take for the rest of your life are way more important than any game you win ... I think it is starting to ruin relationships and friendships because of what is going on and people are fighting back and forth.”

Swan,a popular figure among fans,said while he didn’t know the inner workings of the club,former teammate Paul Licuria and former interim CEO Peter Murphy,both current board members,were “two of the most trustworthy people I have ever met”.

He said he was prepared to state his case once he heard former president Eddie McGuire declare that he was not involved in Browne’s push for the presidency withMcGuire tellingFooty Classified on Wednesday night he was sick of being called a liar and it broke his heart that a contest for his former position loomed.

“Whoever was going to take over from Ed was f----d ... they need some clean air,” Swan said.

Swan’s former teammate Ben Johnson has also argued against an extraordinary general meeting while former players from the previous eraCraig Kelly,Peter Moore and Paul Tuddenham have endorsed Browne.

Premiership captain Tony Shaw has not endorsed either party but has made it clear he hopes an EGM can be avoided.

Collingwood would need to follow the Company Act’s provisions if the number of signatures required to force an EGM are handed to the club,with S249 of the Act stating that a “meeting is to be held not later than two months after the request is given to the company”.

Another complicating factor is COVID-19,with restrictions potentially limiting the number of people that could gather for such a meeting if it was called before the end of the season.

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