DEMONS RETURN SERVE AT BARTLETT

THE Melbourne Football Club board has fired back at former Demons president Glen Bartlett, declaring that it made a “unanimous decision” to remove him last April.

The Demons have also moved to defend coach Simon Goodwin, saying he is “an exceptional and inclusive leader” who has been “unfairly targeted”.

It follows the release of an explosive statement by Bartlett on Thursday night in which the former club boss claimed he had stood down after being thwarted in his fight to keep the club free of “workplace bullying, gambling, harassment and illegal drugs”.

Bartlett claimed he and his partner had since been subjected to “threats, deceitful conduct and a public campaign to discredit us”.

The Demons responded with their own statement last night, which said: “Primarily, we would like to address the club’s change of presidency in April 2021.

“It was the unanimous decision of the board to request Glen resign as president.

“We acknowledge that a change of leadership at a club is a difficult time for all involved and out of respect for Glen and his service to the club, when the time came for him to hand over the presidency, we endeavoured to respectfully acknowledge his achievements and contribution.

“Separately, the board would also like to reiterate its support of the club’s people, particularly Simon Goodwin, who have been unfairly targeted as part of inaccurate and unsubstantiated media reports.

“As the board has previously stated, Simon is an exceptional and inclusive leader, who is loved by players, coaches, and staff, and is a key driver of our high-performance culture, standards, and disciplines.

“We see no utility in engaging in an ongoing commentary on these matters.”

Bartlett, a workplace lawyer hand-picked by the AFL to lead the club in 2013, had been endorsed to stay on as president for another 12 months just a few weeks earlier.

Melbourne did not respond to specific questions about the alleged use of illegal drugs at the club or threats made to Bartlett and his family.

The AFL also declined comment.