Magpies fight heats up
BUSINESSMAN Jeff Browne has reaffirmed his intention to take over as Collingwood president and taken direct aim at current club boss Mark Korda for his role in last year’s salary cap debacle.
Browne, 66, says he will be standing for election at the “earliest opportunity” – either at the club’s annual general meeting in December or if a spill of the board is forced by the members.
In an escalation of the drawn out Collingwood board stoush, Browne said it was “absurd” Korda had been elevated into the Magpies’ presidency after last year’s humiliating trade period and fire sale of players.
“It’s very clear that the Collingwood Football Club’s greatest challenge this season, and potentially for many seasons to come, is the salary cap blunders overseen by Mark Korda as chairman of the finance committee,” Browne said.
“There needs to be an inextricable link and close working relationship between finance and list management. This has been clearly absent at Collingwood and it is absurd that the list manager (Ned Guy) should be let go, and the chairman of the finance committee, elevated to chairman of the club.
“I have more experience working with and understanding the salary cap than anyone else on the Collingwood board. I was heavily involved in drafting those rules and know them intimately. Clearly that will be an advantage to assist the club to work its way out of its current dilemma.”
Browne – the chairman of investment bank Moelis Australia, a former chairman of Carsales.com, ex-managing director of Channel 9 and the AFL’s external lawyer for almost two decades – said he had the business credentials to drag the Magpies out of the mire.
“I have the skills gained as chairman of a major ASX-listed financial group and a listed Australian company operating one of the largest and most successful digital marketplaces in Australia and other parts of the world,” Browne said.
“My experience at Channel 9 has given me a unique insight into the importance of listening to our millions of viewers and fantastic sponsors, to ensure that we delivered the best possible experience we could, to reward their loyalty and grow our business.
“No-one on the Collingwood Football Club board has that leadership experience and it shows in the lack of corporate governance and the mounting lack of confidence that is now trickling down, each week, through all elements of the club.
“Good leadership inspires confidence and both are sadly lacking at Collingwood at the moment.”
Browne rejected suggestions he was “lurking in the shadows” and accused the club of using delay tactics to avoid a democratic board election.
“Clearly, the current board wants to resist calls from members to have a vote on all seven positions and it seems the tactic is as long as you can play a dead bat on the issue somehow it will go away – but I don’t believe it will,” Browne said. “I have said consistently that I would offer myself for election at the earliest opportunity.”