Outstanding debt a prime reason

A debt of “somewhere between $100,000 and $200,000” was given to AFL Gippsland commissioners as the prime reason for their removal.

Interim chairman of AFL Gippsland until last Tuesday night John Schelling conceded the “in the red figure” explaining that the wide range depended on whether significant sums owing it were recovered.

Part of the outstanding amount were special levies imposed last year on clubs, most of which had not been paid.

Mr Schelling said the commission had asked AFL Victoria to “back the debt” – not pay it – until it worked its way “into the black”. However, the request was rejected. Mr Schelling said commissioners, all volunteers, had been told they would be held personally liable for the debt if the organisation folded or was wound up and it was to protect them that they should resign.

He said if they did resign AFL Victoria would then take responsibility for the financial situation.

Mr Schelling has never been confirmed by AFL Victoria as chairman, a role he was appointed to in an interim capacity in April last year following the resignation from the commission of Brian Quigley.

He said he was “gutted” by last Tuesday’s events. “All of us (commissioners) were rocked”. Similar sentiments were expressed by commissioners Greg Maidment – “everybody was upset and disappointed, we were hung out to dry” – and John White – “this has devastated the commissioners”.

Mr Schelling said he “really felt” for the staff employed at AFL Gippsland’s Regional Administration Centre based at the Morwell oval.

“The pressure on them will be immense,” he said.

The AFL Gippsland Commission structure is for a maximum of 10 volunteer members – four of which are appointed by AFL Victoria and six appointed after calls for expressions of interest.

The Commission that was in place until last Tuesday had six members, the majority being AFL appointees.