SC Athletics still want Garland sanctioned

The South Canterbury Amateur Athletics Club committee will abide by the decision of the independent judicial panel hearing complaints against life member Don Garland.

President Grant Lord gave the undertaking at the annual general meeting on Thursday night after taking a question from the floor.

Garland, a former New Zealand selector, is facing allegations of bullying and harassment, something he strenuously denied.

Lord admitted the matter was dragging on and needed to be resolved.

‘‘It is not something we can sweep aside and just forget. If it was an issue the committee could have resolved we would have done it.’’

He declined to expand on the matter until after the judicial process had taken place.

Garland did not attend the annual meeting but has been adamant he had done nothing wrong.

‘‘I have still not been provided with the actual allegation but have done nothing so I am not worried about it.’’

Long time patron Bruce Leadley was also a no-show at the annual meeting but his apology had a sting in the tail.

‘‘I recall being verbally abused and physically impeded by the husband of a committee member at the AGM last year. I do not want to put myself at risk again.’’

Leadley also stood down as patron.

‘‘I don’t want to be involved with a committee that persists in pursuing a personality vendetta against a reputable coach.

‘‘I disapprove of the time, energy and money spent on legal fees pursing Don Garland.’’

Leadley said he also noted a recent change to the club’s bylaws meant a patron could only hold the position for nine years.

‘‘I’ve done 24 years already so was not eligible anyway.’’

The pursuit of Garland has certainly split the club.

At the 2016 annual general meeting, members voted against Garland’s suspension, despite objections from the committee leadership and others.

Earlier this month Garland received a letter from lawyers engaged by the athletics club notifying him that they were convening a judicial committee to investigate a complaint by the committee against him.

The committee claim Garland has acted in a manner unbecoming or prejudicial to the objects or interests of the club by circulating correspondence which is inappropriate and inflammatory and/or intended to undermine the proper administration of the club.

‘‘I have done nothing wrong. There is a group there that like to tell people what to do and if you stand up to them they take offence. I think it is a jealously thing really.’’

Garland said he was waiting to see the accusations in writing before deciding on his response.

The club has engaged lawyers Quentin Hix, Robert Vincent and Craig O’Connor to convene the judicial committee to hear the complaint.

Lord said they were following similar processes to other sport clubs.

He would not be drawn on what the punishment the club were seeking if the complaint was upheld.

The deep divide in the athletic club was exposed at the special general meeting five months ago, when president Chris Hampton resigned.

Hampton was not happy with the direction the ‘‘dysfunctional committee’’ was heading or the amount of money it was prepared to spend on legal fees chasing Garland.

The allegations were mainly regarding emails Garland had sent to some of the previous committee members, he said.

At the annual meeting Hampton was unhappy the legal fees of $2838.20 were not noted correctly in the accounts.

Hampton said the vast majority were used for advice regarding the pursuit of Garland, and an early bill relating to the same matter had been paid by a private donor.

The annual meeting was attended by 25 people and the office holders were all elected without the need for a vote.

Olympic bronze medallist Tom Walsh was also made a life member along with long serving administrator Jan Lord and her husband Grant, who has served on committees, coached and is a qualified official.