SportWales ex-officials clash after dismissal
AWAR of words has broken out after the chairman and vicechairman of Sport Wales were both sacked.
On Wednesday, chairman Paul Thomas and his deputy, Adele Baumgardt, were told by Welsh Government minister Rebecca Evans that “fresh leadership” was needed.
In November Ms Evans suspended all activities of the board in the wake of a no-confidence vote in Dr Thomas, but in February reinstated all but the chairman and vice-chairman.
But the two sacked officials have since spoken out.
Adele Baumgardt said she had spent 10 years with Sport Wales, which she described as a “fantastic organisation”, but she criticised Dr Thomas as “not being fit to hold senior public office”.
“This has been a brilliant opportunity to work with a fantastic organisation delivering sustained success in terms of sport and physical activity for the people of Wales,” she said.
“Our achievements over recent years speak for themselves in terms of increased participation rates in adults and children and in our record medal hauls at the elite level.
“I am proud to have played my part in this work and to have been part of a great board and to work with an exemplary executive.
“As vice-chair, I have always maintained the highest levels of principles of public life and had the good of the organisation and its delivery at the heart of everything I did.
“As the board minutes will reflect, regrettably, the behaviour of Mr Thomas since his appointment as chair of Sport Wales in April 2016 quickly evidenced that he was not, in my opinion, fit to hold senior public office.”
She added: “On behalf of the board, my actions sought to mitigate his behaviour and to instigate proper principles and practice for good governance. The board had correctly challenged him to account for his behaviour which, ultimately, led to the unanimous vote of no confidence in November 2016. I stand by my action.”
Former chairman Paul Thomas said he had not been notified of the decision which was made by Ms Evans and said he was “very disappointed”.
A report, which was part of a review by Dr Thomas when he took over, criticised the organisation as being “perceived as lacking openness and transparency” and said it needed a “significant change in leadership style”.
One stakeholder described it as a “cash machine with PR skills” and as an organisation which “lacks relevance within the sector”.
“At present, Sport Wales is hindered by its pursuit of straplines and poor vision statements that create barriers to real understanding of the unique offerings in its remit,” they said.
Dr Thomas contested that the minutes referenced by Ms Baumgardt were correct and said his investigations were what he had been asked to do.
“It puts a sour note on what I went there to do. I was doing what, in a sense, Welsh Government and ministers wanted. They wanted a review and a critical look at Sport Wales.”
He described Ms Baumgart’s comments as “disappointing”.
“I respect Adele and she’s a great person in terms of equality and diversity but it was almost 19th-century thinking. We have to move on.”