CALL TO QUIT: New Zealand Football facing further turmoil
Upheaval continues after board member resigns in wake of independent review and calls for chairman to quit
More upheavals are coming for New Zealand Football, and last week’s review could be the beginning of another phase of turmoil, rather than a conclusion.
A New Zealand Football board member has resigned in the wake of the release of the independent review into NZF — and it could be the first of several departures.
The Herald understands executive council member Jon Ormond advised the rest of the executive committee of his decision to resign late last week.
In a statement, Ormond said it came down to a “conscience vote”, given the findings of the review.
Ormond also claimed the chairman Deryck Shaw’s position is now “untenable”.
His decision could be a catalyst to spark others on the board to act.
“I have resigned from the board of NZF,” said Ormond in a statement sent to the board. “As is now a matter of public record, the recent NZF review also comprised a confidential briefing to the board about matters which fell within the purview of the review but which cannot be published by NZF or the reviewer due to legal constraints, including obligations of confidentiality.
“I formed the view that when read together with the published portion, that the position of the chair, and potentially the board itself was untenable. The collective duty of a board has essentially made this a conscience vote. I respect those board members who prefer to act from the inside to effect change.”
It’s a significant move, and the first time in years a serving board member has resigned in such a fashion.
The Herald understands some other board members are now con-
sidering their positions. Some are believed to still support Shaw, but others believe the chairman should step down in light of the review.
There is also an emerging feeling among other football stakeholders that the entire board should stand for re-election, given the extraordinary circumstances of the last three months.
The review, which was released last Wednesday, contained explicit and implicit criticism of the board.
The most damming related to the lack of board action around allegations and concerns raised by the Football Ferns and members of the Ferns management team around the conduct of former coach Andreas Heraf.
But of probably equal concern are the circumstances around former CEO Andy Martin.
There were a plethora of issues raised over Martin — reviewer Phillipa Muir admitted she received “strong feedback” from a number of people she interviewed — but the terms around Martin’s departure from NZF were confidential which meant it couldn’t be reported in the review.
Nevertheless, the failure of the board to manage Martin’s performance, or hold him to account, on various issues over the last few years could ultimately be damning.
Ormond was one of three new members voted on to the board at the NZF Congress at the end of May, along with Garry Carnachan and Johanna Wood.
At the time it was seen as a coup for change, especially as long time councillor Sue Griffin and NZF vicepresident Michael Anderson was voted off at the same time.
The new trio weren’t part of the board for the period covered by the review, but Ormond clearly believes all should be accountable.
Ormond is an Auckland merchant banker with strong footballing bloodlines. Grandfather Bert captained the All Whites in the 1960s. Uncle Duncan and father Ian played for the national team in the 1970s.