TonyK
CibbuanoGardner to retire
June 9th 2008 01:12
MELBOURNE chairman Paul Gardner will step down on Thursday night at the club's next board meeting after five years in the role.
Gardner will announce his retirement in his address at this afternoon's chairman's lunch before the Melbourne-Collingwood game at the MCG today.
Former Melbourne great Jimmy Stynes is tipped to take over from Gardner. The new chairman will be elected by the revamped board, and as many as eight of the current directors are understood to be intending to stay.
Gardner dismissed suggestions he had been forced to retire by Stynes, who has the support of former players Garry Lyon, Greg Healy, Anthony Ingerson and current board member Andrew Leoncelli.
"I know there's a feeling of an irresistible force meeting an immovable object," he said.
"(But) the board was always going to have to find a new chairman. I told them last year 2008 would be my last year.
"The new chairman may or may not be Jimmy.
"The position's not mine to give. That's not how it works.
Gardner said the Queen's Birthday weekend was the appropriate time to leave for several reasons.
"It was always going to be some time in 2008. I decided that last year and told the board accordingly, and told the AFL and other stakeholders," he said.
"I was keen to stay on for a period and find a new CEO and make sure he was bedded down. I think the last thing we needed with a new coach and a new CEO was further disruption.
"It seemed to be that Queen's Birthday was the appropriate time for a number of reasons. First, we celebrated our 150th birthday on that weekend.
"I think it was (CEO) Paul McNamee who said, 'We celebrate the past then we look forward to the future'. Our biggest game of the year is against Collingwood (today).
"And, if I wasn't going to be part of the future past '08, then it was unfair for me to work in developing a long-term strategic plan and then leaving it to others.
The Demons currently have a debt of $4 million and will lose an estimated $1.5 million this year, but Gardner was optimistic about the club's future.
"There'll always be a club in Melbourne called Melbourne. No doubt," he said.
"The AFL has made it clear there'll always be a club called Melbourne. Absolutely."
Gardner will announce his retirement in his address at this afternoon's chairman's lunch before the Melbourne-Collingwood game at the MCG today.
Former Melbourne great Jimmy Stynes is tipped to take over from Gardner. The new chairman will be elected by the revamped board, and as many as eight of the current directors are understood to be intending to stay.
Gardner dismissed suggestions he had been forced to retire by Stynes, who has the support of former players Garry Lyon, Greg Healy, Anthony Ingerson and current board member Andrew Leoncelli.
"I know there's a feeling of an irresistible force meeting an immovable object," he said.
"(But) the board was always going to have to find a new chairman. I told them last year 2008 would be my last year.
"The new chairman may or may not be Jimmy.
"The position's not mine to give. That's not how it works.
Gardner said the Queen's Birthday weekend was the appropriate time to leave for several reasons.
"It was always going to be some time in 2008. I decided that last year and told the board accordingly, and told the AFL and other stakeholders," he said.
"I was keen to stay on for a period and find a new CEO and make sure he was bedded down. I think the last thing we needed with a new coach and a new CEO was further disruption.
"It seemed to be that Queen's Birthday was the appropriate time for a number of reasons. First, we celebrated our 150th birthday on that weekend.
"I think it was (CEO) Paul McNamee who said, 'We celebrate the past then we look forward to the future'. Our biggest game of the year is against Collingwood (today).
"And, if I wasn't going to be part of the future past '08, then it was unfair for me to work in developing a long-term strategic plan and then leaving it to others.
The Demons currently have a debt of $4 million and will lose an estimated $1.5 million this year, but Gardner was optimistic about the club's future.
"There'll always be a club in Melbourne called Melbourne. No doubt," he said.
"The AFL has made it clear there'll always be a club called Melbourne. Absolutely."
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