wrennyboy
27 May 2004, 10:06
Former Melbourne Commonwealth Games chief Leighton Wood has emerged as the frontrunner to take over the top job at Richmond following yesterday's departure of chief executive Ian Campbell.
Campbell became the latest casualty of the financial and political turmoil at Tigerland that resulted in three directors resigning on the eve of the season and the cash-strapped club facing a loss of $2 million in 2004.
Richmond president Clinton Casey, whose own performance has come under some scrutiny, yesterday could not rule out further administrative departures. One position understood to be under threat is that of the club's new business development manager Anthony Moore.
Now searching for his third CEO in less than two years, Casey spent the afternoon in talks with the Brisbane-based Wood, a former Kangaroos under 19s and reserves player. The Age understands Wood could be announced as Campbell's replacement as early as today.
Campbell became the latest casualty of apparently the toughest job in the AFL. There have been 67 club CEOs in the past six years. His departure comes at a time of turmoil for Richmond, the worst-performed club over more than two decades.
Campbell was the victim of a series of poor administrative decisions and neglect in the Tigers' marketing and corporate sales area - revealed in yesterday's Age - which has left a dearth in club revenues and in part forced the club to apply to the AFL for a bank redirection order in able to pay wages. Casey, who met yesterday with Richmond's major sponsor the TAC and key sponsor Motorola, said of Campbell's brief tenure: "You're disappointed if you get it wrong but that's just life. We all make mistakes. When we got his (Campbell's) CV from the AFL it read like a who's who in the areas of marketing and branding.
"Ian was very strong in certain areas but he didn't have all the attributes to cope with AFL football and all the things that go with it. If you find out you've got the wrong person I think it's important for both parties to quickly realise that."
One senior Richmond official said Campbell's decision to go did not come as a surprise. "(Campbell was lacking) in (getting) runs on the board, rolling his sleeves up.
"He was an amicable sort of person, no problems there, but you have to understand the unique nature of the business and you have seen over the years nine fail and the one succeeds."
Another member of the Richmond hierarchy contacted by The Age said Campbell was considered to have strengths on the marketing side but struggled to attract corporate dollars. "We will use it as an opportunity to get someone in who can fast-track us back into the black. We need someone who can crunch some deals for us.
"It was a hard gig for him coming in from 15 years in the States as a high corporate flyer in an organisation where they lose $20 million one year and it doesn't matter."
Campbell, a former Olympic long-jumper who represented Australia in the 1980 Moscow Olympics, moved home to Melbourne just over a year ago from Portland, Oregon, to take up the Richmond job.
A former Nike executive, he came strongly recommended by the AFL, which also put forward Campbell's name as a potential CEO to Carlton. Interestingly, Wood, 44, has also been recommended by the AFL. He had been overlooked by the Tigers last time.
Wood worked as deputy CEO to Bulldogs chief executive Campbell Rose when the latter ran the Melbourne Major Events Committee. He succeeded Rose as chief executive of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games Bid but departed after falling out with chairman Ron Walker.
Wood had health problems relating to a debilitating back injury but these are understood to have improved following surgery last year. Casey confirmed he had spoken yesterday with Wood but added: "It's too early to be commenting on Ian's replacement. I've spoken to a number of candidates and I'm keen to make an announcement soon."
Casey said the club would establish an advisory committee in a bid to engage supporters and find the right candidates to fill the vacancies on the Richmond board. "The suggestion that no one wants to join the board is wrong," Casey said.
"I've had dozens of interested candidates but I'm not going to put just anyone on.
"The lack of a former player is no big deal when (football operations chief) Greg Miller is doing such a great job.
"One priority is to place a woman on the board and I've had a number of meetings with numerous females who are keen."
Campbell's position had been under threat for some time, but Casey said yesterday: "He put his hand up and said, 'I don't think I'm the right man for the job. Let's part company.' " Casey said Campbell did not have a contract.
Campbell made a brief statement on Richmond's website yesterday, thanking the club for its support.
- with Lyall Johnson
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/05/26/1085461833771.html
Campbell became the latest casualty of the financial and political turmoil at Tigerland that resulted in three directors resigning on the eve of the season and the cash-strapped club facing a loss of $2 million in 2004.
Richmond president Clinton Casey, whose own performance has come under some scrutiny, yesterday could not rule out further administrative departures. One position understood to be under threat is that of the club's new business development manager Anthony Moore.
Now searching for his third CEO in less than two years, Casey spent the afternoon in talks with the Brisbane-based Wood, a former Kangaroos under 19s and reserves player. The Age understands Wood could be announced as Campbell's replacement as early as today.
Campbell became the latest casualty of apparently the toughest job in the AFL. There have been 67 club CEOs in the past six years. His departure comes at a time of turmoil for Richmond, the worst-performed club over more than two decades.
Campbell was the victim of a series of poor administrative decisions and neglect in the Tigers' marketing and corporate sales area - revealed in yesterday's Age - which has left a dearth in club revenues and in part forced the club to apply to the AFL for a bank redirection order in able to pay wages. Casey, who met yesterday with Richmond's major sponsor the TAC and key sponsor Motorola, said of Campbell's brief tenure: "You're disappointed if you get it wrong but that's just life. We all make mistakes. When we got his (Campbell's) CV from the AFL it read like a who's who in the areas of marketing and branding.
"Ian was very strong in certain areas but he didn't have all the attributes to cope with AFL football and all the things that go with it. If you find out you've got the wrong person I think it's important for both parties to quickly realise that."
One senior Richmond official said Campbell's decision to go did not come as a surprise. "(Campbell was lacking) in (getting) runs on the board, rolling his sleeves up.
"He was an amicable sort of person, no problems there, but you have to understand the unique nature of the business and you have seen over the years nine fail and the one succeeds."
Another member of the Richmond hierarchy contacted by The Age said Campbell was considered to have strengths on the marketing side but struggled to attract corporate dollars. "We will use it as an opportunity to get someone in who can fast-track us back into the black. We need someone who can crunch some deals for us.
"It was a hard gig for him coming in from 15 years in the States as a high corporate flyer in an organisation where they lose $20 million one year and it doesn't matter."
Campbell, a former Olympic long-jumper who represented Australia in the 1980 Moscow Olympics, moved home to Melbourne just over a year ago from Portland, Oregon, to take up the Richmond job.
A former Nike executive, he came strongly recommended by the AFL, which also put forward Campbell's name as a potential CEO to Carlton. Interestingly, Wood, 44, has also been recommended by the AFL. He had been overlooked by the Tigers last time.
Wood worked as deputy CEO to Bulldogs chief executive Campbell Rose when the latter ran the Melbourne Major Events Committee. He succeeded Rose as chief executive of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games Bid but departed after falling out with chairman Ron Walker.
Wood had health problems relating to a debilitating back injury but these are understood to have improved following surgery last year. Casey confirmed he had spoken yesterday with Wood but added: "It's too early to be commenting on Ian's replacement. I've spoken to a number of candidates and I'm keen to make an announcement soon."
Casey said the club would establish an advisory committee in a bid to engage supporters and find the right candidates to fill the vacancies on the Richmond board. "The suggestion that no one wants to join the board is wrong," Casey said.
"I've had dozens of interested candidates but I'm not going to put just anyone on.
"The lack of a former player is no big deal when (football operations chief) Greg Miller is doing such a great job.
"One priority is to place a woman on the board and I've had a number of meetings with numerous females who are keen."
Campbell's position had been under threat for some time, but Casey said yesterday: "He put his hand up and said, 'I don't think I'm the right man for the job. Let's part company.' " Casey said Campbell did not have a contract.
Campbell made a brief statement on Richmond's website yesterday, thanking the club for its support.
- with Lyall Johnson
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/05/26/1085461833771.html