Delisted Former CEO Xavier Campbell - Resigned - 24/8

[Lore]

I imagine the club intentionally chose not to announce…..as opposed to the digital team neglecting to do so.

So do I, however 'slipped through the cracks' is clearly intended at the latter. It's not like the president just randomly forgot that the CEO had been re-signed (at least I bloody hope not).

 

[Nifft]

The clubs aren't franchises though, they're independent sporting clubs (mostly NFP I think) that came together to form a league, and eventually admitted a couple of additional clubs later on (in terms of Gold Coast and GWS I think they're both almost entirely funded by the AFL except where sponsorship fills the gap).

Pretty much everything is independent from the AFL except for the AFL owning the trademarks on the Essendon FC name and the Bombers logo, the AFL is a co-employer of all the players, and negotiates the players' collective bargaining agreements on behalf of the clubs, and the AFL then pays the entire salary cap. For some clubs the AFL also appoints or approves their board members and has veto power over decision making as part of the loans some clubs took out during the pandemic. For the rest of the proud old clubs that were born of our communities and joined together to created the VFL (rather than being created by the VFL), independence of decision making is sacrosanct and subject only to the club's own governance procedures in accordance with the club's constitution and the assent of the voting membership.

And then because they are all independent, they all have different structures and different expenses – we had an eSports team, we have a wheelchair team and The Long Walk partnership, plus our community programs for the JHA and in the Tiwis. We have a VFL program and AFLW and VFLW programs, as do most other clubs, although Richmond got rid of their VFLW team during the pandemic and some are aligned to a VFL or VFLW club rather than running their own program, which is cheaper. Collingwood and GWS have Super Netball teams. Some of the other clubs have wheelchair footy (like us), and blind footy (which we don't have). Clubs also have different facilities that have different requirements, a hall of fame or a cafe or whatever else. We share ours with Western United and Paralympics Australia. Some have pubs and pokies, others don't.

As much as I don't necessarily like the decisions that the club makes, I sure as s**t don't want any further interference from the AFL than is necessary in the interests of being able to field a team in the competition. They don't own us. And I don't think the AFL would be that interested in micromanaging all of the different interests of various clubs and deciding how much a CEO can earn dependent on how many different projects their clubs are involved in. It would just be a bit silly in the end, their ambition outstrips their competence. They have enough to deal with anyway with the clubs already signed up to the AFL's micromanagement.

I was being a bit tongue in cheek, and I 100% agree with you that I don't want AFL meddling in the running of clubs any more than they already are. I'd argue that what's the point of list cut backs and soft caps when CEOs can be paid that much? Others have mentioned that around 500K seems more the norm, so how many additional players and coaches could we have had for that extra 350K?

 

[owen87]

I was being a bit tongue in cheek, and I 100% agree with you that I don't want AFL meddling in the running of clubs any more than they already are. I'd argue that what's the point of list cut backs and soft caps when CEOs can be paid that much? Others have mentioned that around 500K seems more the norm, so how many additional players and coaches could we have had for that extra 350K?

Whilst XC is well and truly overpaid, that extra cash going to him isn’t at the expense of us funding a VFL program properly.

They’re simply choosing not to prioritise the VFL whilst a club like Geelong uses it as a talent farm.

 

[Nifft]

Whilst XC is well and truly overpaid, that extra cash going to him isn’t at the expense of us funding a VFL program properly.

They’re simply choosing not to prioritise the VFL whilst a club like Geelong uses it as a talent farm.

I would question that if we're so flush with money that we can afford to overpay a CEO, then why aren't we also pouring money into some other areas where we are obviously deficient? I get that the money being paid to the CEO is separate to that going to the football department, but I don't think it's a good look to skimp in some areas and then pay him such a huge salary.

Also, how did they come up with the figure of 850K? How does he compare to other CEOs at other clubs that have had more success? The club is pressing its members more and more for money, and members have a right to question how that money is being used at the club.

 

[eth-dog]

I would question that if we're so flush with money that we can afford to overpay a CEO, then why aren't we also pouring money into some other areas where we are obviously deficient? I get that the money being paid to the CEO is separate to that going to the football department, but I don't think it's a good look to skimp in some areas and then pay him such a huge salary.

Also, how did they come up with the figure of 850K? How does he compare to other CEOs at other clubs that have had more success? The club is pressing its members more and more for money, and members have a right to question how that money is being used at the club.

Pretty sure the VFL comes under the soft cap FWIW

 

[Maxabillions]

Has his success with the financial aspect actually somewhat caused the lack of football success? Ie influencing decisions not to rebuild when needed, so the team stays closer to middle of the pack and we sell more memberships. We’ve seemed just on the cusp many times over past ten years which I’m sure has helped sell a lot of memberships for the next year.

Also, how hard is it run a financially successful organisation when you inherit a very large, insanely loyal customer base who will continue to give you money even as they actively hate everything you are doing.

 

[Vander18]

Has his success with the financial aspect actually somewhat caused the lack of football success? Ie influencing decisions not to rebuild when needed, so the team stays closer to middle of the pack and we sell more memberships. We’ve seemed just on the cusp many times over past ten years which I’m sure has helped sell a lot of memberships for the next year.

Also, how hard is it run a financially successful organisation when you inherit a very large, insanely loyal customer base who will continue to give you money even as they actively hate everything you are doing.

Not that hard.

Bringing sponsors on board and driving memberships at EFC (with all that EFC entails) is not an $850K per year role.

 

[brain taylor]

Not that hard.

Bringing sponsors on board and driving memberships at EFC (with all that EFC entails) is not an $850K per year role.

i'll have a crack at it for $849K.






your move Xavier...

 

[Vander18]

i'll have a crack at it for $849K.






your move Xavier...

The absence of a response is telling. He’s got nothing….nothing!

 

[The Prosecutor]

The absence of a response is telling. He’s got nothing….nothing!

Seems he gave his response, asking members for an extra $50 to help cover the salary.

 

[carloss]

Essendon CEO insists Rutten is “absolutely” the right man for the job

The Bombers are battling in 2022.

www.sen.com.au

Essendon CEO Xavier Campbell has made it clear that senior coach Ben Rutten

Ben Rutten

Age

40

Ht

190cm

Wt

98kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.4

3star

K

6.3

2star

HB

7.0

4star

M

5.3

5star

T

1.3

3star

No current season stats available

D

10.6

3star

K

6.2

3star

HB

4.4

4star

M

3.6

4star

T

1.0

3star

is “absolutely” the right man for the job.

The Bombers find themselves sitting 16th on the ladder after a 2-9 start to the 2022 season which has placed mounting pressure on the second-year coach, who led the club to finals in 2021.

Ahead of the Essendon’s 150th anniversary, which takes place against Carlton at the MCG on Friday night, Campbell threw his full support behind Rutten.

Asked on SEN Breakfast if he has unwavering support for the coach, Campbell replied: “Absolutely, yeah, absolutely.

“We believe Ben is absolutely the right person. I hear that from the players, I know that from the staff, I see it every day.

“I think Ben has proven that he can build that connection amongst the group. This year we haven’t quite got to that point and Ben would be the first to acknowledge that we haven’t got to that point.

“But he’s a younger coach and we’ve got to make sure he gets the best support. He wouldn’t be the first coach in the competition to get more support at different times.

 

[jmoo wan]

lol - Xavier thinks we give a s**t what Xavier thinks.

 

[Vander18]

lol - Xavier thinks we give a s**t what Xavier thinks.

Talk about the wrong question…..first question should have been “how do justify your 2 year extension and $850k salary?”

 

[Call Me Cake]

“But he’s a younger coach and we’ve got to make sure he gets the best support. He wouldn’t be the first coach in the competition to get more support at different times.

So we spend 2020 delaying his installment as a way to mentor him and then 3 years later he needs support?

You know what needs support? Our team.

 

[Lore]

So we spend 2020 delaying his installment as a way to mentor him and then 3 years later he needs support?

You know what needs support? Our team.

I really don’t understand why you’ve chosen this particular angle.

 

[Call Me Cake]

I really don’t understand why you’ve chosen this particular angle.

I never chose that angle, it chose us.

 

[CBombers17]

I really don’t understand why you’ve chosen this particular angle.

Why is this angle difficult to understand?

 

[Lore]

Why is this angle difficult to understand?

This one?


Make sense of it for me?

 

[CBombers17]

This one?

View attachment 1420593
Make sense of it for me?

The part that I find offensive is being told by this clown that.... "we've got to make sure he's got the best support". It's a given the coach should have the best support - WE all assume that's what the *en club does / has been doing for years now.

Telling others what your job is is as hopeless as it gets in leadership. The club is in tatters. It's a clear as day. These idiots are sucking the place dry and telling us what they should be doing while they fail to do it.

As for the quotes I understand the sentiment. Support for someone is all well and good as long as they are going to be able to do the job at some point. Is Rutten up for the job? If he wasn't who would tell us? Campbell? Who at Essendon would actually know?? Probably the assistant coaches would be about it.

The Rutten appointment is clouded with self interest and self protection (like many others at the club). Essendon is an organisational cesspit. I take no pleasure in saying this but nothing good will come from this regime.

 

[boncer34]

This one?

View attachment 1420593
Make sense of it for me?

I'd say he's choosen it because he believes it.

 

[Lore]

I'd say he's choosen it because he believes it.

Yes but he can answer me himself. CBombers isn’t the OP so I’m interested to get his perspective as well.

 

[boncer34]

Yes but he can answer me himself. CBombers isn’t the OP so I’m interested to get his perspective as well.

Oooook

 

[Lore]

The part that I find offensive is being told by this clown that.... "we've got to make sure he's got the best support". It's a given the coach should have the best support - WE all assume that's what the ducken club does / has been doing for years now.

Telling others what your job is is as hopeless as it gets in leadership. The club is in tatters. It's a clear as day. These idiots are sucking the place dry and telling us what they should be doing while they fail to do it.

Agree with all that

As for the quotes I understand the sentiment. Support for someone is all well and good as long as they are going to be able to do the job at some point. Is Rutten up for the job? If he wasn't who would tell us? Campbell? Who at Essendon would actually know?? Probably the assistant coaches would be about it.

The Rutten appointment is clouded with self interest and self protection (like many others at the club). Essendon is an organisational cesspit. I take no pleasure in saying this but nothing good will come from this regime.

How are we going to know he’s up for the job if we’re now admitting that he hasn’t had appropriate support? Knights might have been up for the job too if he’d had the proper resources at his disposal. We didn’t bother doing that until Hird came in and then he was given everything he could ever ask for to make it happen.

And now it sounds like we’ve reverted to type, with a footy department that is seemingly derelict in several key areas: a gutted VFL team left to hang in the breeze, a seemingly vacant director of coaching role that hasn’t been replaced, a list management team that apparently has to be micromanaged to do the job properly, and possibly also issues with the fitness and conditioning department too. All of those things need to be pulling in the same direction as the senior coach if we’re going to have any hope of getting this club going in the right direction, that is, he needs the support of the entire department, properly funded.

It has been said several times since before he was even appointed that having success at Essendon requires a strong personality who has the support of the coteries, the board, the whoever that can have the appropriate influence over the budget strings to get what they need. Not having that support in this environment is like having one hand tied behind your back, and that is true no matter how experienced they are — Woosha didn’t have that support and it fell apart just as easily as it had done for Knights, and will do for Rutten.

At this point they seem cognitively invested in Rutten but not to the point of actually building a footy department that functions in all the ways that it needs to function. Instead of all those other things we need, we seem to have spent the money on highly credentialed assistant coaches? And Rutten is supposed to be one of the least expensive senior coaches in the league — so there’s definitely supposed to be budget there to invest in his development as much as anything. I don't think any coach in the league worth their salt arrives in the job with an attitude that they can do everything themselves and don't need to learn anything new.

I think we're at the point now where there either needs to be savings made in the department in order to spend money on things that never should have been neglected, or we're going to have to go over the soft cap and pay equalisation tax instead. Hell the president even alluded to money being an issue when he was apparently going on radio talking about how the soft cap should be a lot higher.

It's an indictment on upper management more than anything. Pinning it on Rutten is just a scape goat that papers over all the other issues without actually resolving any of them.

 

[CBombers17]

Agree with all that

How are we going to know he’s up for the job if we’re now admitting that he hasn’t had appropriate support? Knights might have been up for the job too if he’d had the proper resources at his disposal. We didn’t bother doing that until Hird came in and then he was given everything he could ever ask for to make it happen.

And now it sounds like we’ve reverted to type, with a footy department that is seemingly derelict in several key areas: a gutted VFL team left to hang in the breeze, a seemingly vacant director of coaching role that hasn’t been replaced, a list management team that apparently has to be micromanaged to do the job properly, and possibly also issues with the fitness and conditioning department too. All of those things need to be pulling in the same direction as the senior coach if we’re going to have any hope of getting this club going in the right direction, that is, he needs the support of the entire department, properly funded.

It has been said several times since before he was even appointed that having success at Essendon requires a strong personality who has the support of the coteries, the board, the whoever that can have the appropriate influence over the budget strings to get what they need. Not having that support in this environment is like having one hand tied behind your back, and that is true no matter how experienced they are — Woosha didn’t have that support and it fell apart just as easily as it had done for Knights, and will do for Rutten.

At this point they seem cognitively invested in Rutten but not to the point of actually building a footy department that functions in all the ways that it needs to function. Instead of all those other things we need, we seem to have spent the money on highly credentialed assistant coaches? And Rutten is supposed to be one of the least expensive senior coaches in the league — so there’s definitely supposed to be budget there to invest in his development as much as anything. I don't think any coach in the league worth their salt arrives in the job with an attitude that they can do everything themselves and don't need to learn anything new.

I think we're at the point now where there either needs to be savings made in the department in order to spend money on things that never should have been neglected, or we're going to have to go over the soft cap and pay equalisation tax instead. Hell the president even alluded to money being an issue when he was apparently going on radio talking about how the soft cap should be a lot higher.

It's an indictment on upper management more than anything. Pinning it on Rutten is just a scape goat that papers over all the other issues without actually resolving any of them.

How many on here applauded the transition year and appointment? I'm on page 1 (about the 3rd post in) of Ruttens thread calling bullshit on all this at the time.

This acceptance of a lack of process in any appointments made by the club is part of the problem. Supporters willingly take the bait and shout down scepticism and this is where that leads.

In terms of Rutten we can point to all the 'reasons' for poor team outcomes (fitness staff, lack of support etc) but the bottom line is he took on a job at Essendon and that is the environment in which he needs to thrive - not Hawthorne or Collingwood - so you either make it happen in our shithole culture or you grab your coat. For different reasons Sheedy and Hird had the gravitas to do that at Essendon - does Rutten? Either way it's what is needed - you have alluded to that yourself.

Truth be told very few on here would have chosen a rookie coach to take over this group after Worsfolds lack of leadership. if you really look at the 'process' of the Rutten appointment would you argue we got the best available coach? Somehow we got a coach that best suited our incompetent leaderships narrative - and bailed them out of a bind (funny that!) - what are the odds he was also exactly what we needed ? To either lead Daniher, Fantasia and co to the promised land and/or do a rebuild (as I've said elsewhere the rookie coach for all seasons)? Given the circumstances of his appointment there's very little chance of him being the best choice for any of it TBH let alone ALL of it.

Rutten got the opportunity because we are incompetent. And he may wind up getting more time than he deserves for the same reason. But that he is on a short leash for poor team performance goes with the territory for unproven coaches and its the one saving grace for us supporters. Not sure why anyone would argue against it TBH.

And If people think Rutten going wouldn't reflect poorly on all the clubs leadership I would argue the opposite - that's why they will even 'admit' minor failings in their support to defend his performance. They have no choice.

 

[Lore]

How many on here applauded the transition year and appointment? I'm on page 1 (about the 3rd post in) of Ruttens thread calling bullshit on all this at the time.

This acceptance of a lack of process in any appointments made by the club is part of the problem. Supporters willingly take the bait and shout down scepticism and this is where that leads.

I'll own my part in that. People had commented about Xavier being a problem before then, but it didn't really become apparent to me until more into 2020. I think part of me was more focused on the why, than the if. He obviously still has staunch supporters on the board of directors. Although it's notable that the problems pre-date him, his own appointment as CEO was just as poorly run.

In terms of Rutten we can point to all the 'reasons' for poor team outcomes (fitness staff, lack of support etc) but the bottom line is he took on a job at Essendon and that is the environment in which he needs to thrive - not Hawthorne or Collingwood - so you either make it happen in our shithole culture or you grab your coat. For different reasons Sheedy and Hird had the gravitas to do that at Essendon - does Rutten? Either way it's what is needed - you have alluded to that yourself.

So basically if you don't thrive in a situation that no one would thrive in then it's your fault and you should leave.

I mean I guess that chimes with the earlier comments you've made about board members that should cut and run if something happens that they disagree with, and maybe that's true on a self-interested level if you want to have any integrity and further opportunities in your career.

But as a member of the club who has a vested interest in the club improving, if all the people who are any good take the self-interested route of cut and run, that just leaves us with even more problems. (Spill the board!)

Truth be told very few on here would have chosen a rookie coach to take over this group after Worsfolds lack of leadership. if you really look at the 'process' of the Rutten appointment would you argue we got the best available coach? Somehow we got a coach that best suited our incompetent leaderships narrative - and bailed them out of a bind (funny that!) - what are the odds he was also exactly what we needed ? To either lead Daniher, Fantasia and co to the promised land and/or do a rebuild (as I've said elsewhere the rookie coach for all seasons)? Given the circumstances of his appointment there's very little chance of him being the best choice for any of it TBH let alone ALL of it.

Rutten got the opportunity because we are incompetent. And he may wind up getting more time than he deserves for the same reason. But that he is on a short leash for poor team performance goes with the territory for unproven coaches and its the one saving grace for us supporters. Not sure why anyone would argue against it TBH.

And If people think Rutten going wouldn't reflect poorly on all the clubs leadership I would argue the opposite - that's why they will even 'admit' minor fainings in their support to defend his performance. They have no choice.

So you're asking if we'd let Worsfold go at the end of 2019, should we have put Rutten in? Or at the end of 2020 when Woosha's contract actually expired?

I mean I think the root of that particular problem goes back another year before that to 2018, when Campbell and the board extended Worsfold's contract for two years in about March, probably a decision that was made with Campbell as acting head of the football department given Rob Kerr left in about November and Richardson started in January or February? And I think the board also basically absent by that point as well so significant amounts of delegated decision making.

Richardson had been there five minutes when Worsfold was extended so I don't think he had much to do with that, and then Neeld was sacked in about April and the coaching department rearranged, Rutten was employed at the end of 2018, by the end of 2019 Caracella came across and the succession plan was in place with Rutten as the next senior coach, Daniher was forced to stay with Richardson and Campbell the only ones willing to speak to the media about how they weren't going to let him leave, and Fantasia was quietly also encouraged to stay as well. To me it seems pretty clear that Richardson saw an opportunity to remake Richmond at Essendon, bringing all of his people in and pushing both Worsfold and Dodoro out of the way. Campbell supported that and/or let it happen apparently uncritically, with a basically absent board of directors.

The handover thing under those circumstances was more or less an arse-covering exercise for Campbell and the board, because they either didn't want to pay Worsfold out or didn't want to admit they'd stuffed up by extending him, or being absent when he was extended, or maybe both. Although given what has just been posted in the Worsfold thread I'm starting to think that Worsfold was actually possibly the right person for the job but wasn't allowed to do the job properly, to some extent or in some circumstances, etc. The succession plan was just a further undermining of Worsfold's tenure from that perspective. It's interesting that in 2017 the board were actually more involved with Worsfold and giving him a bit of undue feedback about how he chose to coach the players. Or maybe they were only more involved on that particular day because the club made a final.

In any case, I'm not sure that it reflects on Rutten's capability as a senior coach so much, I think he was generally well-regarded around the industry, he was suitably qualified with the Level 4 qualification that they have to have these days (which I think our entire coaching panel now has). Plus his attitude seems right, his instincts seem right, and he has the confidence of the players. If we sacked him I'd expect him to get another go somewhere else.

His name was floated for other appointments alongside Brett Ratten, Michael Voss, Justin Longmuir, Jade Rawlings, and Brad Scott (according to an article about St Kilda's coach in 2019 – I remember there being others but that's the evidence I have handy). Longmuir went on to coach at Fremantle and they're now top 3, Voss is at Carlton and they are on a run of form, Ratten picked up St Kilda who are also tracking well, Brad Scott wasn't available at the end of 2019 and ended up at AFLHQ, and Jade Rawlings is seemingly still coaching in the SANFL.

Did we just happen to pick the only dud in the set? Would any of those have fared any better, in this circumstance? When Longmuir landed at Fremantle a few people seemed to wish we had him instead of Rutten, but he's just as much of a rookie coach, so would he have thrived here in these circumstances? Does the club have enough self-awareness to even know what these circumstances are, even if they did run a proper process? Would someone more experienced have been better, needing a little bit less support? That said, refer again to Worsfold's tenure – highly experienced, well regarded, respectable, and then very quickly left without support, chewed up and spat out.

So I don't think Rutten is a bad candidate or even necessarily the wrong one (in the sense that the trend seems to be that there is no right one, and you can make the right decision by accident), but I agree that the process reflects extremely poorly on upper management, that they didn't seem to consider anyone else, that Richardson had that much sway, that the board had so little oversight, that arse covering had more say than making decisions that were good for the club rather than the individual.

I think going back to the big personality idea, I don't know how the coteries were in the 70s when Sheedy was appointed from Richmond, but I think if they can't handle Rutten and they couldn't handle Knights, and they didn't take to Worsfold either, then they're at a stage now where the only thing they will really rally around is a former Essendon player.

I thus come to the inevitable conclusion that the only person who is sufficiently qualified and available with the capacity to bring the coteries and the board into his orbit is James Hird. Which I expect every sane and knowledgable person to have huge reservations about. Literally anyone else is going to struggle with appropriate support unless and until upper management gets its s**t together as a professional football club (emphasis on all three words). And with that said, I'd focus on the latter before worrying about the former, because it really doesn't matter who gets to sit in the big chair until the music is turned off.