AFL club continues to lurch from one disaster to another during horror season.
Melbourne Demons president Don McLardy has become the latest casualty from the club’s horror AFL season, after standing down from his position on Friday.
McLardy handed in his resignation at a board meeting before fronting the media saying other business commitments meant he could not devote adequate time to the president’s role.
After taking over from favorite son Jim Stynes when he was deep into his battle with cancer, McLardy’s 18-month reign at the club was torrid to say the least.
Terrible form on the field and accusations of ‘tanking’ saw the clubs in the headlines for all of the wrong reasons.
Poor crowd projections, payouts to key staff and revenue shortfalls see the Dees facing a $5 million black hole over the next two years with the AFL confirming they will offer financial help, under strict guidelines.
Reading from a prepared statement, McLardy felt he needed to step aside in order to give the club a fresh start so it can become competitive on and off the field.
“Our club as a whole is not performing as we expected and change is required and members deserve to see a clear path forward for our club with new leadership, direction and energy as soon as possible,” McLardy said.
“My goal for our Club has always been to help it find success and when initially asked by Jim Stynes to join his Board in 2008, I was eager to help in any way I could.
“It was not possible to foresee what would happen over the next five years, and as you are all aware we experienced many difficult periods including of course the tragic illness and subsequent death of Jim in 2011.
“I leave disappointed about the lack of on field success, but extremely confident in the strength of the core of passionate Melbourne supporters who have stepped up to help over the last five years.”
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