Rugby Australia’s boardroom dramas have amplified with Peter Wiggs tendering his resignation after a heated email exchange with interim chairman Paul McLean.
Touted as RA’s next chairman, Wiggs had been pushing for the immediate instalment of Australian Olympic Committee CEO Matt Carroll as departed chief executive Raelene Castle’s replacement.
In an email exchange published by The Australian on Wednesday, McLean entertained Carroll’s appointment.
However, citing a conflict of interest because of Wiggs’ friendship with Carroll, McLean suggested Wiggs remain in a director role.
Instead he proposed incoming board member Hamish McLennan, a former Ten boss and News Corp senior executive, a more suitable chairman.
Fellow board members had also reportedly pushed back on the move that would have skipped any formal recruitment or interview process.
Supercars chairman Wiggs, credited for steering RA’s player pay-cut deal during his brief RA posting, replied by saying what little regard he had for the board had “extinguished” and he would resign on Wednesday.
Confirming Wiggs had done just that, McLean said he “understood his reasons” for departing.
“He has undertaken some very important work and has made a valuable contribution to the organisation, in a very short time, and we are thankful for his contribution,” McLean, who is also RA’s acting chief executive, said.
“The immediate priority of the board is to install a replacement for Peter, and an interim chief executive.”
It’s another setback as the cash-strapped organisation navigates a way back to the field while trying to arrange a new broadcast deal.
It is hoped a domestic Super Rugby season could return in July, while a Bledisloe Cup series remains a prospect later this year.
But RA, awaiting rescue funds from World Rugby, faces a potential revenue hit of $120 million if no play is possible this year.
Tony H
Roar Pro
Agreed Scott. I'm pretty tired of this getting left out of the Cheika story. The guy was a blight on the game, in many, many ways.
ScottD
Roar Guru
Thanks Tony. I hadn't read those stories. If one of my staff sacked their subordinate after being explicitly told not to I would sack them too. However Cheika obviously gambled that it was leading in to a world cup year and that they wouldn't sack him.
ScottD
Roar Guru
Yes I agree.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
If no competitors make it part of their hiring policy, then nobody will agree to those terms. Why would I agree to a job with less security than alternatives? I assumed somebody who was a CEO would know that....
Tony H
Roar Pro
ScottD - several sources have said that castle only found out about it at the RA Christmas party - including Geoff Parkes, and Christy Doran. Also, Castle and the HR department met with Cheika in advance, and specifically didn't want changes as reported by several sources. https://www.theroar.com.au/2020/04/06/the-wrap-rugbys-ugly-in-fighting-just-got-uglier/ https://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/exclusive-embarrassing-contract-gaffe-cost-castles-ra-huge-payout-for-wallabies-legend/news-story/600f34bb84b45e0bcb54d3d4b255e22e
Tony H
Roar Pro
Me for one. I'm also aware of several colleagues who've just been terminated on a two-week notice period in the current climate for failing to keep sufficient cash reserves, and in their board's opinion, failing to protect the interests of the business. If you make it part of your hiring policy, then you set the rules in advance of the problem.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
He was standing as a Liberal in Eden Monaro this morning.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Paulo, your English is better than it used to was.
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
Yep!
matth
Roar Guru
With that mate pushing to be chairman to go with his CEO mate
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Yes. Because he emptied the coffers too, while doing nothing to plan for the future. Under JON RA's head office expenditure doubled 2010-12 and they lost $26M in 2 years.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
You're right. They were careful and it didn't work. So the solution is surely be less careful...
stillmissit
Roar Guru
derano: So the guy who with McQueen got us to #1 and filled the coffers and then brought in the hated Deans and got us to #2 left us in a mess did he? Well, mate you ain't seen a mess until the full extent of the sheet RA is in comes to light.
derano
Roar Rookie
O'Neil got them into the mess... twice. Third time lucky?
numpty
Roar Rookie
Yeah ya did, and I quote "It ain’t right but...". What the buggery does networking have to do with whether or not a hiring process is in place? Stick to the detail, trying to have a go at my personal life says more about your character and not being able to put an argument together rather than whether or not I 'network'. Who calls it networking btw!?
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Cho Cho: So this is the issue. Wiggs wanted Carroll as CEO and his old boss John O'Neil as a non-executive director. The board wanted due process ie a wish and a prayer. Seems to me like he had an idea of how to pull RA out of a hole. So let's see how the due process goes? The board will accept Fox's offer regardless and the merry go round continues. Rennie may be the shortest appointed wallaby coach in history.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Who is he better qualified to be on the board than?
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Cho Cho: seems like he was better qualified than many on the board.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Ringer: There has been due diligence over the last 15+ years and look where that’s got us? No! I don’t agree with jobs for your mates but this one was in the open and not done in the normal underhanded way. Wiggs could have let due process go and then lobbied and bullied the board to accept Carroll but he didn’t. Wiggs has balls and an understanding of how deep the sheet is, not sure who on the board also has a set. Wiggs also wanted John O’Neil as a non-executive director. Now that could have been interesting.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
numpty: I didn't say whether it was right or wrong but it is a fact of life. I assume that networking has no place in your life?