With his offer to help revive rugby union rejected, AOC boss Matt Carroll says he’s sad for the game and that Rugby Australia board leaks aren’t helping.
Part of rugby’s glory days, would-be Rugby Australia chief executive Matt Carroll says he’s “sad” for the ailing state of the game.
One of Australia’s most experienced sports administrators, Carroll on Saturday lashed the RA board for their poor governance and said in his 30 years he’d never encountered confidentiality leaks like it.
A two-time deputy Rugby AU CEO to John O’Neill, former NSWRU boss and general manager of 2003 World Cup, Carroll offered to return to RA from his position as the Australian Olympic Committee chief executive.
The plan, put together by then board member Peter Wiggs, involved Carroll being parachuted into the position, alongside him as chairman.
However, the RA board rejected the idea, unhappy that due recruitment process wouldn’t be followed.
That resulted in Carroll withdrawing his interest to replace Raelene Castle and Wiggs also walking away.
Speaking after the AOC annual general meeting on Saturday, Carroll was upset his integrity had been questioned.
“I think it was terribly unfortunate that there was some suggestion that my friendship with Peter Wiggs had any sort of problems because I played rugby with hundreds of people over the years and I consider quite a lot of them friends,” Carroll told AAP.
“Peter and I never had any business dealings or business connections whatsoever – we were in two totally different worlds, it’s just that I have great respect for his ability and he has great respect for mine.
“It was the combination of his business ability and my sports administration ability that would be proposed to the executive.”
Carroll said the only governance issue lay with RA, with repeated leaks meaning the media broke news of his offer before he had a chance to tell the AOC.
“The most unfortunate thing was that we were told that it wasn’t good governance, but then I think board confidentiality is probably the best governance practice,” he said.
“The leaks from the Rugby Australia board…I’ve never in my entire life of sports administration experienced it, and I’ve experienced a lot of boards, so that was terribly unfortunate.”
Rob Clarke has now stepped in interim chief executive, trying to steer the game out its dire financial situation and also secure a broadcaster beyond 2020.
Former Channel Ten boss Hamish McLennan is likely to step into the chair role.
Carroll wished the sport well as it scrambled for survival.
“I want them to succeed and it’s very sad where the sport has got to,” he said.
“There’s a lot of decisions made by boards that have gone wrong but they seem to be constructing a new board which is great, I wish them well.”
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
You you not see the irony in your second statement given you keep defending Wiggs, completely contrary to everything we have all read?
Muglair
Roar Rookie
That of course is as per the leak. So he signalled to the board on Monday that this was how serious he was? Big deal. TWAS the one eyed man is king in the valley of the blind.
Frank from Geebung
Guest
The whole thing is a shame. Carroll has credentials it would seem, but due process wasn't followed. Then accusations of media leaks, but unsure if intentional or via a inquisitive journo. Meanwhile, the game still suffers whilst the decision makers see who's moral ground is highest. Sad.
Muglair
Roar Rookie
No Jacko, calm down. Just saying that it may be possible we cannot field teams, in which case those unions would have a right to be aggrieved and also to sue for damages. I am sure they would feel sorry for us, and probably realise there is nothing to pay them with. Having said that, what will probably save us anyway is that SR is not working for NZ or SA either. What I am saying is that virtually all of the commentary here does agree that the status quo will was not working. RA has not done its job, just committing to the status quo externally without attempting to come up with something better. Worse it was just hoping for the best with the next TV deal. Am not a board member, although I admit I feel I could have done better.
Jacko
Guest
Muglair are you a board member? Already blaming NZ, SA and Arg because RA cant solve their own internal issues is hardly the way forward. Those countries seem to have been successful at using what they had available so its RA that is the inept ones....no one elses fault...RA has the control over what they do with what they get....
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I guess it can be read into it that it was prompted by the leaking. If you are so one eyed to ignore the part where he already said he intended to resign...
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Disregarding most of that is nothing to do with my comment at all, but rather raising another complaint completely.... If that's the case, RA won't be the first orgnisation in a very competitive market to struggle, nor the first to fail after a once in a century economic event.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Guys, 140k is hardly a drop compared to how much money has been wasted on an experiment that just about ignored the performance of the Wallabies, their greatest potential income generator.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
TWAS: I suspect that in 2021 nothing will have changed. Hopefully, the Wallabies win a few more games but the foundations of rugby in Australia will rot away. You had better keep your fingers crossed that WR chucks RA a bunch of money or else the whole house of political cards will come down
Greysy
Roar Rookie
Indeed it was. But nothing has been heard of it since. My guess is if she had taken it as she exited that would probably be a news story by now. Do you have anything to back up your assumption other than the fact you dislike her?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
The leaking which he said he was intending to resign?
Pinetree
Roar Rookie
It is for the person who makes the claim to prove it, not for others to prove you wrong. You have given us zero evidence for your claims. Why should anyone put in any time debunking it? If you have some proof however, please feel free to share, so we can actually evaluate the evidence...It is rumoured that you believe any rumour, prove me wrong...
Richie
Guest
Why , a 3 to 6 month process in these times. A pragmatic approach is needed
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
To clarify I don’t have any ill will to Carroll for the job he did. I’m sure at the time he was doing what he think was best given what he had to work with. But to come out and make remarks about others is classless given that Aus Rugby’s decline really accelerated while he was Deputy CEO and little was done to set things up for future administrations.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Paul Cully reported she went through 7 interviews. Sounds like they really pushed her application through...
Realist
Guest
To answer your question in typical TWAS fashion can you prove they weren’t the leaks? Would you ask me another question if asked to clarify whether you deny Castle took the bonus on her way out the door ?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Nah. PE would face the same shortage of money. Where will they focus it? Immediate returns, or long term returns?
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
PE would have to invest in grass roots to make Aussie rugby a sustainable investment, because that is where they will get their players and core of supporters from. It really only has to mean that the national game is run by competent professional business people with skin in the game, instead of like a badly run local bowls club.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Or find the one that leaked and axe them. Axing everyone is a fairly blunt approach and would certainly make any perspective board members think twice.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Yes. He got knocked back and responded he would resign.