Carlton board challenger’s damning accusation about Blues president Mark LoGiudice, election process
A 35-year Carlton member has opened up on the agonising process he has has gone through to potentially join the Blues board, and has revealed a damning accusation about president Mark LoGiudice.
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A Carlton board challenger says Blues president Mark LoGiudice is “an agent for the family factions” that control the club.
Corporate services manager Steve Khatib, one of two club members seeking a seat on the LoGiudice-led board, says his bid is being thwarted by an election process that “discriminates against ordinary Carlton members”.
His name appears on the ballot sheet but without endorsement from the club’s “independent nominations committee”, which includes LoGiudice.
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Voting closes on February 21.
“The nominations process has many legal obstacles and rules, which are not in the spirit of democracy and destroys the basis of participation at Carlton, which is a member-based club,” Khatib said.
Football director Chris Judd is one of three Blues board members seeking re-election.
Coaching great Mick Malthouse last year said powerful “outside influences” had too much say at Carlton.
“They have a big say. They might be money people — and you know who I’m talking about,” Malthouse said.
Queensland-based pokies king Bruce Mathieson is a major supporter of LoGiudice, who sacked Malthouse five years ago.
Visy co-chair Jeanne Pratt is Carlton’s vice-president, while Mathieson’s nephew, businessman Craig Mathieson, is also a director.
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“All invitees to the board from the independent nominations committee must be approved by the family factions,” Khatib claimed yesterday.
“Their reach extends through to on-field matters. This causes the club infighting and the club being in a holding pattern over the last decade.”
Khatib, a 35-year Carlton member, said LoGiudice “cannot answer challenging questions from members” and relies heavily on “pre-prepared scripts” at meetings.
“And he overuses embarrassing political rhetoric such as ‘unrelenting pursuit for sustained success’,” he said.
“In the five years of his presidency, the board have delivered two wooden spoons and three bottom four finishes, turned over three chief executives, had four coaches, two heads of football and sacked a club legend in Stephen Silvagni over a convenient conflict of interest.”
He claimed a members council created by LoGiudice to hear the views of ordinary members was hand-picked by the president.
Khatib, 42, said he was blocked from bringing a lawyer to his nominations committee interview and told a club election would cost the Blues $80,000.
“The club also advised me that I have no right to a scrutineer as a candidate. This is clearly not democratic,” he said.
“Carlton should be about welcoming diversity of ideas and this is not possible at the moment.
“I want the club to be a more democratic and inclusive place for its ordinary members, not just for the big end of town, and to return the heart and soul of the club back to Princes Park for suitable AFL and all AFLW games.
“It is extremely concerning that due to this new nominations system, there have been no contested elections at Carlton since 2012.
“It’s stopped people from wanting to stand.”
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LoGiudice explained the club’s board election system in an email to members last week.
“The election process includes the involvement of the Independent Nominations Committee (INC), whose purpose is to ensure we have an appropriate range of skill sets and diversity on the board to govern and execute the strategy of the Carlton Football Club,” LoGiudice wrote.
“We require board members who are passionate and highly skilled to actively contribute to our club’s future.
“As president, it is my duty to ensure we deliver the right governance and procedures for our members, while also ensuring we have a succession plan in place for the future.
“The INC’s role in this process is to provide independent, objective and expert advice on the skill set, knowledge, experience, diversity and performance of the current board.
“They also complete an extensive and comprehensive interview process of nominated directors and provide the board with recommendations in regard to each nominee.
“It is important for the stability and future of the football club that we have the correct representation on the board.
“I encourage all eligible members to take part in the election process by voting and attending the AGM.”
Originally published as Carlton board challenger’s damning accusation about Blues president Mark LoGiudice, election process