Sunshine Coast Wanderers elect new president following heated AGM

Newly-elected Sunshine Coast Wanderers president Glenn Duncan has promised to not be a “dictator” and unite a divided club, a heated AGM has revealed.

Newly-elected Sunshine Coast Wanderers president Glenn Duncan has promised to not be a “dictator” and bring unity to a bitterly divided club.

The Wanderers’ Ballinger Park clubhouse was packed with members for Wednesday night’s AGM which revealed major fractions within the club threatening its National Premier League future.

Mr Duncan was voted in as Sunshine Coast Wanderers president, replacing Ian Grant after an hour of voting.

The other elected board members included vice presidents Angelo Cootes and Michael Bebbington, secretary Andrea Campbell and treasurer Larry Samuels.

It was understood a divide had opened up with in the club as some wished it to remain a community club and others had visions of it becoming an NPL powerhouse.

Several attendees departed the room when Mr Duncan was announced as the elected president.

In his inaugural address as president, Mr Duncan spoke about improving club culture, having club stalwarts return to the club and set up sub committees.

Mr Duncan pledged to give everyone at the club a voice.

“I am not going to be a dictatorship, I can promise you that,” Mr Duncan said.

“I want to find the right people and do this together.”

He said there were good people at the club “on both sides”.

Sunshine Coast Wanderers announcement of Glenn Duncan as new president.

“I remember being at the 2019 AGM and this club was nose diving at 100 mile an hour,” he said.

“But I swear to god I don’t have an agenda. I just want a football club where everyone has a say and can go wherever it wants.”

Angelo Cootes and Ian Grant fielding questions from the floor at the AGM. Picture: Matty Holdsworth

Discussions get fiery

Throughout the AGM, several members had the opportunity to ask questions of the board surrounding any issues, including sponsorship, junior pathways and equality with the women’s program.

However, the most heated discussion came over the future of the NPL side upon the expiration of its license at the end of the 2022 season.

This led to Mr Grant and Mr Cootes being asked about their goals for next season on the back of the outstanding, albeit surprising success in 2021.

Coach Paul Arnison and his unheralded squad had achieved a fifth placed finish and one win from top four.

Despite this, Mr Arnison said he had been offered a contract which had “unrealistic” expectations.

Mr Grant and Mr Cootes said survival had been 2020’s goal and said there had been improvement in 2021.

Mr Arnison then spoke up and said the 2020 goal had been to not be relegated, as per his contract.

A back and forth ensued over the scale of achievement it had been for the Wanderers to survive in the NPL in 2021 as Mr Arnison raised issues with the terms of his contract with Mr Cootes.

Sunshine Coast Wanderers head coach Paul Arnison says he wants to stay at the club long term.

There were rumblings of a player walkout if Mr Duncan had not won presidency and throughout the meeting the opposing sides clashed verbally on several occasions.

Councillor Ted Hungerford twice intervened.

“I find it a real shame after all this effort if you tear yourselves apart. I am standing here in dismay,” Cr Hungerford said.

Outgoing president Ian Grant said in his address that he had “done everything he could” to turn the club’s fortune’s around over the past two years.

He praised the work of dedicated family members for helping save the club.

“As you might recall at the 2019 AGM, the club was in the red from a financial perspective and there were discussions over the future of both the Sunshine Coast Wanderers and Buderim Wanderers,” Mr Grant said.

“Dedicated members put their hands in their own pockets to bail the club out, with the assistance of Sunshine Coast Council.

“Through that hard work we have been able to turn the club around to a degree.

“I categorically can say I have done my best.”

Mr Grant and Mr Duncan were both approached for comment on Thursday following Wednesday night’s AGM.