Andrew Thorburn walks away from Essendon CEO contract worth more than $850,000

It has been revealed that Andrew Thorburn walked away from more than just his dream job. Meanwhile, he has doubled down on his views in a statement.

Essendon AGM. Paul Little AO gives his address talking about 2014-15 at Clocktower Centre, Moonee Ponds. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Andrew Thorburn the former CEO of Essendon has doubled down on his decision to walk away from the club – a job rumoured to be worth $850,000 a year – saying people of faith fear they too will lose their jobs after he was pressured to stand down.

It was the second statement by Mr Thorburn since his resignation, released on Wednesday night, in which he said he had received hundreds of messages of support, but warned fellow Christians and other people of faith are fearful they will also be forced to step down from their employment due to their associations with religious organisations.

“Concerningly, many messages expressed genuine worry for jobs and employment prospects due simply to faith,” Mr Thorburn wrote.

“I believe that there are many Australians who fear the implications for their livelihoods, aspirations and participation in community life.

Andrew Thorburn has doubled down on his call to walk away from Essendon.

“It is troubling that faith or association with a church, mosque, synagogue or temple could render a person immediately unsuited to holding a particular role. That is a dangerous idea, one that will only reduce tolerance for others and diversity of thought and participation in our community and workplaces.

“True tolerance, inclusion and diversity also includes people of faith.” Mr Thorburn also said that being able to follow a religion was a “fundamental human rights, explicitly recognised in Victorian law in our Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities and the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act”.

The former NAB boss stood down from his newly announced CEO role on Tuesday – less than 30 hours after his appointment was revealed.

It came after the Herald Sun exclusively revealed Thorburn was a member of controversial church City on a Hill, an organisation that has previously broadcast divisive beliefs on topics such as same-sex relationships, abortion and marriage.

His move to stand down has been welcomed by some and shocked others with politicians, AFL executives and celebrities weighing in on the debate.

The Herald Sun has confirmed that Thorburn was due to be paid more than $850,000 a year — the reported figure that his predecessor Xavier Campbell was pocketing.

Mr Thorburn did not seek any payout over the club’s move to force him out of the role, multiple sources have confirmed.

Pressure mounts on Dons president after CEO disaster

— Jay Clark

Essendon president David Barham has come under mounting pressure to step down as the club prepares to deliver its external review findings and search for a new chief executive.

Former Essendon chairman Paul Little said trust in the club had been eroded as a sense of “chaos” engulfed the Bombers following Andrew Thorburn’s one-day stint as CEO.

Club legends lashed the bungled appointment as another embarrassment for Essendon following bombshell revelations from News Corp revealing Thorburn’s senior role as chair of church group City on a Hill.

The church organisation has promoted its controversial views on homosexuality and abortion but Thorburn refused to step away from the church position on Monday, making his role as Bombers’ CEO untenable.

Barham remained adamant he was the right man for the job as the club prepared to hand down the findings of a club review led by Ernst and Young which was designed to help restructure and unify the Bombers.

The review could be handed down next week and is expected to trigger more change at the club after 18 years without a finals win.

There is strong support for an experienced football person in the mould of Carlton chief executive Brian Cook to take over as new CEO following the resignation of Xavier Campbell in September.

Former Essendon CEO Xavier Campbell and Chairman Paul Brasher pictured with another former chairman in Paul Little. Picture: Michael Klein

On the Bombers’ wishlist are Melbourne Cricket Club chief executive Stuart Fox, Richmond boss Brendon Gale, Brisbane chief Greg Swann and AFL clubs and broadcasting manager Travis Auld.

Gale and Auld are in the mix to replace Gil McLachlan as AFL CEO and Fox, who led Hawthorn to three premierships was not named in the review into indigenous player treatment, has routinely been targeted by clubs since taking over the running of the MCG.

Ernst and Young was also part of the process to appoint Thorburn and, in recent weeks, has conducted wide-ranging interviews with key on and off-field leaders to help deliver the shake-up Barham promised when he ousted Paul Brasher as president in August.

But Barham’s time in charge could be limited following a turbulent first month in charge which saw director Kevin Sheedy on Friday declare he voted for James Hird instead of new coach Brad Scott.

The Bombers were disappointed by Sheedy’s comments on an exciting day for the club announcing a new era under Scott.

The off-field tumult has left the door ajar for powerful figures to consider a board challenge at an extraordinary general meeting with growing unrest among influential figures at the directors’ performance.

Little on Wednesday hit out at the Bombers’ professionalism and lack of due diligence regarding the Thorburn appointment which had left the club reeling and heightened the pressure on Barham.

New Essendon coach Brad Scott pictured with embattled Chairman, David Barham. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nicki Connolly

“The mistakes that are being made – there are just too many quite frankly,” Little said on ABC Radio.

“We all want as supporters and members, we all want a professional football club that is well run and well-managed.

“To be quite honest when Paul Brasher was there and Xavier Campbell was CEO, there was a high level of faith in that level of professionalism.

“At the moment that seems to be missing.”

Little said Essendon should have known more about Thorburn’s church links given the club’s strong views on diversity, inclusion, equality and choice.

“I really feel that information (which) was out there was easily accessible and so for it to have been missed, part of their DD (due diligence), I find that unusual,” Little said.

“He wasn’t new to the club. He was well known to the club. He had a number of roles there.

“I don’t think it (church’s views on homosexuality and abortion) should have come as a surprise.”

Thorburn was originally part of the panel chosen to select a new chief executive but stepped aside as he emerged as the top candidate.

“That appears outwardly to be a conflict,” Little said.

Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd said the CEO circus was another humiliating episode for the Bombers.

Lloyd said Thorburn was not going to survive in the job unless he stepped away from the church role.

“I always thought his beliefs were never going to align, his beliefs with an AFL football club,” Lloyd told the league website.

“So, how you get to that point is pretty staggering to me and then the pressure comes on 24 hours later.

“Wouldn’t the club have known that earlier? That this was going to come back to bite them?

“That’s the part of it that’s gobsmacked me to be honest and we sit here and it’s embarrassing.

“Another hit on the club that’s had a poor decade really.”

Originally published as Andrew Thorburn walks away from Essendon CEO contract worth more than $850,000