Magpies presidency race: John Bertrand, Jeff Browne emerge as candidates to replace Eddie McGuire

It’s been more than eight weeks since Eddie McGuire resigned as Collingwood president yet the club hasn’t found a replacement. Here’s what’s holding up the decision.

Outgoing Collingwood president Eddie McGuire moments before announcing his resignation. Picture: Alex Coppel

Collingwood powerbrokers and influential coterie members are sizing up several outside candidates — including Australian sporting legend John Bertrand and former Channel 9 boss Jeff Browne — to potentially fill the vacant Magpies’ presidency.

More than two months after the shock resignation of Eddie McGuire, neither Mark Korda nor Peter Murphy, who are serving as interim co-presidents, have so far been able to win enough support from fellow directors to take charge in their own right.

Some supporters even believe an extraordinary general meeting could be called if the club fails to resolve the presidential standoff and Nathan Buckley’s team continues to struggle.

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Collingwood president Eddie McGuire at his farewell press conference. Picture: Alex Coppel

Others consider the EGM option as one that must be avoided at all costs, given it could lead to even more divisions.

Browne declined to comment on Wednesday night when asked about his interest in the role, but Bertrand, the skipper of Australia’s historic 1983 America’s Cup triumph, told the Herald Sun he was willing to assist Collingwood in whatever way, if asked.

Prominent Melbourne businessman and long-time Magpies’ solicitor Francis Galbally believes Browne, 66, is the man Collingwood should be turning to.

While Browne has always been reluctant to consider a position on the club’s board, Galbally said his connections and expertise would be invaluable.

“Jeff Browne would unite the club,” Galbally said.

“He would be able to bring together the various divergent factions and solidify Collingwood to be the force it should be.

“He has the full support of the Galbally family.”

The Herald Sun believes Collingwood’s six-person board is split in its support for Korda and Murphy.

When McGuire quit in early February, after more than 20 years in the role, the club said it hoped to have its new president locked away within eight weeks — a deadline which has already passed.

The Magpies said on Wednesday their priority was filling McGuire’s vacant board spot before settling on a new long-term president.

Bertrand, 74, who is chairman of Sport Australia Hall of Fame, said: “I will help them (Collingwood) any way that I can, but in terms of the presidency, that’s a long way off.

“They are going through a process, which is right and proper, and they are looking at various skill sets.

“Like any Collingwood fan, I just want to see some success.

“Any way I can, I will certainly help. That’s about all I can say.”

Jeff Browne.

John Bertrand.

Businessman John Wylie and former Victorian Premier John Brumby have told the club they are not interested in taking on the Collingwood presidency.

Current Magpies director and ex-Australia Post CEO Christine Holgate, who is leading the search to fill the board position vacated by McGuire, is unlikely to seek the job at this stage.

Browne, a former AFL legal adviser, recently shifted his base back to Melbourne from Perth.

If enough disgruntled members come together to force an EGM, it could provide the opportunity for external candidates to nominate themselves rather than be nominated by the current board.

Such a move would be seen as a last resort, as it can lead to bitter divisions within clubs, which Collingwood itself experienced on a few occasions last century.

The Collingwood board is made up of Korda, Murphy, Holgate, Jodie Sizer, billionaire Alex Waislitz and former player Paul Licuria.

Magpies chief executive Mark Anderson is also listed as part of the board and executive on the club website.

Originally published as Magpies presidency race: John Bertrand, Jeff Browne emerge as candidates to replace Eddie McGuire