The Birdcage abuzz over ex-Essendon CEO Xavier Campbell taking Collingwood top job
Is former Bombers’ boss Xavier Campbell returning to the AFL for a plum gig at Collingwood? That was the word fluttering around the Birdcage this week.
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Xavier Campbell may have beer and France on his mind but he’s still got time to play a straight bat.
The former Essendon chief executive has been thrust back into the AFL spotlight following the resignation of Collingwood chief executive Mark Anderson, with word around the Flemington Birdcage having him a red-hot favourite to return to the footy fold.
“No comment,” was Campbell’s clever response to Page 13.
Since his departure from the Bombers in September, Campbell has been busy on a business venture with a few of his mates from his hometown of Echuca, including Hollywood star Travis Fimmel and MasterChef judge Andy Allen.
The good friends have jumped into the beer market with Travla – a low carbohydrate, low calorie 3.5 per cent lager made with all-Australian ingredients. They’ve certainly created a splash quickly after launching two weeks ago with a slick marketing campaign and immediate nationwide distribution in Coles-owned bottle shops.
“I don’t want people to think that 10 years in the AFL industry forced me to drink,” Campbell joked.
“I loved my time, I genuinely love the club and I wish the club all the best.
“But, you know, I’m also excited about what’s next. And this will be one of the things that I’m focused on.”
Before the vacancy at Collingwood came up on Oaks Day, with TLA boss Craig Kelly’s name also bandied about as a possible candidate, Campbell was planning to uproot his family and move over to France for six months.
He is familiar with the French way of life having studied at the exclusive business school, INSEAD, near Paris, the same establishment where James Hird attended during his escape from the Bombers drug scandal a few years back.
“It’s one of those unique opportunities as a family, our children are still young enough to live a different culture,” he said.
“And now in the modern world, you can work remotely and that’s what I’ll be able to do.”
But as we know in football, things can change dramatically with Campbell’s next move very much a watch this space.
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