Eddie McGuire removed as Melbourne Stars president in Cricket Victoria restructure

The Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades were on top of the world at the end of the BBL season after playing off in a Grand Final. But off the field, there are some massive changes coming.

Eddie McGuire will not continue as Stars president. Picture: Getty Images

Eddie McGuire was on Friday night removed as Melbourne Stars president with Cricket Victoria’s dramatic restructure absorbing the boards of both its Big Bash League clubs.

In a major blow to the independence of the Stars and reigning champions the Renegades, they have effectively handed all management decisions back to the state’s cricketing body.

Hawthorn legend Jason Dunstall was chairman of the Renegades and, like McGuire, will depart.

Both clubs were expected to heavily pursue Australian megastar David Warner, who is uncontracted for next season.

Should Warner warrant a marquee-level pay cheque, that decision could rely on the management’s approval rather than two clubs bidding feverishly and in isolation.

Eddie McGuire after the BBL Grand Final. Picture: Michael Klein

Chief executives Clint Cooper (Stars) and Stuart Coventry (Renegades) will also depart.

Cooper and Coventry were the heartbeat of the clubs with their passion and innovation driving the success of the brands.

List managers Andrew Lynch (Gades) and Trent Woodhill (Stars) are likely to remain.

CV owns the licences of both team.

By shrinking the staffing at both clubs, CV will cut costs and look to replicate the Sydney model where general managers Lee Garmon (Thunder) and Jodie Hawkins (Sixers) are in charge.

While Sixers and Thunder operate out of different offices, the Stars and Renegades have been tenants at CV’s Junction Oval headquarters, albeit on different floors.

Former Stars coach Greg Shippers said several years ago there was only room for one BBL club in Victoria and hinted that his team should swallow the Renegades to return the state’s status as Australia’s T20 powerhouse.

Eddie McGuire will not continue as Stars president.

But it is understood there is no chance of a merger with Renegades taking cricket to Geelong and on the back of last summer’s success, where both teams played off for the trophy in front of a sell-out crowd at Marvel Stadium.

“We are happy to hand back the Melbourne Stars to Cricket Victoria in the knowledge that the club and brand is in outstanding shape,” foundation president McGuire said in a statement.

CV chairman Paul Barker said: This decision recognises the maturing of the Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades from stand-alone, startup clubs nearly a decade ago in a new competition, to the core activity they are for Cricket Victoria today”.