Collingwood boss blindsided by Eddie McGuire announcement

A critic calling for Eddie McGuire to quit has reacted to his major call as Collingwood’s CEO revealed he had no idea what was coming.

Collingwood CEO Mark Anderson said he was shocked by Eddie McGuire’s announcement he will be stepping down as president, while the Pies powerbroker who called on McGuire to quit has also reacted to the news.

Former Collingwood director David Galbally said last month it was time for McGuire’s reign to end, as the Magpies dealt with the fallout of a horrific trade period that saw the club lose key players including Adam Treloar, Jaidyn Stephenson and Tom Phillips.

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Galbally said club administration had “lost the plot” as members were kept in the dark about Collingwood’s plans, and claimed it was “not healthy” for McGuire to continue as president — a role he has held since 1998.

Speaking after McGuire announced he would be stepping down at the end of 2021, Galbally — who maintained he was a big supporter of McGuire and the work he’s done for Collingwood over the years — told 3AW: “I’m not going to take credit for Eddie going.

“I said what I had to say because I believe that was the situation.

“I don’t feel responsible at all.

“Eddie is his own man. He would have made up his mind. He would have considered all sorts of different things, not the least of which would have been the stage of education with his family.

“I wouldn’t have had any influence at all.”

McGuire fought back tears at Collingwood’s annual members forum on Monday as he revealed he’d decided to vacate his post in 2021, having spoken to nobody but his family about the bombshell move.

Collingwood CEO Anderson was as surprised as anyone to hear the news and paid tribute to McGuire’s impact over more than two decades at the helm.

“I was listening to it, like our members, with surprise and shock and just processing if I was hearing what I was hearing,” Anderson told SEN Breakfast.

“Eddie is an absolute legend of the club and I think a legend of the game as well. His impact across our club in particular is just immense.

“He’s rebuilt our club and there’s an amazing amount of success that he’s had across his time on-field with the 2010 premiership, and the building and the relocation of Collingwood to the Holden Centre and to the MCG as our home ground.

McGuire will always bleed black and white.

“Eddie is as passionate in year 22 as he was in year one, there’s absolutely no diminishing of the passion. Whenever he wakes up he’s thinking about Collingwood. It was very much a personal decision.

“He felt the time was right. Both of his boys have now finished school and he’s finished up his morning radio duties as well. It’s just a different phase of life for him and a personal decision.”

An emotional McGuire said he wants to ensure the transition to a new president in just over 12 months is as smooth as possible.

“Back in 1998 it was my time to stand up for our beloved Collingwood, instead of calling on others to do something for our club, they turned my way and I’m proud that I answered,” McGuire said.

“I have given everything I have to this position and now it is time for the club going forward, I will stand down at the end of next year and spend the rest of my time as president setting up a new era of Collingwood.

“I have given commitments to sponsors, governments and many people that I will remain at the helm in 2021 and do so with the responsibility of providing a smooth transition and a springboard into the future for our club in its senior leadership position.

“I had planned to make this announcement at the end of the year but COVID put paid to many finally laid plans, in conjunction with the change in direction of my media life and the timing of my son’s schooling ending, the time was right ... for me to make this call.”