Eddie McGuire addresses wild rumours amid Collingwood crisis

Collingwood is breaking apart at the seams and even though Eddie McGuire has quit, he’s still been dragged into an off-field power struggle.

Eddie McGuire can’t escape headlines about Collingwood.

Eddie McGuire denied he’s a “Machiavellian” figure still pulling the strings at Collingwood as the club faces a leadership crisis following his departure earlier this year.

McGuire quit in February after more than two decades as president following the dramatic fallout to the “Do Better” report into racism at Collingwood and his own, bizarre response to it.

Watch the 2021 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. Every match of every round Live on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

Mark Korda was recently installed as president but reports suggest he is facing a coup from McGuire’s good friend Jeff Browne, who allegedly wants to join the Magpies board and become president.

Speculation increased this week when billionaire businessman and Collingwood vice-president Alex Waislitz announced his immediate resignation from the board, while the appointment of new director Bridie O’Donnell has caused concern because she has been a Magpies member for less than two years, meaning she doesn’t have voting rights.

The off-field turmoil has heaped even more pressure on Collingwood, who are languishing in 16th with just two wins for the season.

“If I wanted to be the president, I would have stayed on as the president. I’m out now. I’m done,” McGuire told Footy Classified.

“Don’t for a second think that Jeff Browne needs me to hold his bag. If Jeff Browne is going to do something, Jeff is a very, very powerful, successful man.

“The board is there at the moment, they’ve got my full support.

“These things just get out of control.”

Eddie McGuire says he’s remaining hands-off since quitting as president.

On Wednesday night, McGuire said he was “bewildered” by suggestions he is orchestrating to help Browne oust Korda.

“I was president for 23 years at the club I love, I gave my heart and soul to the place and I stepped aside, and that’s it,” McGuire said. “I support the Collingwood Football Club, I want it to do well and I’ve got nothing to do with anything.

“We’ve been very good friends for a long, long time, but I’ve got nothing to do with anything that Jeff’s doing as far as anything to do with the Collingwood Football Club.”

In a series of radio interviews on Wednesday, Korda declared he has no interest in stepping aside as president and called for Collingwood to avoid a civil war.

“Why would Eddie want to tear down his own legacy?” Korda told Neil Mitchell on 3AW when asked if he believed McGuire was behind reports of board instability.

“Eddie has always put Collingwood first. He resigned in February because, as he said, Collingwood needed clear air. Five directors are on the board that were with Eddie so why would he want to do that for his own legacy?

“Yes (I want to stay as president). No (I have not considered stepping down in the interest of the club), we have got a fully elected board by the members … we need to govern the club in accordance with proper process and protocols so we will govern the club and govern the club well.

“Eddie’s on the record (saying) that coups aren’t good for clubs.”