Melbourne CEO Cameron Schwab resigns and more heads may roll as Don McLardy declares no one is safe

OUSTED Melbourne chief Cameron Schwab may be just the first head to roll as the AFL's oldest club lurches deeper into its greatest crisis.

OUSTED Melbourne chief Cameron Schwab may be just the first head to roll as the AFL's oldest club lurches deeper into its greatest crisis.

After Melbourne lost its first two games of the season by a total of 227 points, Demons president Don McLardy refused to guarantee anyone's job.

"Everyone in our football club is under extreme pressure. We're all accountable for what's happening at our club," McLardy said last night after accepting Schwab's resignation, two years into a four-year renegotiated contract.

Schwarz: Dees need more change

"The board will meet in the next 24 to 48 hours and we'll work out our pathway forward from here."

On whether coach Mark Neeld's job was under threat, McLardy said: "No, Mark Neeld is not on notice at all."

Neeld, his assistant coaches and the entire playing group met at Sorrento on the Mornington Peninsula last night for a bonding session amid the turmoil.

Jack Grimes

"We're all accountable. Our job as a board is to look at what's best for the footy club," McLardy said.

"For many reasons, we have a divided supporter base. We've got a lot of issues within our members and supporters who are looking at us and saying what is the pathway forward.

Why coach Mark Neeld should be nervous

"And we must offer them hope and change, and we need clear eyes to have a look at where we're at.

"The unity of our club is absolutely vital.

Cameron Schwab

"I'm not worried at all about the business side of the club. It's sound and solid, but clearly our football performance is not acceptable. And the CEO is head of the organisation."

Schwab, who spent 15 years at the Demons after starting as an office boy, said he accepted the decision that forced his hand yesterday.

"Am I a scapegoat?" he asked. "I know how the system works. My role as a CEO is to build a club which has an ultimate objective of winning games of footy.

"I'm four years in where we've lost by over 200 points in the last two games. And that's an unforgiving situation. I knew the pressure would be on.

"This game makes decisions on people's lives every day, and it just so happens we're here talking about mine today.

"We'll be talking about someone else's tomorrow because it's a performance-based industry.

"In terms of where the club is at the moment, it is difficult, the losses.

"And this club will bounce back, don't worry about that.

"It's a much better and stronger club than it's representing itself at this time."

McLardy said he planned to contact AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou today to discuss the Demons' plight.

"I've spoken to the AFL regularly. I left a message for him and I'll be speaking with Andrew over the next couple of days.

"We make our own decisions on our football club," McLardy said.

Cameron Schwab

SCHWAB FILE
CEO: 451 games
WINS: 164
WIN-LOSS RATIO: 36%
FINALS SERIES: 3
COACHES SACKED: 4 (Kevin Bartlett, Neil Balme, Chris Connolly, Dean Bailey)

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