WACA to director: urinal sorts of trouble

Paul Collins is understood to have been a central figure in the board faction that has been critical of the organisation’s direction and its chief executive.

The WACA has suspend board member Paul Collins for two months. He was highly critical of some decisions in the rebuild of the historic ground’s northern side. Picture: James Worsfold/Getty Images

Behind-the-scenes dysfunction at the Western Australian Cricket Association could soon be aired in court.

The board member suspended after blowing the whistle on the organisation’s controversial decision to omit urinals from its ground redevelopment is now considering legal action.

The WACA on Thursday told members it had decided to suspend for two months the membership of board member Paul Collins, who was highly critical of the decision to only include toilet cubicles in the rebuild of the historic ground’s northern side.

The decision sparked fury among sections of the organisation’s membership and further inflamed tensions between much of the WACA’s leadership and a vast swath of members.

Mr Collins is understood to have been a central figure in a board faction critical of the WACA’s direction and the conduct of CEO Christina Matthews.

The board is believed to have been split 5-5 on numerous resolutions in recent years, with chair Avril Fahey regularly having to use her casting vote to decide matters. The division falls broadly between those directors appointed by the board, and those – including Mr Collins – voted in by the membership base.

Ms Matthews, who has led the WACA to its greatest era of on-field success in decades, late last year announced this summer would be her last at the helm.

WA Cricket CEO Christina Matthews. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

In an email to members on Thursday, Ms Fahey and deputy Michael Gannon said Mr Collins had been suspended following an investigation. The statement did not specify why, but noted the WACA had introduced a Members Code of Conduct.

Cricket Australia’s integrity unit is understood to have been part of the investigation into Mr Collins, after several complaints about his behaviour. He will not be able to attend board meetings at a critical time for the WACA.

The suspension was condemned by former WACA president and chairman Brian Rakich. In an email to the WACA board – obtained by The Weekend Australian – Mr Rakich blasted it as a shortsighted move that “can only be seen as an attempt to manipulate board voting numbers at a time when decisions critical to the WACA’s future are being taken” around the new CEO and the $163.4m ground redevelopment.

An artist's impression of the redeveloped WACA Ground in Perth. Picture: Supplied

“It is no secret that Paul’s position on both these matters has been counter to your own, so this thinly disguised action will instead bring further shame and infamy on the organisation, which you are all duty-bound to serve and protect,” he said, adding the suspension would galvanise members who had grown disillusioned in recent years, and he warned a failure to restore Mr Collins could prompt members to push for an overhaul of the WACA governance structure.

Prominent Perth lawyer Tom Percy KC, who retired from the WACA board late last year, told The Weekend Australian he believed the suspension would be swiftly overturned if it went to court. “From the facts as I understand them, the suspension would not withstand a Supreme Court challenge,” he said.

In a statement, Mr Collins confirmed he was weighing up his legal options. “I have engaged legal representation to protect my interests and remedy the situation … I have nothing further to say publicly other than to encourage all members of the WACA to continue to ask questions about the design, costs and funding of the WACA ground redevelopment.”