Fresh twist in WACA board stoush

The WACA board member suspended by the sporting body last month won an 11th-hour reprieve to attend the organisation’s most recent board meeting and is now demanding an apology.

The WACA ground in Perth. Picture: Getty Images

The Western Australian Cricket ­Association board member suspended by the sporting body last month won an 11th-hour reprieve to attend the organisation’s most recent board meeting and is now demanding an apology.

Paul Collins, who last year blew the whistle on the WACA’s plans to exclude urinals from the redevelopment of the famous ground’s northern half, had his membership suspended early in January for two months after a Cricket Australia investigation into alleged poor behaviour.

WACA chair Avril Fahey had told members Mr Collins’ suspension would prohibit him from attending board meetings during that period. But in a statement issued on Sunday night, he said lawyers representing the WACA had agreed to allow him to ­attend the January 30 board meeting after he questioned the validity of the suspension.

Mr Collins said solicitors for the WACA had since written to him to see if there was any prospect of the dispute being resolved on “mutually agreeable terms”.

“I accepted that request as I have no interest in incurring the WACA unnecessary legal expenses because of the actions of a few, and because I believe the board now accepts the suspension was invalid,” he said.

“I will be calling for a timely corrective statement to be issued to members inclusive of an apology to me. However, if this matter cannot be resolved then I am entitled to protect my legal rights and interests and seek appropriate remedies from a court.”

He is expected to attend ­another WACA board meeting on Tuesday.

The WACA is in the middle of a protracted dispute within its board – which comprises a mix of member-elected and board-­appointed directors – and between its leadership and a large portion of its membership base.

Outgoing WACA chief executive Christina Matthews. Picture: Colin Murty

There have been heated disagreements about the cost and scope of the ground’s redevelopment, the management style of outgoing chief executive Christina Matthews, and plans to install statues of female and Indigenous cricketers outside the ground.

A GoFundMe page set up by Mr Collins to help finance a legal challenge against his suspension raised almost $6700. The biggest donation to date came from WA fast bowling legend Dennis ­Lillee, who contributed $500.

Cricket great Dennis Lillee.

Mr Lillee has been a vocal critic of Ms Matthews, having quit the WACA board over its ­efforts to move Test cricket to nearby Optus Stadium. Late last year he called for the full ­release of a report prepared by Perth lawyer James Healy into a string of director departures.

The WACA was contacted for comment.

Mr Collins has pledged to ­donate any surplus money from his fighting fund to the Lord’s Taverners Association, to support young financially disadvantaged cricketers.