Collingwood board faces obliteration after papers were served to force a spill of all seven director positions

If Korda wishes to stay as a Collingwood director he will put the entire board at the mercy of voting members. Here is how Pies avoid a further messier break-up.

Mark Korda has faced fresh criticism. Picture: David Crosling

Collingwood president Mark Korda is under pressure to walk away from the club after the entire Magpies board was sent hurtling towards obliteration.

Long-time Collingwood solicitor Francis Galbally on Thursday came good on a threat to serve a spill petition on the club, a move that could place the fate of all seven Pies directors in the hands of voting members.

Galbally personally presented the papers at the club’s Holden Centre headquarters.

But the spill could yet be avoided if Korda agrees to quit the presidency as well as his board spot.

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Mark Korda will not be the Collingwood president moving forward. Picture: Picture: Getty Images

Korda emailed members on Thursday morning confirming he would not be seeking re-election for the top job in 2022 but would remain as a director.

If Korda agrees to go it will effectively hand businessman and board challenger Jeff Browne the required numbers to win the presidency at the December 16 AGM and avoid a full-scale board election.

Browne said he would continue to push for a peaceful resolution, despite Galbally’s escalation of the dispute.

“It is unfortunate that it has come to this but ultimately it is the members who must decide and have confidence in who represents them at board level,” Browne said.

“There are some good directors on the Collingwood board, and I have worked to try and agree an outcome where some existing directors would remain, and new directors come on board to provide a fresh perspective, new energy and much needed new leadership.

“A newly-comprised board would determine who has the right skills, experience and connections to lead them.”

Browne said a great board and strong leadership would deliver confidence and value to members, loyal sponsors, players and staff and an “all important powerful voice around the AFL table”.

“These things have been sadly lacking or fallen short of high expectations, over a year of disappointment and at times, turmoil.”

Pressure mounted on Korda after his statement to members failed to define a clear path forward for the make-up of the board beyond the AGM.

He did not address Peter Murphy’s future as a director nor the status of board member Neil Wilson, the Victoria Racing Club chairman, who was never qualified to join the board.

Confusion surrounds the intentions of Murphy, who was not expected to seek re-election at the December AGM, but was linked to a run for the presidency on Thursday – potentially pitting him against Browne.

Murphy has previously said categorically that he did not wish to be president and would not be pursuing the job.

Galbally said the club’s governance had become a “corporate catastrophe” and he was left with no choice but to trigger a spill.

“Korda’s announcement is simply a self-serving statement designed to entrench as directors those who have turned the club into the laughing stock of the AFL,” Galbally said.

“The members can now decide who they want to lead and govern the club from 2022.”

Mark Korda replaced Eddie McGuire. Picture: David Crosling

It can be revealed that Collingwood’s executive was made aware on Monday morning that the board had resolved a statement across the weekend stating that Murphy had decided to stand down from the board because of increased work commitments.

The agreed statement cleared the way for Browne and two of his backers – Barry Carp, the founder of venture capital firm River Capital, and financial regulator Renee Roberts – as well as existing board member Christine Holgate to fill the four vacancies.

Members of the Collingwood executive team made it known that they were unhappy that Korda was staying and Murphy was leaving.

Murphy now appears to have changed his position and is intending to remain on the board.

“Since when does the executive decide who stays on the board?” Galbally said.

Korda’s statement did endorse the candiancies of Browne, Carp and Roberts.

The other current Collingwood directors are Paul Licuria, Jodie Sizer and Christine Holgate.

Former professional cyclist Bridie O’Donnell quit the Pies board last month.

If a peace deal cannot be reached, about 12,000 Collingwood members will be asked to vote in favour of Galbally’s spill motion at the December AGM.

This would open up all seven director positions for a subsequent vote in early January.

PIES PRESIDENT’S QUITTING, BROWNE TO BE ENDORSED

Collingwood president Mark Korda is set to vacate the post at the club’s annual general meeting in December.

Korda, who replaced Eddie McGuire in April, will call an early end to his tenure after a months-long board dispute.

Former Magpies president Eddie McGuire and Collingwood board member Jodie Sizer speak to the media after the leaking of the ‘Do Better’ report. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

The move will open the door for ex-Channel 9 boss Jeff Browne to join the board and assume the Magpies presidency.

Korda had been keen to remain on the board beyond the December 16 AGM to see out his term but that is now in doubt.

The Collingwood board has been preparing to endorse Browne and two of his backers – Barry Carp, the founder of venture capital firm River Capital, and financial regulator Renee Roberts – to join the board of directors.

Board member Peter Murphy has already said categorically that he does not wish to be president and will not be pursuing the job.

Jeff Browne was managing director of the Nine network from 2006-2013 and has pushed to become the president of Collingwood after Eddie McGuire quit.

Paul Licuria, Jodie Sizer and Christine Holgate will also remain on the board.

Former Collingwood solicitor Francis Galbally had given the club until noon on Wednesday to strike a satisfactory deal with Browne before lodging papers to force a full spill of the board and an open club election.

It is unclear whether Korda’s actions will be enough to stop Galbally from ensuring there is a full and proper refresh at board level.

Collingwood’s board crisis has raged since McGuire’s shock resignation in February following the leaking of the ‘Do Better’ racism report.

In a letter to Magpie smembers on Thursday, Collingwood president Mark Korda confirmed his intention to step down from the role at the club’s December’s AGM, but says he intends to see out the final year of his term as a board member in 2022.

Korda stressed he believed it was the right time for “renewal” after a months-long board dispute that pitted him against the man who wants to be Collingwood’s next president, Jeff Browne.

Mark Korda says he believes it is time for renewal.

Korda said four of the seven current board members were up for re-election, saying he had also been advised that Browne, Roberts and Carp intended to nominate for positions on the board.

“The board welcomes these nominations and the important contribution they can make to the club’s future success and the journey of renewal which the club has undertaken in recent years,” Korda told members.

“Following the AGM, the newly elected board will meet to appoint the next president of our great club. As I have only one season left on the board, I will not be a candidate for the presidency.”

If there are more nominations of eligible candidates than vacancies, a contested election would be required, with voting to take place from November 19 to December 10.

The outcome of the election would be revealed at the club’s AGM on December 16.

Originally published as Collingwood board faces obliteration after papers were served to force a spill of all seven director positions