Netball Australia chief executive Kelly Ryan quits 10 days after the end of damaging pay war

Netball Australia chief executive Kelly Ryan has quit just 10 days after the end of a pay war against players that tore the sport in two, reports LINDA PEARCE.

Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan has quit, effective immediately.

Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan has resigned, effective immediately, becoming the first casualty of the poisonous and prolonged industrial dispute that has played out over 10 months.

Stacey West, NA’s executive general manager of performance, will act as interim CEO while a permanent replacement is found. Staff were informed of Ryan’s resignation via email at 11am on Tuesday.

Ryan, a former AFL executive, was appointed in mid-2021, but her tenure has been most notable for poor relations with the playing group, including the handling of the Hancock Prospecting sponsorship controversy and the decision to sell the 2022 grand final to Western Australian without consultation.

But as the pay war has dragged on, calls for change in the sport’s embattled leadership have intensified in recent weeks, including via a petition for change instigated by the legend Joyce Brown.

“Having reached an in-principle agreement on the CPA pay deal, and watched with pride as our Diamonds won the Commonwealth Games and the Netball World Cup, the time felt right to hand over the reins to a new leader,’’ Ryan said in a statement.

“During my time as CEO I have delivered on the objectives of the board. We overcame the challenges of coronavirus pandemic to continue a national competition through border closures, experienced strong growth in the national competition, grew netball’s already strong participation numbers and strengthened the game’s finances.

“Netball Australia has a wonderful team of people who work tirelessly for the benefit of the sport, and I thank them for their continued efforts and for their support.”

Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan has resigned. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images for FOX Sports

NA chair Wendy Archer said: “Kelly Ryan has made an enormous contribution to our sport in her time leading Netball Australia.

“She has shown great resilience and integrity curing her leadership over her time as CEO.’’

The nadir was reached on the weekend of the annual awards night last month, when the Diamonds, who do have a current CPA that extends through to next year, were sent a threatening legal letter reminding them of their obligation to attend.

NA’s follow-up offer several days later was rejected and an emotional news conference fronted by ANPA president Jo Weston, CEO Kathryn Harby-Williams and consultant Ian Prendergast preceded an in-principle agreement struck after another four-hour meeting, and revealed exclusively on CODE Sports on December 2.

Finally, amid much back-and-forth over various clauses, agreement has effectively been reached, and all 80 players from the eight clubs can soon ink the deals that have been negotiated while the stand-off has continued.

While West was an unexpected choice as the interim replacement, given her background is in the playing — rather than business or commercial — side of the sport, another potential candidate from the executive team, Glenn Turnor, is one of two senior staff to have quit in recent months.

Another, Sydney-based consultant Bryan Wilson, is understood not to have had his contract renewed as head of strategic projects.

Attention will now turn to the composition of the Archer-led board which backed Ryan during her tenure — one that has included the likely loss of almost $18 in guaranteed Federal Government funding, which was withdrawn due to an inadequate business case that must now be resubmitted in competition with rival sports.

Originally published as Netball Australia chief executive Kelly Ryan quits 10 days after the end of damaging pay war