Melbourne’s football club would be if not for outstanding leadership, both within and outside the football club, as it weathers an unprecedented stormy transition period. As of today, David Chippindall continues to act as CEO after applying for the permanent position but losing out on the appointment. On that note, the club is very much looking forward to having Paul Guerra join the club full-time as new CEO in September. Until then, Brad Green will be acting president. We’re waiting to hear back from Steven Smith, the incoming president, who is overseas. Already complicating the situation further is the fact that he won’t take office until the end of this year.
The incoming uncertainty around Melbourne’s new leadership has made for a head-scratcher for many commentators and supporters. Alan Richardson, the football boss, is said to be “under the pump” for allowing a culture of insubordination to persist in the football department. The hostile state of affairs hasn’t made life any easier for team captain Max Gawn. In short, he has led a difficult horde during an extremely difficult time.
Yet commentators have long warned about Melbourne’s top-down management approach. One such voice, Caroline Wilson, recently commented that the circumstance is “even more awkward” than originally believed. As Mitch Cleary pointed out, it goes deeper than that. This instability is really undermining Gawn’s leadership. Asking whether it can maintain a peaceful ecosystem for Gawn to efficiently steer the club.
“This can’t be a stable environment for Max Gawn to lead his club?” – Mitch Cleary
As the club continues to deal with its top-level leadership void, the search continues for a permanent, football-minded CEO. Rep. Jason McCartney, initially floated for this key post, has been mentioned. As Dale Thomas noted, it’s easy for insiders at the club to overlook the importance of these leadership dynamics.
“There’d be a large proportion of the football club and the player group that doesn’t really care about it, but some of the leaders, who do get asked about it and quizzed about it, they have to be across all of it,” – Dale Thomas
To that end, Thomas despaired of the impact on senior stars such as Gawn during so much structural chaos.
“And no doubt … the more senior you are at the football club, you need to be across it. And when it is a genuine dog’s breakfast, what are you meant to be selling and how do you sell it?” – Dale Thomas
Kane Cornes chimed in on the topic, focusing more on the confusing leadership structure in and around Melbourne.
“Let me lay this out. They’ve got an acting president (Brad Green), they’ve got a new president starting at the end of the year (Steven Smith) who’s currently overseas,” – Kane Cornes
He posed a pressing question that resonates with many supporters:
“How are they running their football club?” – Kane Cornes
