Black and white presidential hopeful Jeff Browne has formally filed his grievances with Collingwood's incumbent board.
Browne, the father of 7AFL reporter Tom, claimed that Korda - the club's former chairman of the finance committee - was at fault for the Magpies' dire salary cap situation that saw key names depart the Holden Centre at the end of 2020.
The former league lawyer and Channel Nine boss laid further blame at Korda's feet for the club's low attendances and 'off-Broadway' fixture times.
Although long-term member David Hatley this week announced that he would no longer be pursuing an extraordinary general meeting for members to vote between Browne and Korda's tickets, Collingwood announced on Thursday that said EGM would still take place in December of this year.
Our 2021 AGM will be held in December.
The club thanks @turtlemagpies and other members for their passion for Collingwood and desire to help the club be the best it can be.
— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) June 17, 2021
With fans reportedly split between views of conservatism or a desire for a fresh start, Browne released the following statement on Friday night:
โAs Collingwood members continue to collect the signatures required for an extraordinary general meeting for the election of seven directors to the Collingwood board, I reiterate that once that meeting is called, an alternative ticket of highly qualified, motivated and deeply caring Collingwood members will offer themselves for election.
โAll of this takes place against a backdrop of mistakes and actions by the current board, including:
โA botched miscalculation of the salary cap, overseen by the current president as chairman of the finance committee;
โAn undignified ejection of four very good players (Adam Treloar, Jaidyn Stephenson, Tom Phillips, Atu Bosenavulagi) forced out because of the salary cap blunders;
โThe botched appointment of a so-called director (Bridie OโDonnell), with no past passion for, or engagement with Collingwood;
โThe inherent instability that surrounds replacing a coach mid-season, an episode only saved significantly by the class and dignity of the coach himself;
โApparent meetings with some supporters pledging long overdue improvement to members benefits and facilities, offered amidst a plea not to give the members their right to elect a new board to represent them;
โUnprecedented low attendances at Collingwood home games at the MCG; and
โA devaluation of the Collingwood brand that has seen the broadcast of non-feature matches, relegated to graveyard television broadcasting slots.
โThese things collectively contribute to the growing lack of confidence in the leadership of our club, which can only presently be addressed by giving the members their democratic right to vote on all seven positions at a general meeting and only thereby, give them direct input into helping restore Collingwood to the great club it should be.โ
The 4-9 Magpies who are without a full-time coach after Nathan Buckley's departure on Monday will enjoy the bye this weekend before facing Fremantle in Melbourne in Round 15.
