Super Rugby side ACT Brumbies CEO Michael Jones "agreed to leave the club" after a month of "backroom drama" over his future, according to Amlan Chakraborty of REUTERS.
Jones "was stood down in March following a controversial radio interview in which he spoke about a report into the club's finances but stayed on as the CEO with protection under whistleblower laws."
In a statement, the Brumbies announced the confidential deal which would see Jones leave after an "orderly handover" next week.
The club said that "settling the dispute quickly and outside of the courts would allow Brumbies to focus on rugby" (REUTERS, 4/30). In Melbourne, Chris Dutton wrote ACT Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham "will take on player contract negotiations as the Super Rugby club comes to grips with life" after Jones.
The Brumbies board "will begin the search for a new chief executive in the coming days and will consult with senior management this week to decide on an acting boss."
Players Stephen Moore and Scott Fardy "were dragged into the saga when they were named as part of a potential workplace investigation lodged by Jones." The investigation "is not going ahead and Brumbies insiders say claims made in an internal email are false" (THE AGE, 5/1). In Sydney, Bret Harris wrote Australian Sports Commission GM Michael Thomson emerged as the favorite "to replace Jones." Jones reached a reported settlement of between A$500,000-A$700,000 ($380,000-$532,000) "with the Brumbies."
Thomson "has worked for a number of sports and business organisations, and has a strong rugby background."
There has "been speculation former Wallabies and Brumbies star Joe Roff would be a candidate for the chief executive’s job." Roff is currently CEO of the student union of the University of Canberra, "one of the Brumbies’ major sponsors" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 5/2).
