Australian Football League side Collingwood Head of Football Graeme Allan "has taken the decision on his future at Collingwood out of the club's hands, quitting after pleading guilty and accepting a one-year ban for his role in the Lachie Whitfield affair," according to Gleeson & Pierik of THE AGE.
Allan has apologized for his "error of judgement in handling Giants player Lachie Whitfield who went to stay at at the home of welfare manager Craig Lambert to avoid drug testers in May 2015." Allan said that he was "trying to help the player with relationship issues and 'there was no dark intent or other agenda behind what transpired in 2015.'" He said, "I reject any claim or speculation to the contrary." Graeme: "Lachie did not miss any test; Lachie has not been found to have consumed a prohibited substance; and Lachie has not evaded, refused or failed to submit to a sample collection. And neither have I." Collingwood has appointed Marcus Wagner as interim football boss "until a permanent replacement can be appointed," probably before the end of the year (THE AGE, 11/15).
