Demetriou supports Jackson
03/09/2007 2:44 PM
AFL Chief Executive Officer Andrew Demetriou has urged the 'Save Essendon group' to halt its determination to oust Essendon managing director Peter Jackson and his board.
"Peter Jackson is one of the best Chief Executives going around by far, he's been at the Essendon Football Club for 10 years and built this club up to be one of the powerhouses of the AFL," Demetriou declared.
"The Essendon Football Club board is one of the best boards that we have in the competition and some of this stuff going around is pure nonsense."
However, with the campaign set to continue, Demetriou has advised the faction to do so in the appropriate forum.
"If any disenfranchised Essendon members want to voice their disapproval there's an avenue for them to do that which is within their rights at the AGM (annual general meeting)," Demetriou said.
"Organising EGMs (extraordinary general meetings) and signatures is costly, it's expensive, it's a distraction and I don't know who these people are but I urge them seriously re-consider going down that path."
Demetriou's unwavering support for Jackson and the Essendon board comes as cross-town rival St. Kilda looks set to brace itself for some boardroom turbulence of its own with president Rod Butterss' seven-year tenure at the club on shaky ground.
Saints legend Nathan Burke appears to be one of a collection of prominent St. Kilda identities forming a ticket to usurp control of the club from Butterss.
One of the key reasons motivating the alternative board to challenge the incumbents is the public tit-for-tat battle between Butterss and recently sacked coach, and former best friend, Grant Thomas.