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I think you lot saw this coming !!
Thursday, 19 April 2007
GARY FLOWERS OFFER TO RESIGN ACCEPTED BY ARU BOARD
The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) Board of Directors today accepted the resignation of Managing Director & CEO Gary Flowers, which will take effect from 11 May 2007.
The Board received the offer to resign from Gary last night, prior to the Annual General Meeting, which has been accepted.
Gary made the offer following his advice to the Board last week that he would not renew his contract at the end of this year.
“I had an obligation to the Board under my contract to provide timely advice as to my intentions beyond this year. I gave that advice a week ago and committed myself to staying to year end and keeping the organisation moving forward while the Board found my replacement.
“I was committed to overseeing an orderly transition.
“However, I no longer consider that smooth transition to be possible. While it is disappointing, I believe it is in the best interests of the game and for me personally.
“That is the position I put to the Board, prior to the AGM and any vote for the new Chairman. They asked me to stay until 11 May and attend the International Rugby Board (iRB) meeting where a number of critical issues will be discussed. These range from the current state of a key Northern Hemisphere tournament, through the signing of SANZAR players by Northern Hemisphere teams and to the Australian bid for the iRB Sevens Rugby World Cup for Men and, for the first time, Women to be held in 2009.
Australia is also pushing for the rapid introduction internationally of the new playing laws that have been successfully trialed in a number of places around the world, including the Premier Rugby Club competitions in Sydney and Brisbane.
“My fervent hope now is that the rugby community gets behind the new Chairman and my successor.
“There are a number of key initiatives underway for implementation over the balance of the year. I am confident that my departure will not compromise these initiatives.
“It has been a privilege to lead the management team and to be the CEO of this great sporting institution,” said Gary Flowers.