Collingwood CEO Craig Kelly has initiated negotiations to leave the club, as reported by Channel 7's Caroline Wilson. Kelly, who played 122 games for Collingwood and was part of the 1990 premiership team, has served as CEO since 2023, overseeing a highly successful period.
Kelly's Departure Plans
Kelly is currently overseas celebrating his upcoming 60th birthday and will miss this weekend's King's Birthday blockbuster against Melbourne. Wilson revealed that while Kelly will vacate the role, he would like to remain in charge of certain portfolios. "The plan is that Kelly could be gone by the end of this season, certainly in a full-time sense," she said on The Agenda Setters.
Portfolios Kelly Wants to Retain
"There are a lot of things that he has run and overseen that I think he would like to remain in charge of," Wilson added. These include a potential massive refurbishment of the MCG in the coming years and how it will involve tenant clubs, as well as a potential deal with Tennis Australia to take over parts of Collingwood's Olympic Park precinct for their fan zone, among other things.
Tumultuous Tenure
While Kelly was at the helm for the 2023 premiership and has helped maintain Collingwood's status as one of the league's biggest clubs, Wilson described his tenure as "tumultuous," largely due to his well-publicized fallout with Graham Wright. "He's only halfway through his fourth season. It's been a tumultuous time since he took over. Of course, a premiership was a very big part of that regime," Wilson said.
"Then, of course, the famous fallout with his great mate and footy boss, Graham Wright, who then went over to run the Carlton Football Club. I think early days, it was tumultuous for him too. His style was not that of your new-age CEO to put it mildly. I think that has changed in recent times."
Management Challenges
Wilson also noted that list boss Justin Leppitsch has turbulent relationships with many people at the club. "So a lot to manage. A relatively new president, a new footy boss in Charlie Gardner, who will be part of a group who might be ascending to take over that role. But a couple of big names outside the club that we're trying to find out about too," she said.
Potential Issues with Retaining Portfolios
Wilson stated that Kelly's desire to keep some portfolios could be an "issue," but added that he will remain part of the Collingwood family. "I think that could be an issue. There was talk when Brian Cook left Geelong that that might be part of his remit. Then Steve Hocking came in and he wanted to run the show," she said. "It may or may not happen. But I think that ... look the guy's a brilliant entrepreneur, a great manager and he's had a brilliant career. So I'm sure he will remain part of the Collingwood family."
