Resignation of Mark Korda will see Collingwood FC have three Presidents in a year

Ongoing issues at AFL giant Collingwood FC have seen Mark Korda stand down from the Club’s Presidency with reports suggesting that he will be replaced by former AFL legal adviser Jeff Browne.

The departure of Korda from the position, to which he was appointed in February, will see Collingwood have three President in less than a year, following the resignation of long-standing incumbent Eddie McGuire from the role after his seeming poor handling of racism issues within the Club.

Taking over the Magpie’s Presidency in February after the departure of McGuire, Korda has had to contend with the threat of board challenges and member-led emergency general meetings.

Browne, who is reported to be a close friend of McGuire, has made no secret of his desire to take control of the board.

Jeff Browne, Renee Roberts and Barry Carp have nominated for a position on the board

Korda, who had already announced he would quit the board at the end of next year,  will see out his term on the Club board but will stand down as President before a general meeting scheduled for 16th December.

In a letter to members on Thursday, Korda confirmed Browne, along with Renee Roberts and Barry Carp, had nominated for a position on the board.

He wrote “the board welcomes these nominations and the important contribution they can make to the club's future success and the journey of renewal which the club has undertaken in recent years

"Following the AGM, the newly elected board will meet to appoint the next president of our great club.

"As I have only one season left on the board, I will not be a candidate for the presidency."

Korda informed the nomination period for the election of four directors to the board of the Collingwood Football Club will open on 15th October and close on 4th November.

2021 has also seen the controversial appointment of medical professional and former professional road cyclist Bridie O'Donnell to the board.

Her appointment generated controversy, because she had been a Collingwood member for less than two years, contravening Collingwood's constitution, which states "No member shall be qualified for election as a member of the board unless he (or she) shall have been a member of the club for at least 24 months immediately prior to nomination."

O'Donnell's appointment lasted only four months, with work commitments forcing her to leave last month.

Images: Collingwood's administrative headquarters at Melbourne's Holden Centre (top) and Mark Korda (below).