Business manager Darrin Carroll is the first casualty of a Red Devils financial crisis.

Red Devils chairman Duncan Smith and board member Stan Burns confirmed the club had parted ways with Carroll.

“It was no reflection on Darrin, it was purely a business decision,” Burns said.

“It’s the only decision that’s been made in terms of money. It’s been the only staff cost-saving decision.”

“It’s more painful for Darrin than it is for us and Darrin is more deserving of sympathy than us,” Burns said.

The Reds held a crisis meeting at Morshead Park last week in the form of an open forum for members, academy parents, key stakeholders

and supporters to voice concerns and ideas as to how the club should best move forward.

A letter written by Smith, and sent to Red Devils members in the same week, said the club was looking at an operating loss of more than $100,000 for the 2015 National Premier Leagues Victoria season.

Carroll was appointed by the Red Devils in January, 2014.

Burns said Carroll’s duties would be shared between other members of Ballarat’s managerial team.

“It will probably be divided up,” he said.

“I imagine I would take on a few things that Darrin did.”

The club is yet to finalise plans for its revival as the board deals with the events of a whirlwind past two weeks.

“We are still working on resolving the issues that have come up,” Burns said.

“We’re still working through it. We’re still trying to discuss all of the things that we have to address.

“There will continue to be meetings.”

When asked if the club could support a full-time administration member, Burns replied: “not in the near future”.

“It’s more important that we meet our other commitments right now,” he said.

michael.pollock@fairfaxmedia.com.au