A MEMBER-based working group will stand a ticket of five in a bid to reform the Ballarat Red Devils Football Club board of management.
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An election will take place at a special meeting of club members on Thursday, January 21, convened by the three-man working party
The five nominees will stand for six vacancies to be filled by a members’ vote.
The balance of the 11-member board will comprise two Ballarat District Soccer Association representatives and three Ballarat Red Devils Investment Company representatives (including the vice-chairman and treasurer).
The club has been without a president and full board since its annual meeting in November, when the working group was formed with the primary objective of forming a legally constituted board and working to put a sustainable governance model in place to ensure the long-term viability of a member-based club.
The working group of Michael Bardsley, Andrew Burgess and John Livingston will stand for the board along with Tony Irish and Michael Smith.
Burgess has the longest ties with the club, having been a associated with the Red Devils for more than 40 years. He is a past president and player. The interests of Bardsley, Livingston, Irish and Smith in the sport include having sons playing soccer in Ballarat.
Group spokesman Michael Bardsley said while ideally it would have liked to stand a full quota of six, they believed they had the numbers and leaving a vacancy would provide scope for adding new blood to club down the track. He said the group remained resolute to get the club back on track.
Bardsley also confirmed Football Federation Victoria general manager Matthew Annells would attend the meeting.
Annells, in a letter addressed to Ballarat Red Devils Members Football Club directors on Monday, said the FFV had in writing on December 16 strongly urged the club to call a special general meeting to fill vacancies on the board.
Annells stated in December that it was the FFV’s understanding that the board consisted of only three directors – each appointed by BRD Investments.
He said the FFV believed it was in the best interests of the club that the members be given an opportunity (in accordance with the club constitution) to fill the six vacancies on the board.
Bardsley restated that the stance taken by the working group followed concerns expressed to it from the membership base regarding the level of control Ballarat Red Devils Investments had over the affairs and operations of the club.