There were talks of “a vote of no confidence” from North Ballarat Football Club members at an emotional annual general meeting on Tuesday night.
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A large gathering watched on as board positions for the North Ballarat football club, sports club and junior club were announced and other business discussed in a brief meeting that lasted less than 30 minutes.
Once the formalities came to an end, hall of fame inductee Bruce Sargent directed an attack towards the board.
Sargent described the annual meeting and current situation at North Ballarat as “a bloody disgrace” and questioned the board’s ability to run the club.
“Members, we have got to do something about it,” he said.
“I’ve been here for over 60 years. I started here in 1951 and we’ve gone to this.”
Sargent’s passionate comments were clapped by some of those in attendance, which was followed by more strong words from club member David George.
Just two members of the previous football club board – Richard Start and Mark McGrath – remained before Tuesday night's meeting. This followed a string of resignations in recent months, including former chairman Jenny Bromley, Peter Carey, Ray Gluyas, Shaune Moloney, Di Nevett, Simon Gilbert, Ross Johns and Stephen Jurica.
Start (director of finance) and McGrath (director of football) were elected unopposed to the new board, as was Terry Hay (director of BFL operations), Ken Shearer (without portfolio) and Chris Rowan (without portfolio).
The group met behind closed doors after the AGM, but didn’t provide further comment to The Courier.
It is expected the board will gather again on Wednesday to discuss further plans for the future.
On Tuesday night, Start was also announced as the chairman of the new sports club board, with McGrath, Shearer and Bobby Spagnolo fellow directors.
The new junior club board has been made up of Leon Jones (president), Stephen Darbin (vice president), Hay (secretary), Start (treasurer) and committee members McGrath, Rowan, David Duffy, David Linane, Noel Leonard and Mark Duffy.