Craig Kelly has broken his silence to thank outgoing president Jeff Browne for his support after the Collingwood chief executive had been accused of highly offensive racial slurs by a former member of staff.
The allegations against Kelly were made in July, with former head of First Nations Strategy, Mark Cleaver, lodging documents at the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, claiming he had suffered both economic loss, distress and humiliation after his employment at the club had been terminated.
The case has since been settled out of court but had opened up on the impact that the incident had on himself and his family. Following an investigation, Collingwood said that no workplace laws had been breached. They claimed that the termination of his conduct was due to conduct that was unrelated to his complaint.
Browne revealed in August that he had been diagnosed with myeloma, a type of blood cancer. He stated that he would be stepping down from his role as the club’s president when he believed ‘things were in order.’
The president had fiercely denied the accusations that were made against Kelly during the unfair dismissal and denied that the Magpies were a racist club.
He said, ‘We’re backing Craig Kelly on this and we intend to fight these proceedings.’
Collingwood boss Craig Kelly has broken his silence after allegations of racism were made against him
Jeff Browne has revealed he will step down as Collingwood president after being diagnosed with cancer
Kelly, meanwhile, who has been at the club for two seasons, has not spoken out on the matter since it had first come to light, but has this week opened up on how Browne had been a pillar for him during his time at the club.
‘I am going to miss Jeff (Browne) a lot,’ he told SEN.
‘He is an amazing gentleman, how he got behind and supported (Kelly). To be honest, I have just been able to focus on what I have to do.
‘He has taken a lot of the pressure in relation to that (the claim). It wasn’t a good time.
‘I don’t really want to talk about it too much because it is quite legal.
‘But it is done and we move on.’
He also added that the legal claim had taken a big toll on his loved ones.
‘It’s hard on the family, it’s hard on a whole heap of things but you have to get on with things.’
The 72-year-old revealed he has been battling blood cancer since September 2023
It comes as the Magpies are working on a large re-structure of their management department after former deputy chief executive Graham Wright jumped ship to join to Victorian rivals Carlton amid rumblings he and Kelly had fallen out.
Wright had opted to part company with the Magpies following a sabbatical overseas. The news came in August, with questions arising over why it has taken Collingwood so long to appoint his successor.
‘We had the conversation at the time with Jeff (Browne) and me and he (Wright) sat in our office and said during the period there, there may be a situation where he gets opportunities elsewhere, (and he may not come back to Collingwood),’ Kelly said as he defended the club’s lengthy search for a new debuty CEO.
‘Those conversations were had during the year, they had to drag out a little bit longer than we wanted to for a whole heap of reasons, nothing to do with Wrighty.’
Despite claims that the pair had been at loggerheads, Kelly lumped praise on Wright.
‘Good on Wrighty, he’s got a great opportunity (at Carlton as deputy CEO, Cooky (Brian Cook) is an amazing CEO as a long-term guy in the industry.
‘But the thing is now he’s at Carlton and we’re at Collingwood … last time I checked the two don’t like each other that much.’
Meanwhile, Ex-Swans exec Charlie Gardiner has penned a deal to join Collingwood as their new head of football, and Kelly claimed the incoming footy mastermind was the perfect fit for the Magpies.
Kelly (right) also praised former deputy CEO Graham Wright after he had left the club to join Carlton
Ex-Swans head of footy Charlie Gardener is now set to join Collingwood as the club revaps its boardroom
‘He just fitted us beautifully, he’s got great experience,’ he told SEN.
‘He’s been with the Sydney Swans, and I think all of us should agree that they’ve been a consistent performer and a tough market.
‘He’s been able to not only be involved in the list, which I think he’s done a great job with. But also, (former Swans coach) John Longmire has a strong personality so to have that relationship they’ve had (is impressive) and (CEO) Tom Harley is also an outstanding person.
‘He and I have been talking through this process and he’s been so professional, it’s just right.’
