THere are many who disagree but I think he has done a bang up job.

He was a champion and the voice of the smaller clubs, always standing toe to toe with the bigger clubs and the AFL.

And I admire the way in which he left, without fuss and without ego.

Well done PG.

THere are many who disagree but I think he has done a bang up job.

He was a champion and the voice of the smaller clubs, always standing toe to toe with the bigger clubs and the AFL.

And I admire the way in which he left, without fuss and without ego.

Well done PG.

B2L,

I would back your comments and extend that to all the Board members who have just resigned and thank all of them for the giving of their time energy and other resources in a job that is generally thankless, unpaid and subject at times to unbelievable media scrutiny and supporter/ member emotion.

Thanks to one and all.

B2L,

I would back your comments and extend that to all the Board members who have just resigned and thank all of them for the giving of their time energy and other resources in a job that is generally thankless, unpaid and subject at times to unbelievable media scrutiny and supporter/ member emotion.

Thanks to one and all.

And I think it is a travesty that Bev O'Connor wasn't asked to stay on. She has been an honest, optimistic spruiker for our club since day one and I would have liked to see her remain. Notwithstanding, thanks to her and the entire Board for their voluntary work and best efforts to help the club.

There are other threads and posts on the changes in the Boardroom but I would like to draw attention to one particular aspect of the events of the last few weeks and ask the indulgence of the mods.

Since that black day back in 1965 when we sacked Norm Smith in a hail of controversy and bitterness we have demonstrated a chronic inability to manage major change. Our darkest hour was surely that terrible night at Dallas Brooks Centre back in 1996 - who could forget the scenes of the mob howling derision at one of the Holy Trinity of our Club, Ian Ridley, and Ridley screaming defiance back at them.

The bitter events of 2001 culminating in the Joe v Szondy election and the marginally less bitter election of 2003 where 13 candidates vied for 5 seats continued this ignoble tradition. Each and every one of these events diminished us, arguably permanently.

I saw something this last few weeks that I have never seen before and which gives me even more joy and confidence than the arrival in the Boardroom of Jimmy and his team with their new vision and energy. I saw for the first time in my life the Club demonstrate a capacity to manage change with maturity and style.

Congratulations to Paul Gardner and his Board for the thoughtful and selfless way they have conducted themselves while conscientiously discharging their duty to evaluate Jim's proposals against the single yardstick of "what is in the best interests of the Club and the members who have elected us?".

Congratulations to Jim Stynes and his group who have concentrated on promoting their vision, people and plans and who have resisted the temptation to slag off at the incumbent Board.

All in all - a class act!! One that few other Clubs would be capable of and which our Club has never been able to match in my lifetime.

Great post Rflowering. You only have to read Demonland and Demonology to know what a non-event this has been. Compare the political talk this time (hardly any at all beyond a thread here and there) around to the farce in 2003.

Thank goodness there were no forums in 1996.

I have a really solid respect for Paul Gardner.

Largely due to his leadership the board is no longer a factional, bitter mess.

He has raised the bar on what is expected of off-field leaders at the club, in terms of loyalty and commitment to the club ahead of personal vanity.

Five years ago, it wouldn't have been a case of a few board members expressing reservations and wanting to see a convincing and clear plan before they stepped aside for the Stynes ticket. It would have been big egos fighting it out to the last drop of (the club's) blood.

No resurgence campaign could have ever been effective while the top-level rot was still in place.

As far as I'm concerned, Gardner has been patiently breaking rocks so we could have something to build with.

How many ways are there to say it - "that man did hard work, without glory, for us".

I have a really solid respect for Paul Gardner.

How many ways are there to say it - "that man did hard work, without glory, for us".

Agree.

Addressed issues that were ignored by previous administrations for far too long and leaves the club in a better state than when he found it.

Well done Paul.

Yep... Congratulations PG... How often do you see outgoing presidents and club leaders leave in a hail of abuse and relief. Paul did as good a job in difficult times as you could ask for, and we were lucky to have him.

Hope to see him around in the future too.

Possibly a notion lost to many , whether or not folk rated Paul Gardner ,is that this club is still here and though slowly, is bettering its ways. It is so only through the dedicated stewardship of people like PG and his fellow directors.

The legacy of the Gardner years wil lbe that we were in a position to effect change., that we are in a position to have a hope still of contesting this wonderful competition, basically, that we stil exist. When you consider some of the dark forces that encircle us all the whiles this is no mean effort. Thankyou

And I think it is a travesty that Bev O'Connor wasn't asked to stay on. She has been an honest, optimistic spruiker for our club since day one and I would have liked to see her remain. Notwithstanding, thanks to her and the entire Board for their voluntary work and best efforts to help the club.

Thanks for everything Bev, I think you are fantastic xoxoxo

Thank goodness there were no forums in 1996.

Yes there was. It was at Dallas Brooks in late 1996 but it fell over as everyone tried to post their angst at the one time and got blocked.

Thanks for everything Bev, I think you are fantastic xoxoxo

Haha - that too

Addressed issues that were ignored by previous administrations for far too long and leaves the club in a better state than when he found it.

that's the key here. he left the club in a better position that what he found it... the media don't seem to think so, we're just their kicking boy at the moment...

that's the key here. he left the club in a better position that what he found it... the media don't seem to think so, we're just their kicking boy at the moment...

If Paul Gardiner had done a good job, then how come the club so far this has in excess of $1 million dollar debt.

It t is good we know have a Chairman who has passion for the Dees, and we will see him around the club.

If Paul Gardiner had done a good job, then how come the club so far this has in excess of $1 million dollar debt.

It t is good we know have a Chairman who has passion for the Dees, and we will see him around the club.

Demonrob,

You have no idea of what the Chairman of the MFC has been up against. Facing millions in debt, a perceived fickle supporter base, lack of onfield success, substandard training facilities, no home base, a disparate administration, huge staff turnover, an AFL administration who has punched the club from pillar to post....................... the list is endless.

Lets hope you're boundless faith in "passion" is enough for us to turn the corner.

Your comments are baseless and purely ignorant.

But you're right. The proof is that supporters did not turn up on Monday to watch Gardner's last game as Chairman. He must be hopeless.

I to thank PG and the board for what they have done, but I will wait for the vision, plans or actions to be told to the supporters before I go into raptures, as much as JS has given us the Martin Luther King "I had a dream" speech it stills need to be backed up, but I do think that they way they have instigated the change of power is a credit to the club no blood letting. A credit to them all as this would not have happened years ago.

If Paul Gardiner had done a good job, then how come the club so far this has in excess of $1 million dollar debt.

It t is good we know have a Chairman who has passion for the Dees, and we will see him around the club.

Because Demonrob, when he arrived the club was more than $5 million in debt. And anyone who gives as much of themselves as the chairman of a footy club does clearly has a passion for that club.

Great posts all (well, except for demonrob).

hear, hear!

Because Demonrob, when he arrived the club was more than $5 million in debt. And anyone who gives as much of themselves as the chairman of a footy club does clearly has a passion for that club.

exactly, and given we've been able to cut our debt level down while increasing footy department expenditure significantly is important...

while he hasn't left the footy club in a fantastic position, and there is still a lot of work to do, he has left the place in a much better position than which he found it...

sometimes it is just time for a change, a new fresh enthusiasm and passion... to take us to the next level... Jim Stynes is going to preside over us entering our new home at the Olympic Park Precinct... establish a new training base out at Casey fields... initiatives that will be important to the clubs future, initatives all started by Paul Gardner's board...

exactly, and given we've been able to cut our debt level down while increasing footy department expenditure significantly is important...

while he hasn't left the footy club in a fantastic position, and there is still a lot of work to do, he has left the place in a much better position than which he found it...

sometimes it is just time for a change, a new fresh enthusiasm and passion... to take us to the next level... Jim Stynes is going to preside over us entering our new home at the Olympic Park Precinct... establish a new training base out at Casey fields... initiatives that will be important to the clubs future, initatives all started by Paul Gardner's board...

There is one thing no lease has being signed at Olympic Park (sharing Gosh's paddack with Collingwood.

And nothing has being signed at Casey fields also.

Jim Stynes did say that the MCG is our home, and we need to be with the MCC.

The $5 million was from when Szondy was President and Gardiner was on that Board for two years before he became President.

How many of the Gardiner's Board were at the Breakfast and After Match last Monday ?

I saw something this last few weeks that I have never seen before and which gives me even more joy and confidence than the arrival in the Boardroom of Jimmy and his team with their new vision and energy. I saw for the first time in my life the Club demonstrate a capacity to manage change with maturity and style.

Congratulations to Paul Gardner and his Board for the thoughtful and selfless way they have conducted themselves while conscientiously discharging their duty to evaluate Jim's proposals against the single yardstick of "what is in the best interests of the Club and the members who have elected us?".

Congratulations to Jim Stynes and his group who have concentrated on promoting their vision, people and plans and who have resisted the temptation to slag off at the incumbent Board.

All in all - a class act!! One that few other Clubs would be capable of and which our Club has never been able to match in my lifetime.

Ditto....

thanks PG...

All in all - a class act!! One that few other Clubs would be capable of and which our Club has never been able to match in my lifetime.

Best post yet

How many of the Gardiner's Board were at the Breakfast and After Match last Monday ?

I saw Michael Coglin at the walk, not sure who else but I wasn't really looking for them. Do you have any idea who was/was not there?

Or are you just making spiteful implications based on nothing?

Well Said, "Before2long".

PG did his best to help the Club we love. It's been a dignified, unselfish exit by him and his Board, whom I think, have faced unjustified criticism.

The absence of a political stoush is evidence of his desire for the welfare of the MFC.