Gillon McLachlan, the former chief executive of the Australian Football League (AFL), is on the brink of assuming the role of chairman at Racing Victoria (RV), concluding an extensive search to replace Brian Kruger.
Although reports indicate that McLachlan, who led the AFL from 2014 until late last year, has not yet officially accepted the offer extended by Victoria’s racing minister Anthony Carbines, it is widely anticipated that he will do so in the near future.
Since Kruger’s departure, Mike Hirst has been serving as the acting chairman since last July. However, both Hirst and longstanding director Greg Nichols are expected to step down from their positions prior to June 30, resulting in three vacancies.
This turnover aligns with RV’s initiative to refresh its board, a move advocated for by critics of the principal racing authority, including Jonathan Munz.
Tensions have been brewing among participant groups for over a year regarding the direction taken by the RV executive, particularly concerning prize-money reductions under the leadership of Andrew Jones.
However, McLachlan’s impending appointment is anticipated to alleviate some of the unrest ahead of the Special General Meeting scheduled for February 28.
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