Barham’s departure, thus, should buy time for Scott and chief executive Craig Vozzo, who needed more runway to remake a playing list that lacked A-graders for so long.
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Welsh has a strong relationship with billionaire former president Paul Little, who was far closer to the previous chairman Paul Brasher and Campbell than Barham. Little had been viewed with wary respect – and a touch of trepidation – by Barham and some club insiders fearing a board spill since 2023.
James Hird, too, has indicated (to Channel Nine) that he was out of the loop of any board ructions, having earlier this year put on record that he was not interested in a prodigal return as coach.
Welsh and Solomon will have solid support, thus, from the vast majority of Essendon people, not least the iconic Kevin Sheedy, who had also departed the board late last year and caused some grief in his dissent on the appointment of Scott over his former champion Hird.
That it was Welsh who met with Merrett on Friday last week was a telling sign of what was coming. Welsh had also been meeting regularly with Scott and Vozzo, alongside Barham, and had been unequivocal in supporting that pair.
Barham’s mission was one of bruising change. He presided over changes of coach, chief executive, most of the board and the exit of long-time recruiting boss Adrian Dodoro, whose marathon time at Essendon ended in a settlement following legal action.
The shift to Welsh is one from change agent to more of a consensus-builder and healer.
Barham had been further dented by a Herald Sun story on how he had sworn at octogenarian ex-champion Ted Fordham at a club function back in July, in defence of Scott.
Had the Bombers been playing last weekend – or even the weekend before – in preliminary and/or semi-final this September, angry words between president and a decorated former player would barely have registered. Consider the reaction were such an event to happen at Geelong.
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And, more pertinently, had the Bombers been participating in the second or third week of the finals, Merrett wouldn’t be meeting with Sam and Lyndall Mitchell.
Merrett’s wish to look for the exit ramp, indeed, has likely hastened the exit of the president.
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