THE HERALD REPORTS
Keohane resigns from directorship at SRU

KEVIN FERRIE, Chief Rugby Writer July 27 2005

Fresh concerns over the running of Scottish Rugby emerged yesterday as another key figure left the governing body when Mike Keohane, the corporate affairs director, resigned.
Fred McLeod, the SRU's interim chief executive, admitted the departure of a man he had relied upon for backing and advice during a turbulent time at Murrayfield, was a major blow. "Mike was the person who first brought the rest of the executive together to promise me their support and I was given that," said McLeod.
"I would have found it difficult to survive without his wise counsel. It is a setback because it will not be easy to replace him, but I would like to think there are other quality people around."
For his part, Keohane continued to attempt to bolster McLeod and the new Scottish Rugby Board even as he leaves.
"Now that a lot of the changes have been agreed and Scottish Rugby is again in safe hands, I think this is a good time to move on," he said. "My passion for Scottish Rugby is undiminished and I plan, at the very least, to be at Murrayfield supporting Edinburgh and Scot-land as often as I possibly can."
Yet with plans to appoint a new chief executive apparently on hold, which, in turn, could delay identification of a new national coach, it seems the SRB are facing unforseen difficulties in working out the way forward.
Only last week Andy Irvine, whose election as president was seen as crucial in changing the sport's image, claimed the announcement of a new chief executive was imminent as they selected from what he described as four outstanding candidates.
Among those was Keith Grainger, currently Scottish Rugby's marketing director, who is due today to unveil his plans for increasing revenues at the nation's three professional teams this season.
Meanwhile, The Herald understands that, having completed the final interviews, no appointment has been made and the possibility of readvertising the post is even being mooted.
However McLeod said he has had no indication from the nominations committee regarding that course of action.
The delay sends out a worrying message in terms of the effectiveness of the selection process, while making the timing of the departure of Keohane – he was brought in just last autumn for his expertise in the areas of governance and communications – particularly curious.
The turmoil into which the sport was thrown in January, following the SRU general committee's fateful decision to remove David Mackay, the then chairman, from office, meant it was only after June's annual meeting, when boardroom restructuring was finally agreed, that Keohane's contribution seemed likely to be most useful.
It consequently seems that concerns about the attitude towards the role of a corporate affairs director lie behind his departure.
Following January's events when Phil Anderton, the then chief executive, followed Mackay out of office, Keohane initially applied to replace the man who had appointed him.
He withdrew before the interview process began, but said his future involvement would depend on how rigorous the new SRB was about applying proper governance procedures.
When proposals for restructuring were agreed in April, leaving no room for a corporate affairs director at board level, Keohane registered his concern about being able to have the influence he felt would be necessary.

This article was posted on 27-Jul-2005, 07:33 by Hugh Barrow.