Turmoil at Essendon has claimed another scalp, with chief executive Xavier Campbell stepping down from his role.
It comes just days after Ben Rutten was fired as head coach.
The Bombers finished this year in a disappointing 15th place in the standings, winning just seven of 22 games.
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Campbell has been in the role for nearly nine years and was a key advocate for Rutten, who had one year to run on his contract.
He is the third senior figure to leave the troubled club this month, following Rutten and chairman Paul Brasher.
Earlier this year, Campbell was re-appointed as chief executive on a contract that ran until the end of the 2024 season.
Campbell’s departure comes in the wake of the club’s failed and ultimately unsuccessful attempt to recruit top-flight manager Alastair Clarkson. Campbell opposed replacing Rutten with Clarkson.
There are already calls for new chairman David Barham to leave, despite being in the job for less than a fortnight, given his role in the club’s pursuit of Clarkson.
“Xavier is to be congratulated for his service to the Essendon Football Club,” Barham said in a statement.
“He took over at a time that required strong leadership during the most turbulent time in our history. He led tirelessly to reform the club’s governance, cultural and structural processes in the aftermath of that difficult period and managed very complex situations through the legal procedures, including the AFL Anti-Doping and WADA appeals and sanctions processes, as well as being instrumental in retaining players and sponsors during these more difficult periods.
“Under his leadership, significantly, we saw the elimination of associated debt that peaked during that time.”
Once a power on the field, Essendon’s most recent premiership was in 2000, and the club has not won a finals game since 2004.
The Bombers were embarrassed in the final two games of the season, going down to Port Adelaide and Richmond by a combined score of 287-137.
MORE TO COME.
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