Kane Cornes has questioned Andrew Fagan’s tenure at the Adelaide Crows.
Fagan has stepped down as Crows CEO as the club “embarks upon a new strategic agenda” with the last couple of years under his guidance not quite going to plan.
While admitting he did a stellar job earlier in his time as the club’s chief, Cornes believes it has been an “absolute free-fall” since the Crows played in the 2017 Grand Final.
On SEN SA Breakfast, he said: “I wonder why now is the right time?
“A long tenure at the footy club. Took over in 2014 and went through some horrific lows of course with the passing of Phil Walsh, which no one would have expected, particularly in his first season at the helm.
“Then he got the club into a really powerful position on and off the field, but since 2017 it has been an absolute free-fall. It’s been a complete disaster.
“If I’m honest, you know I’ve questioned his role for probably the last 18 months.
“I’m surprised he’s lasted this long.”
Cornes cited the ‘external’ review the club undertook in late 2019, which resulted in the sacking of footy boss Brett Burton and assistant coach Scott Camporeale, while touching on some of the incidents the club has had to deal with over the last 12 or so months.
“I say that with all due respect,” he added.
“The review at the end of 2019 with (Matthew) Pavlich and (Jason) Dunstall, which for some reason Andrew Fagan was involved in and was privy to when I don’t think he should have been.
“It should have been a complete external review. The findings of the review say that Brett Burton and Scott Camporeale were the problem and Fagan escaped any scrutiny, probably because he sat in on the review.
“That was a waste of money, that was a waste of time, and since then it’s just been one problem after another at Adelaide including the likes of Andrew McLeod speaking out, off-field drama with (Tyson) Stengle and quarantine breaches.
“However serious, or however not, it’s been a constant sifting through negative publicity at the Adelaide Football Club under his leadership.”
The former Port Adelaide midfielder says Fagan receives a “big tick” for the strength of the club’s commercial position but was critical of all other areas.
“Things like culture, behaviour, personnel, performance and player retention are all things that CEOs are accountable for,” he said further.
“If you go through all of them, you cross the majority of them, other than commercially because the club has a really strong base. If Andrew gets a tick, clearly he gets a big tick commercially. Memberships are still strong, sponsorship is great and the club is not reliant on the AFL for any handouts.
“Commercially strong, but everything else not so.
“Even the most passionate Crows fan could attest to that, that it’s been really choppy since the end of 2017 and I’m surprised he escaped any scrutiny after that external review.”
The Crows are now seeking “expressions of interest from potential candidates” as they seek to fill Fagan’s position as soon as possible.