Collingwood presidential hopeful Jeff Browne has refutes suggestions that his relationship with Eddie McGuire would compromise a board under his leadership.
Browne has emerged as the leading contender to become Collingwood’s next president, taking over from Mark Korda who will step aside after a short stint in the role.
McGuire, whose reign as long-time Pies president came to an end earlier this year, remains good friends with Browne after they both worked together at Channel 9.
Speaking ahead of the club’s Annual General Meeting on December 16, Browne said McGuire would always be there if he needed assistance in any way.
“Eddie (McGuire) and I are friends and I always will be,” he said on Sportsday.
“I don’t carry anyone’s bags and anyone that knows me knows that. This is a new and fresh start for Collingwood so I’ll be talking to be people that I think can contribute with their knowledge and expertise.
“Eddie has past relationships with sponsors and government in relation to funding for works that are being undertaken at the Holden Centre.
“If I needed to call on him to assist on any of those connections, I know I could and I know he would help.
“But for anyone to say that it somehow compromises my leadership of the club or interferes with a mandate that a new board would have to run Collingwood is just not right.”