AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan’s final days in office are again unclear.
McLachlan’s resignation had been pushed back from last year until after Round 5, Gather Round, where it was thought the long-time league boss would step down, a year after he originally announced his decision.
But The Age and the Herald Sun are reporting that AFL chairman Richard Goyder called club presidents on Tuesday to inform them that McLachlan would stay on for another few weeks. He also reportedly explained that the league was yet to finalise its search for McLachlan’s successor.
One of the issues that originally saw McLachlan’s end date pushed back surrounds the funding model for a proposed new stadium in Tasmania.
The AFL has deemed the new stadium essential to granting a 19th license to Tasmania, but the league is hoping the Federal Labour Government will come to the party and fund over $200 million.
McLahlan and the AFL will find out of the Federal Government’s position when the May budget is announced.
As for his replacement, the league has kept its search a closely guarded secret. Around half a dozen candidates were interviewed in March, with AFL House’s Andrew Dillon and Travis Auld considered among the frontrunners.
McLachlan is set to hold a press conference on Wednesday morning ahead of the league's first Gather Round.