Ex-AFL exec approached amid Kelly’s Collingwood “curveball”

There has been a slight “curveball” in Collingwood’s search for a new CEO.

Caroline Wilson reported in June that the Magpies were “very keen” on luring Fremantle chief Simon Garlick to Melbourne to replace Craig Kelly.

That came after she reported that Kelly was negotiating his exit from his role as Pies chief executive.

Now, it seems that Kelly is not planning to step down despite the suggestion that a club intermediary recently made contact with Travis Auld - the former AFL Executive.

“Just a little curveball has come across my desk in recent times,” Wilson said on Channel 7’s Agenda Setters.

“Craig Kelly, of course, has denied he was ever planning on stepping down at the end of this year, even though I said he was negotiating his exit either this year or next.

“We know that he approached Freo’s CEO Simon Garlick some time ago about perhaps coming back to Melbourne and replacing him.

“I can now tell you that a Collingwood intermediary a month or so ago approached Travis Auld, the former AFL executive, former Essendon executive, Gold Coast chief executive, who now runs the Grand Prix Corporation.

“The Collingwood intermediary asked him whether he would come to Collingwood to be the chief executive replacing Kelly next year.”

Wilson suggests that there remains a chance the Pies could seek a replacement for Kelly in the not too distant future.

“I think they’re looking for a good replacement. Craig Kelly did want to negotiate his exit and stay on as a consultant,” she continued.

“I’m not sure the board was quite ready for Craig to go, and go in that fashion and stay on as a consultant, nor was Auld - who hasn’t ruled out one day returning to footy - prepared to come and be Collingwood’s CEO next year.”