Job For The Boys - Even A Good Old Boy - Is Not Right.

I HAD a wee bit of a stooshie on Facebook last night, with Iain 'Bear' Milne, of all people; after I questioned the appointment of John Jeffrey as Chairman of Scottish Rugby until 2023 – ratifying in the process his position since May, as interim chairman.

 

Now I would never down-play or question JJ's contribution to Scottish Rugby, as a brilliant player and a hard-working “blazer.” No, my sense of disquiet at his latest appointment is based on one thing – to me it smacks of “Jobs for the boys.”

 

 

John Jeffrey - confirmed as Chairman until 2023

 

Also, I would prefer if the Chairman of the Board of SRU PLC, particularly in these difficult times, was concentrating all his efforts on leading us out of the mess we have been plunged into by Covid-19, not dividing his time between being:

 

1. Chairman of the Board

2. Council representative on behalf of the Celtic League

3. Member of the World Rugby Council

4. Member of World Rugby's Executive Committee

5. Chairman of World Rugby's Sevens Strategy Group

6. Chairman of the Six Nations Council

 

Not forgetting running the family farm in the Borders. Are these not one or two jobs too many for one man?

 

I have seen other rugby commentators suggesting, with these many jobs, at some point, a conflict of interest might arise. Be that as it may, I would rather see our Chairman concentrating his energies on the main job, overseeing the management of SRU PLC. Also, and this is not a criticism of JJ, but, is he the best man available at this time?

 

I have long understood, the Chairman's position depends to a degree on he or she being Independent. Can JJ honestly say he meets that demand? He is seen by many within the game as 'an Insider,' he has been around BT Murrayfield for years, he knows everyone, and, while that is in some ways a good thing, there are drawbacks to this position which a different appointment might have prevented. In addition, the vacancy is supposed to be advertised. Good luck JJ, but, I hope you have not accepted a “hospital pass” in taking-on the role.

 

While some people within the game will harbour some reservations about JJ's latest job, I think it is fair to say the other big move in the boardroom, with Director of People and Internal Communications Shona Bell, (they like their fancy titles at BTM) due to replace General Counsel Robert Howat on the Board in January, 2021, will be well-received the length and breadth of Scottish Rugby.

 

New Board member Shona Bell
 

 

“Howzat's” jaiket has been perceived as being on a shoogly nail since his disgraceful performance in respect of “Russellgate 1” - the removal of Keith Russell. He will hang around like a bad smell at BTM, but, his wings have definitely been clipped by this demotion, and few will weep for him.

 

My own view is, however, that to have four of the Executive Management Group – TCD, Dom, Finance Director Andrew Healy and Shona Bell on the Board, but not the other two EMG members – Sheila Begbie and Jim Mallinder – the two who actually deal 24/7 with the game of rugby, is strange.

 

Hopefully will see change once the Governance Review Group reports next year. For me, having three main board members, all of whom report directly to a fourth, does not make for good governance. While to not have either of the two EMG members who deal directly with the game of rugby not represented on the board seems strange.

 

I know The Offside Line's semi-house-trained financial expert is already digging through the limited financial details which BTM released yesterday – I will leave comment to him, he's a lot-better qualified than I. But, from my limited knowledge of matters financial, the picture is not pretty, and unlikely to improve for some time.