MELBOURNE chairman Paul Gardner has announced he is stepping down from his position at the helm of the Demons, with his resignation effective from Thursday night's board meeting.
Gardner, 49, confirmed his decision on Monday at a president's lunch function, hosted by Melbourne, just ahead of the club's Queen's Birthday clash with Collingwood and two days after the Demons officially celebrated their 150th year with a function at Crown.
"Today's speech is something of a departure speech," Gardner said.
"I have been privileged to be chairman of the Melbourne Football Club for five years, and a director for seven, which, I am reliably informed, is the average life of a fridge, even with regular defrosting.
"In that time, I have sought to balance my football requirements with other important responsibilities, to my family, career, and other community interests.
"Sometimes this juggling act has been more successful than other occasions, and for awhile now, I've been conscious of righting this all too often imbalance.
"I informed the board in 2007 that this year would be my last, and at this point in time, the halfway mark of our 150th year, we've honoured and celebrated our past and made over $100,000 with a wonderful evening last Saturday night and a fabulous public walk to today's game.
"It is now time to plan and look forward, and I do not believe that people not intending to be here in the future should burden those that will be with any locked in, long term plans."
This season, Melbourne has been under increasing pressure owing to financial debt, on-field struggles, and a lack of both a supporter base and a permanent home.
Two weeks ago, Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett called for Melbourne to relocate to the Gold Coast, which forced Gardner to vehemently oppose such a suggestion at the president's lunch ahead of the Demons-Hawks clash.
The club has also undergone some big changes in the past 10 months, with Dean Bailey taking over coaching duties at the end of the season following Neale Daniher's resignation in round 13, and the appointment of former tennis director Paul McNamee as CEO in March this year.
It is expected past Melbourne champion Jim Stynes will be appointed as Gardner's successor, with a host of fellow former Demons expected to join his ticket.
"I wish Jim Stynes all the best in his endeavours and encourage others to follow his lead and help our club return to its former greatness,"
It has been reported names such as Greg Healy, Anthony Ingerson and Garry Lyon have expressed their support for Stynes.
"There have been times when I have been appalled and dismayed, as a number of their colleagues and a seemingly ubiquitous special comments commentator had deteriorated into a gruel of gossip, innuendo, plagiarised blogs and unadulterated fabrication," Gardner said.
"For some reason, being first and inaccurate today is not nearly as bad as being second and accurate tomorrow, but it's no surprise to me that readers are deserting mass circulated papers, almost as quickly as advertisers."
