Clubs across Otago appear to have mixed views on the future of Otago Rugby Football Union board members.
But the members can stand again, although the board structure is likely to undertake a significant change as the constitution of the union is to be rewritten.
Most of the current board members are voted on by secret ballot at the union's annual meeting by club representatives.
Though nothing is decided, New Zealand Rugby Union Steve Tew said earlier this month the board was too big and did not have enough independent members on it.
Club chairmen canvassed yesterday by the Otago Daily Times had mixed views on the future of board members.
Alhambra-Union chairman Garry Wheeler said at the end of the day it was up to the board members to decide whether they stood or not. He questioned whether there was anyone else who would be prepared to take on the job.
New board members would face plenty of scrutiny, he said.
Taieri president Warren Grant said there were some good people on the board, who had the interests of Otago rugby at heart and had inherited a pup.
"It's a bit hard to classify them all under one umbrella. The vast majority of them have the interests of rugby at heart. The sins of the past are what they are and are well documented," Grant said.
"Hopefully, the same mistakes will not happen again. But the board members should have learnt from the mistakes."
Kaikorai chairman Ron St-Clair Newman said the club had no problem with the board members.
"They have been the ones which have stood up and have had the guts to come forward and get us out of this mess," St Clair Newman said.
He said much of the damage pre-dated the board.
Wakatipu chairman Damien O'Connell said the board should stand down and if they wanted to stand again then "good luck" to them. But the whole structure needed to be looked at, including the voting process.
Maniototo president Paul Docherty said the board should not be able to stand again.
"I can't understand why they did not see this coming five years ago. They should have stood up and balanced the budget, got some local players in, and said we might have some losses for a couple of years but it will be good for our future," Docherty said.
"I think they've got a bit of a cheek standing again."
University chairman Paul Hessian said there needed to be some discussion among the Otago rugby public on what the impact of a new structure would have on rugby in the province.
"The NZRU and other parties were likely to have some control so things do not go the same way. Maybe club input and control over the union will be minimised. Whether that is a good or a bad thing I do not know," Hessian said.
Zingari-Richmond chairman Murray Collie said it was a tough one and many people were asking questions on whether the board should stay.
Maybe it was a chance to start afresh but many board members had done a lot of work and had the experience.
Southern chairman Blair Crawford said the board should resign but many of the members were hard workers who had some experience which would be needed in the future.
Chairman Wayne Graham has already indicated he is unlikely to continue while deputy chairman Laurie Mains is not standing again.
ORFU board
How members are elected
• Clubs nominate a person to stand for the board.
• Each club has a vote depending on the number of senior teams it fields.
• Decided by secret ballot at the annual meeting.
• Elected members stand for a minimum of two years, with two people standing for election every year.
• Independent members appointed by an independent panel.
• President and vice-president elected at every annual meeting.
• Every third year is turn of a country person.
BOARD
Sir Eion Edgar (president), Adrian Read (vice-president), Wayne Graham (chairman), Laurie Mains (deputy chairman), Dick Bunton, Dave Callon, John Faulks (independent), Willis Paterson, Russell Cassidy (independent), Andrew Rooney, John Hammer (representative of metropolitan rugby council).
