Financial nous again beat grassroots experience as Wanaka businessman and former lawyer Ross Laidlaw was elected to the board of the Otago Rugby Football Union last night.
Laidlaw won what was effectively a head-to-head race with Southern club stalwart Mike Reggett.
Tony Chave (Kaikorai), who has served two terms on the board, was up for re-election and was never in danger of being unseated.
Reggett has regularly stood for a place in the board but has never been able to get the votes.
Laidlaw, much as Otago-Southland Employers Association boss Duncan Simpson did three years ago, went from complete unknown, in a rugby sense, to ORFU board member.
He was born and raised in Dunedin but left 30 years ago, working as a commercial lawyer in Auckland and London. He is now a director of various stock exchange-listed and private companies, and has been involved in the commercial property market.
The tone of the meeting was largely positive considering the union had a record $1.5 million loss to report.
ORFU chief executive Richard Reid said large amounts of money ‘‘sloshing around a sport can cover a lot of ills''.
But Reid said the disappointing financial result for the 2007 year could not be disguised, and Otago had to concentrate on rectifying its cashflow position over the next 12 months. He said the ORFU had cut its player costs by nearly $500,000.
Reid told the meeting, which consisted mainly of club delegates, he believed the union did not accurately reflect the people of the region and it had to do a better job.
Reid again floated the possibility of Carisbrook regaining one-day international cricket over the next few years as stadiums like Eden Park and AMI Stadium underwent redevelopment.
Chairman Ron Palenski said it was obvious money, or the struggle to get enough to succeed, was the major issue facing Otago and other unions.
‘‘Change is needed and change will have to come,'' Palenski said. ‘‘For some time, we've tried to compete with the big unions, and that was a mistake.''
Palenski revealed it was the ORFU's intention to substantially rewrite the union's constitution, a decade after it was last rejigged.
Palenski stressed the importance of the July test at Carisbrook between the All Blacks and the Springboks.
‘‘I publicly acknowledge the faith the New Zealand Rugby Union has shown in us by giving Carisbrook a test,'' he said. ‘‘It's the 100th anniversary of test rugby at the ground, and it is extremely important we make that special day a success.''
Green Island stalwart Mick Walsh is the new ORFU presi dent, replacing Barry Williams.
Respected administrator Gerard Simmons stepped down from the board after 26 years in a variety of roles, including time as the manager of Otago and the Highlanders.
No nominations were received for the role of vice-president so the board will make an appoint ment.
Reggett had the consolation of being elected to the Rugby Coun cil with Russell Church (Uni versity), Brent Rodger (Pirates) Gary Wheeler (Alhambra-Union and Andrew Rooney (Dunedin).
