David Evans has stood down as Essendon chairman. Source: Getty Images
A PHYSICAL breakdown in the changerooms after Essendon's match against Hawthorn on Friday night helped prompt Bombers chairman David Evans to resign.
Mr Evans was treated by club medical staff after complaining of breathlessness, having a light head and struggling with his vision after the match.
The stress of the five-month investigation into alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs, combined with revelations that he and coach James Hird were at loggerheads over conversations leading up to Essendon "self-reporting", led to Mr Evans' health deteriorating.
His stunning resignation happened less than two weeks before the ASADA-AFL investigation report is to be completed.
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It has left Essendon reeling - it now has lost its chief executive and chairman within a matter of months.
Mr Evans did not refer to personal issues or his disagreement with Hird.
He described the events as a tragedy, but was confident the club would survive.
"I strongly believe that the best thing for the club at this stage is for a new chairperson in order to see through the next phase of this challenging and difficult time for our club," Mr Evans said.
"Leadership is tough at times and I have tried to lead with fairness and integrity and at the same time acknowledging responsibility to make the right decisions.
"I am confident that this decision is one of those."
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"What is happening at our club right now is a tragedy, but I know that it will survive," Mr Evans said.
Bombers officials have been deeply concerned with Mr Evans' stress levels for several days.
An emotional Hird was referring to Mr Evans at his post-match press conference on Friday night when he referred to the doping investigation "affecting people's lives permanently".
Hird left Mr Evans' side in the medical room to attend the press conference.
"It has got to the point that, if it's not over very quickly, it's going to affect people's lives permanently," Hird said.
DAVID EVANS' FULL STATEMENT
"I am announcing tonight my resignation from the Essendon Football Club board, effective immediately.
I appreciate very much that this will cause some consternation amongst the Essendon family.
However, I strongly believe that the best thing for the Club at this stage is for a new Chairperson in order to see through the next phase of this challenging and difficult time for our club.
The ASADA report is close to finalisation, and I believe that I have put the interests of the players and their families first in this process, and I have been guided by my duty of care to them and to the Club throughout the last 5 months.
I remain extremely hopeful that our players will be treated with fairness and dignity through the next stage, and I do trust the process that we have been subject to.
Leadership is tough at times and I have tried to lead with fairness and integrity and at the same time acknowledging responsibility to make the right decisions. I am confident that this decision is one of those.
My involvement, and indeed my family's involvement over many years at both Essendon and the AFL have given me great strength during the last 5 months, because many of the people that I deal with are close friends.
This has given me great insight and assisted in making tough decisions, but those decisions now may be seen to be clouded by those relationships or be seen as a conflict, and I am not prepared to have my decisions reflect poorly on the Club either now or in future.
It is also for slightly selfish but important reasons. I have significant responsibilities to the 100 people who work at my firm.
They have stepped up to the plate admirably and very capably and the business is thriving but it is important that I return, and this means I cannot give to Essendon what it needs over the coming months.
My business is 6 years old, and I have a clear vision of its future, and I need to get back to the business to prosecute that vision.
What is happening at our club right now is a tragedy, but I know that it will survive. I believe in the Essendon Football club and its people and it will get through this crisis with people like Paul Little, James Hird and Ray Gunston as its leaders.
The Essendon Football Club is a great institution that is bigger than all of us, and survives and thrives because of the passion of our members and supporters, and the commitment of our players and our staff.
Those of us lucky enough to serve the club must always keep in mind that we owe the club our best, not the other way around.
I would like to acknowledge the players who have been my inspiration over the last few months.
They have displayed much integrity, honesty and passion for their club. They have such a desire to play for each other.
I would also like to acknowledge the players parents. I have come to know these people and understand they have been through a lot. I thank them for their trust in me and I promise I will continue to watch over their boys in the coming months.
I urge all involved in the next stage of this process to put the interest of the players first and foremost.
I will remain a loyal servant to this great club and will be available to help the club through the final stages of the investigation.
This decision is also, finally, about my family, whose support has been unwavering, but who have also had to bear much of the stress of the last 5 months.
This process has taken its toll on me, and on those around me, and I owe it to them to hand over now for the next phase.
I will make no further comment until further notice."
Hird on Saturday night did not want to comment on his friend's resignation.
However, others paid tribute to Mr Evans.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said Mr Evans had shown outstanding leadership and tremendous personal courage through a confronting, difficult period.
"David has paid a heavy personal toll with the interruption to his family and business life, with his commitment and love for his club, and the AFL applauds his efforts to make the welfare of Essendon's players his absolute priority throughout this difficult time and the AFL wishes him the very best as he steps back into private life," he said.
Essendon interim chief executive Ray Gunston said: "It is with great regret that the Essendon Football Club board has accepted the resignation of David Evans."
Essendon great Tim Watson said the players especially would miss Mr Evans.
"They see him as an outstanding leader and he's been fantastic through this whole episode," he said.
"They've not only lost the club president, they've lost a friend and a real ally."
Mr Evans had been under increased pressure since the Herald Sun on Thursday revealed differing versions of a telephone call he had with Mr Demetriou at Mr Evans' home on February 4, the night before the Bombers announced they wanted an investigation into the drug-taking claims.
On Friday, the Herald Sun revealed the differences between Mr Evans and Hird.
Mr Demetriou again denied he had tipped off Essendon about the then-impending Australian Crime Commission report into drugs in sport and that Essendon was the club named in the report.
Mr Demetriou, who is to fly to America on Sunday for a fact-finding mission, said the AFL would be taking legal action against the Herald Sun over its reporting of the situation.
In recent days, Mr Demetriou said he couldn't have tipped off Essendon because he didn't know which club was in ASADA's sights.
He said the call with Mr Evans did not include discussion about Essendon being the club named in the ACC report.
"He rang me to see if I knew any more and I said, 'I don't know any more David, I don't know who the club is'," Mr Demetriou said.
"I returned his phone call at 9pm that night.
"To say that I rang David Evans that night and said, 'I'm tipping you off that ASADA's about to investigate you' ... it simply didn't happen."
- with Michael Warner
AFL STATEMENT
The AFL tonight said it wished to acknowledge the service of Essendon Chairman David Evans, who this evening announced his resignation from his role.
AFL Chief Executive Andrew Demetriou said that Mr Evans had shown outstanding leadership and tremendous personal courage through a confronting, difficult period for his club and the wider game and had made a significant contribution to the Essendon Football Club.
''Essendon has been faced with one of the great challenges in the history of a proud establishment club in our competition and David has led the way over the last six months to guide the welfare of his player group and the wider club,'' Mr Demetriou said.
"These are difficult and complex matters that have been investigated, through the ASADA enquiry, and at all times David has sought to discover the facts, act in the best interests of all those under him at the club and to provide leadership on a challenging issue.''
Mr Demetriou said members and supporters of Essendon, as well as the wider football family, should acknowledge his wider work in expanding the club's base to its new home at Tullamarine and guiding the rebuild of the club to its current position entrenched in the top four.
''David has paid a heavy personal toll with the interruption to his family and business life, with his commitment and love for his club, and the AFL applauds his efforts to make the welfare of Essendon's players his absolute priority throughout this difficult time and the AFL wishes him the very best as he steps back into private life,'' he said.
ESSENDON STATEMENT FROM INTERIM CEO RAY GUNSTON
It is with great regret that the Essendon Football Club Board has accepted the resignation of David Evans.
David joined the Board in 2006, and has been Chairman since 2009.
While his successes in leading the club are many, it will be the courage and fortitude of his leadership over the last 5 months that will be remembered.
He has led a strategy that has put the interests of our players and their families first in the AFL and ASADA investigation, called the Ziggy Switkoski report which has already led to significant change, and been the face of the club during its most difficult of times.
The Board will be meeting over the coming days to make a new appointment.
No further comment will be made.
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