New Zealand Football Championship

 

Otago United chairman Dave Lamont accepted the resignation of general manager Marc Chidley at the clubs Annual meeting yesterday at Logan park.

After five years with United, Chidley said he was going to pursue other business interests.

Chidley said,’ I was involved with the setting up of United at the very beginning, working with Dave Lamont to gain entry to the New Zealand Football Championship, and it was a steep learning curve.’

‘ The last five years have not been easy, since raising finance is a major part of the General Managers job, and there appear to be more sports chasing diminishing funding sources these days.’

‘ The clubs budget this year was almost $370,000, and unlike Canterbury where clubs are levied to support their NZFC team, we have to raise the lot.’

‘ However I have always believed in the principle of Otago having a team in the top competition, although it has been massively difficult to achieve that, over the years.’

‘ Otago needs to have a team in the NZFC to give our youngsters a target to aim for, but with our size and limited playing resources we have also had to make overseas and out-of-town signings which have stretched our financial budget.’

‘ It has been five hard years at some considerable personal cost to myself and family, so I feel its now time to move on, so someone else can take up the challenge.’

‘ I wish the club well in future, and will always remain a keen supporter,’ said Chidley.

Chairman Lamont said,’ Jobs such as General Manager take their toll and after five years there has to be a measure of ‘burn out.’

United Board member Malcolm Barnes propose a vote of thanks to Chidley for his long service.

The rest of the Annual meeting eventually foundered when clubs complained that they had not had enough notice to participate in the election of officers, and reluctantly Lamont closed the meeting and intimated that a Special General Meeting would be called as soon as possible to rectify matters.