EXILED Warrnambool and District league president Ken McSween has been reinstated and will govern the competition with a new-look executive.
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McSween stood down from the role in April while an investigation into an alleged breach of by-laws was carried out.
It was a turbulent month for the league, with the executive also voting to hand governance to AFL Western District.
McSween was delighted to be reinstated and hoped to leave recent political struggles in the past.
“I love (the role). I’ll always do what’s right for the clubs and that will sometimes be to the detriment of myself,” he said on Monday.
“I do believe we’ve got a really good league here and I just think we need to inject some professionalism into how we go about things.
“There needs to be communication between the clubs and league. Clubs need to be more involved in making informed decisions about how things go.”
Sara Quinn is the only other remaining member of the executive. Both David Turner and Carolyn Howe have resigned.
McSween said work to fill other executive roles was underway.
“I’ve spoken to one person who is fairly keen to jump on board. I have another one in mind as well – he was prepared to jump on board next year but I’ll see if I can convince him to jump on a bit earlier,” he said.
“I can’t say who they are yet but we’re on the hunt for executives.”
McSween told The Standard assumptions – rather than facts – sparked the investigation into his alleged breach of by-laws and that he was not guilty.
“We’re just trying to get away from the politics of it all,” he said.
“There have been a few assumptions that have been made. Communication (with everyone) has to improve.
“I’m a great believer in that you can’t tell people what to do, you have to bring them along for the ride and show them the benefit and direction of what you’re trying to do.
“It’s the same in football. You can’t coach a team to win if the players don’t buy into what you’re pushing.”
This is McSween’s second stint as league president.
He finished his first reign in 2015 after tensions with former league general manager Dianne Membery boiled over.
AFL Western District region general manager Kate Williamson said she hoped the league could move forward in a positive manner after McSween returned to his post.
She said the league executive’s decision to hand over governance was a temporary measure and that the organisation would support the league through the transition.
