The Rebels have revealed that Head Coach Damien Hill’s contract with the Melbourne franchise will not be renewed automatically and their CEO Steve Boland will leave the club next month and they have appointed a new General Manager.
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The board of the Melbourne Rebels has elected to undergo a process for the appointment of the Club’s Head Coach for 2014 and beyond. Head Coach Damien Hill’s two year contract finishes at the end of this season.
Melbourne Rebels CEO, Steven Boland said, “Damien has been advised of the board’s decision that his current contract will not be automatically extended. ”
“Damien has also been advised that the board would welcome his application for the coaching role in 2014 and has indicated at this point in time he intends to do so.
“The board will now undergo a process, which will include a specially convened coaching selection panel. The Rebels welcome applications from Australia and internationally. Further details related to the process will be released in due course.”
Steven Boland, who joined the club as Deputy CEO in 2010 and took over the CEO role in 2011, has advised the board that he will leave the Club in May.
Commenting on his decision, Boland said “this was not an easy decision. The Rebels are now a part of my DNA. The opportunity to lead this Club has been a privilege. I came to Melbourne as a born and bred Sydney person to play my role in setting up the city’s first Super Rugby team. My family are lovers of Melbourne and part of a growing and exciting Victorian rugby family.
“While the timing for the Club and I is not ideal, the job opportunity I have accepted is one that I could not pass up. Typical of the people that make up the Rebels, my decision to leave has been understood by our Chairman and the board.”
“We have a saying here, ‘once a Rebel, always a Rebel’. I am staying in Melbourne and will continue to contribute to the Rebels and Victorian Rugby as a volunteer.”
Rebels Chairman, Harold Mitchell, said, “Steven Boland will leave our Club, but only as an employee. In every other way, Steve will still be a Rebel. On behalf of the board, the team, our staff and Club members I want to thank Steve for his dedication, his total commitment to the role and his passion for the Rebel cause.”
Following Steven Boland’s departure in May, the CEO will be an interim. The board will undertake an extensive search process and appoint a new CEO before the start of the 2014 season.
In addition to Boland and Hill’s departure the Rebels have also announced that Foundation Rebels player, Sam Cordingley, has been appointed to a newly created role of Melbourne Rebels, General Manager, Rugby.
Cordingley, who has been with the Rebels since their first season in 2011, has been Retention and Recruitment Manager since 2012.
The former Wallaby half back has also been part of the Rebel Rising and Elite Pathway programs.
In his new role, Cordingley will have responsibility for the Rebels’ football department, as well as maintaining his current responsibilities for retention and recruitment.
Cordingley, who currently resides in Brisbane, will take up his new role immediately.