Embarrassing new development in Collingwood boardroom chaos

One of Collingwood's directors says she would refuse to serve under the leadership of Jeff Browne, after claiming that "power and privilege" is behind his challenge for the club presidency.

A former Nine Network managing director, Browne finally went public on Tuesday with his plan to become Magpies president after weeks of speculation about him plotting a challenge.

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The move saw former Pies president Eddie McGuire hit out at suggestions that he was helping to orchestrate the play by Browne - who he's been friends with for many years.

McGuire served as Collingwood's president for more than two decades but stepped down in the wake of the 'Do Better' report that uncovered systemic racism at the club.

However, he has consistently denied any involvement in plans to oust successor Mark Korda, whose position is increasingly under threat.

The messy boardroom situation has now taken another ugly twist after Magpies director Jodie Sizer vowed not to serve under the leadership of Browne, if his challenge is successful.

Sizer hit out at the businessman after Collingwood's current board issued a joint statement this week to slam Browne's coup as being "driven by personal ambition".

Sizer, one of Australia's foremost Indigenous leaders, went a step further on Thursday.

"I wouldn't be serving under the leadership of someone of Jeff Browne, who's coming together with an agenda of power and privilege," Sizer told SEN.

"...it does look to me that it (Browne's challenge) represents the old boys' club trying to make calls about what happens without full consideration to the complexities of a modern sporting organisation."

Browne, 66, wants to replace Korda as president and install three allies on the club's seven-member board.

Korda has said he would be willing to again meet with Browne to avoid a "divisive and distracting campaign", which has the potential to result in the spill of the board at an extraordinary general meeting.

Collingwood facing threat of board spill

Magpies member David Hatley has already collected enough signatures to bring about an EGM.

Earlier this week Hatley said the petition had received "approximately 1700 signatures" - more than double the required 650 to trigger an EGM.

"The overwhelming feedback that I've received from our members and my friends is the disconnect with the club," he told Footy Classified.

"It's been building for some time and it isn't just the on-field performance at the moment.

Hatley claims the controversial appointment of new Collingwood director Bridie O'Donnell proved a driving factor behind the petition.

"The final catalyst for us going ahead with this EGM petition was the last board appointment of Bridie O'Donnell.

"We're not disputing any of her claims of being a talented or valid board member, but things like her on her social media mocking Collingwood members such as myself really struck a chord with a lot of us."

A board spill would be the last thing Collingwood need after a simply disastrous eight months since their semi-final loss to Geelong.

The Magpies sit 16th with a 2-9 record as Nathan Buckley's future as coach continues to be a major talking point.

After being forced into trading star midfielder Adam Treloar, dangerous forward Jaidyn Stephenson and dependable wingman Tom Phillips during last year's trade period, there could be more pain ahead.

"There's still a hangover in relation to the salary cap. We've still got some issues we're dealing with there, but they're not insurmountable at all," Collingwood head of football Graham Wright told SEN.

"There hasn't been any conversation at the moment about how we look at the list and exactly what we're going to do.

"The club last year lost about 1300 games of experience with guys retiring plus the trade (period).

"We've just brought in another two players in (during the mid-season draft) who haven't played AFL footy so the age demographic has gone down considerably."

with AAP

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