Two-time reigning premier South Launceston has been upended just three weeks from the NTFA season after two thirds of its board stepped down.
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President Joey Crawford, who was the club's youngest-ever leader when he was appointed in December at the age of 24, led the exodus when he resigned last week.
Life members Marcia Tepper and John Ivory and fellow directors Craig Newman, Jacqui Claxton and Terry Coughlan have also stood down, with Ivory and Newman citing health reasons for their exits.
Treasurer and acting president Dave Kewley, women's director Kate Child and Lyle Knee remain on the board.
"I stood down last Monday on account of toxic board culture where there was a failure to recognise that some things had to change in order to progress and develop as an organisation and a lot of board members felt the same way," Crawford said.
"I think sometimes organisations live a little bit from a decade ago, and some of the rules I think they believe that they should or shouldn’t follow are grey, whereas I think organisations that operate outside of the community sector really don't believe that and there’s clear lines as to what is and isn’t right.
"I resigned because we had a difference of opinion as to where the line for right was.
"Three members of the board have not resigned and there’ll be a special council meeting in the near future to elect a new board is my assumption of what the remaining board members have decided to do."
The Bulldogs have enjoyed five fruitful years on the field since exiting the State League in 2013, winning four of the past five senior NTFA flags and three consecutive reserves flags between 2015 and 2017.
Crawford had laid out plans to grow the club's women's team and business partnerships in 2019, and was also part of a push to secure significant upgrades to its Youngtown facilities.
The successor of Felicity Viney said he was disappointed to miss out on the chance to follow through with his goals, but was confident the club could still be successful in 2019.
"Working hard to make sure that football was a place that males and females could be a part of was something I was really passionate about.
"But the back end of the club is only part of the club, there’s still a very strong playing team.
"I have no doubt that people like Aaron Viney the senior coach will demonstrate some really great leadership going into the season and be able to pull across some really amazing wins for the club."
Viney replaced Leigh Harding as head coach following the 2018 season.
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