Albury Racing Club is hoping to appoint a new chief executive quickly following Monday’s shock resignation of Mick Wighton.
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“It is with regret that we’ve accepted his resignation,” chairman Mark Cronin said of the bombshell.
“He leaves with our best wishes, he leaves to pursue personal and perhaps professional goals.
“He’s done an excellent job in difficult circumstances.
“When he started, for a variety of reasons, he was literally on his own, he had no support staff at all.
“There’s absolutely no issues between Mick and the committee, we’re all on very good terms.”
Wighton didn’t wish to comment when contacted on Tuesday.
He started in the role in July, 2017, replacing long-time CEO John Miller, who assumed the same role at Sunshine Coast Turf Club.
Cronin was quizzed if he was surprised by the sudden resignation.
“Yes, surprised and disappointed,” he said.
Prior to landing the plum role, Wighton had been Corowa RSL Club general manager for 11 years.
Cronin was also asked if the appointment worked, given the lack of racing experience.
“It worked, it worked very well because he’s got a very strong background in the administration of licensed clubs and licensed sporting organisations,” he said.
“However, having said that, Mick would concede that the particular position of a chief executive officer of a race club is assisted by that incumbent having a passion for racing.
“He wanted to give the opportunity to someone who was passionate about racing and had the right skills to occupy the position for some time.”
But Cronin says the next appointment won’t necessarily be from the racing industry with the club starting its search immediately.
“No, no, we’ve got an open mind,” he said.
Albury is currently involved in its second busiest time of the year with three major meets in the coming weeks.
It will host the Cox Plate meet on October 27, Melbourne Cup on November 6 and Oaks Day on November 8.
“Mick’s prepared to assist the transition up to a certain point, we expect to fill the role quickly,” Cronin said.
“Our ideal scenario is to undertake a process by the end of October, early November with a view to having someone in place by the end of November.”
Cronin says the club has nobody in mind, although he did state Miller wasn’t on the radar.
While the spring season is crucial to Albury’s success, the club will need someone in place quickly to ensure a smooth transition to its biggest period, the Albury Gold Cup carnival in late March.
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