- Kelly Ryan presided over controversial pay dispute
- Many stars boycotted awards ceremony over issue
- In-principle deal has now been agreed with players
Embattled Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan has resigned in the wake of a tumultuous time in charge including the recent ugly and emotional standoff with players over their new pay deal.
Ryan, who took on the job in 2021, informed the Board of Netball Australia of her decision, which is effective immediately, on Tuesday.
With the new pay deal agreed to last week, Ryan said it was time to ‘hand over the reins to a new leader’.
‘Having reached an in-principle agreement on the CPA pay deal, and watched with pride as our Diamonds won the Commonwealth Games and the Netball World Cup, the timing felt right to hand over the reins to a new leader,’ she said.
Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan has quit effective immediately after presiding over the highly charged pay battle that tore the sport apart this year
Star player Jo Weston was left in tears by the bitter civil war over money, which came after Gina Rinehart pulled $15million worth of sponsorship from the sport
‘During my time as CEO I have delivered on the objectives of the Board. We overcame the challenges of coronavirus pandemic to continue a national competition through border closures, experienced strong growth in the national competition, grew netball’s already strong participation numbers, and strengthened the games’ finances.
‘Netball Australia has a wonderful team of people who work tirelessly for the benefit of the sport, and I thank them for their continued efforts and for their support.’
Last month, former Diamonds captain Kathryn Harby-Williams confirmed many Super Netball players were doing it tough as they face an uncertain future, while star defender and Australian Netball Players Association president Jo Weston burst into tears in front of TV cameras on Thursday as the rawness of the situation hit home.
Fellow Diamonds star Sophie Garbin also revealed the Australian Cricketers Association had stepped in to assist some players financially.
Ryan is pictured at this year’s Australian Netball Awards, which were boycotted by many players amid their pay battle with the governing body
The sport was left in disarray after mining magnate Gina Rinehart pulled her $15million sponsorship from the Diamonds in October last year.
At the time, the team expressed concerns over comments uttered about First Nations people by Ms Rinehart’s late father Lang Hancock in the 1980s.
Indigenous player Donnell Wallam was reportedly uncomfortable wearing the uniform with the Hancock Prospecting logo.
Harby Williams, who is also the CEO of the netballers union, said the ongoing saga had taken its toll, with Weston’s tears in front of the cameras a prime example.
‘We are desperate to get a deal done for these players because that’s the emotional toll that you are seeing right there,’ she said.
‘I have had players sobbing and weeping; players have slept in their cars; players have had to move out of their homes and move across the country back to families.’
Courtney Bruce is pictured after winning one of the top gongs at the Netball Australia Awards last month. Diamonds players were threatened with legal action if they didn’t attend
Stars also boycotted the Netball Australia Awards in late November as the dispute dragged on.
Netball Australia’s Chair Wendy Archer thanked Ryan for her commitment to the sport.
‘Kelly Ryan has made an enormous contribution to our sport in her time leading Netball Australia,’ Archer said.
‘She has shown great resilience and integrity during her leadership over her time as CEO.’
