Another Spears twist
16 May 2006
Southern Spears CEO, Tony McKeever, has been temporarily suspended by his own board of directors.
The suspension of “Maverick McKeever” – as he has been dubbed in certain circles – is the latest twist in the Spears soap opera that has been running for months now.
McKeever has been accused of acting on his own, without the authority of his board – a la Brian van Rooyen – and finally the board, led by president Aldy Meyer, has apparently had enough.
McKeever has revelled in the spotlight provided by the support of his board in the last few months, but that no longer exists. McKeever who admits he is SA Rugby’s public enemy number one, is now also on the Spears’ hate list.
The Spears board have gone to the extent that McKeever has been banned from entering the Spears’ offices until a full investigation into the alleged irregularities is complete.
McKeever says he was informed by a signed fax, dated May 12, by the Spears board of directors that he has been suspended pending a disciplinary hearing, Die Burger reported.
Die Burger has a copy of the fax signed by Spears president, Aldy Meyer. It states that McKeever has been suspended with full salary from May 6.
McKeever though is refusing to go quietly. “SA Rugby is plotting the downfall of the Spears. They are interfering with Border, EP and South Western Districts. They are counting on fractures in the sub-unions to bring us down,” McKeever told keo.co.za
“SA Rugby called for the Spears board to resign and (Saru chairman of the board) Mpumelelo Tsume even wagged his finger at us and said we would all go to jail,” laughed McKeever.
An investigation will be launched into irregularities allegedly perpetrated by McKeever. Die Burger reported that the alleged irregularities are, among others, unauthorised expenses, unauthorised communications to SA Rugby and the media and neglecting to provide financial statements after a request by the board of directors.
“SA Rugby is trying to suffocate the Spears slowly but surely and my suspension is just another example of their tactics,” he told Die Burger.
“First they forced us out of the Super 14 series; now they’re trying to get us out of the Currie Cup and they’re forcing the board of directors to suspend me,” McKeever ranted.
The Spears were apparently given until 5pm on Saturday evening to make certain financial guarantees for their participation in this years’ Currie Cup. That did not happen. “There is no way we can meet any financial obligations. The entire 100% underwriting of the Spears comes from SA Rugby, so it is up to SA Rugby to pay,” he said.
“If SA Rugby don’t pay then it is them who is stopping us from being in the Currie Cup, not the Spears.” McKeever alleges several conspiracy theories and added that it was a joke that he has been suspended with full salary, because he last received a salary in March.
“Several things started going better after my suspension with regard to the Eastern Province Rugby Union, Border and South Western Districts,” said McKeever in clear reference to him being a marked man.
He says a new and less strict agreement has been agreed upon between the EPRU and SA Rugby for hosting the Test against Scotland; Border and SWD have received subsidies for their Spears players and Saru has said they will pay their players in the Spears squad until the end of November.
This, McKeever alleges, would never have happened while he was still the CEO.
By Andrew Hollely
27 Comments
16 May 2006, 07:12 am
And the soap opera continues …
a shame we can’t have it on M-Net Open Time instead of Egoli.
16 May 2006, 07:12 am
McKeever is a dragon’s dragon
16 May 2006, 07:13 am
Andrew,
any news on last night’s GLRU house cleaning indaba?
16 May 2006, 07:26 am
Chaos
16 May 2006, 07:27 am
Kats,
No news yet. By 11pm last night they were still in the meeting so I could not get a story. My source is gathering info and will chat to me later this morning.
Watch this space.
Either way the s**t hath hiteth the faneth.
16 May 2006, 07:29 am
Andrew its already &:30.Catch a wake up and get the story or do we all have to wait for the Pta News late edition to read about it
16 May 2006, 07:34 am
I hope the **** hit that fan so hard that we, the other fans, can see some light breaking through a very dark season thus far.
16 May 2006, 07:42 am
As talent spotter for the Boksburg Boxers I’m eager to see a list of players thrown out by the GLRU. My board of directors gave me some petty cash to buy the cream of the crop from that list.
16 May 2006, 08:06 am
Another one of Keo’s golden boys falling. Keo, you must learn to back the right horse if you’re going to continually try and stir trouble. Looks like Rugby365 was right after all…
16 May 2006, 08:15 am
Katsesnor, those being throw out will not be eligible for the Bokksburg Boxers, maybe the Doosburg…
You catch my drift?
16 May 2006, 08:17 am
I don’t know, but his story is the only one that seems to remain consistent. It’s a pity, because i really hoped the Spears could be a success.
There is a huge middle ground in SA rugby between the political left and the conservative right running the game – it can be seen in the latest 45 man squad even – had the Spears been set up properly, they could have filled that middle ground and we could have had a few more Habana’s pulling on the green and gold. Unfortunately it won’t be happening.
16 May 2006, 08:37 am
When is SA rugby going professional?
16 May 2006, 08:40 am
he,he,he,he,he,he,he………****** he
16 May 2006, 08:44 am
This is such a confussing topic with more twists than the aforementioned soapies.
PissAnt – where are you, come and unravel this for us, again.
16 May 2006, 10:00 am
Man, I wish I was in TV! This is better than Egoli, 7de laan and Generations rolled into one. You can’t make up this stuff!!! Speaking of 7de laan, can somebody please kill of Debbie, has she not suffered enough!!!
16 May 2006, 10:29 am
Who started all of this ? spears is a waist of time and money.
16 May 2006, 10:42 am
tony is a cool cat and was a very useful winger in his day
he has had the guts to take on the big nobs and i wish him well
go tony
16 May 2006, 11:15 am
Andrew,
where is that GLRU news?! Have your source been kidnapped?
16 May 2006, 11:24 am
Kats,
No, he got molested by a goat.
Seriously.
16 May 2006, 11:29 am
New thread up in 15 mins…Loffie for Lions.
16 May 2006, 11:31 am
tata SPARES
16 May 2006, 11:44 am
Thanks Andrew!
Now what did your source do in Cape Town to get molested by a goat? I thought the meeting was in Jozie?
16 May 2006, 12:37 pm
Kats, source was in Hillbrow.
It was a Nigerian goat…
16 May 2006, 13:35 pm
Bob I am here.
I am not going to advertise on here, but mail me at p_i_ant[at]yahoo[dot]com
Mckeever will be live to answer all questions.
A lot of news is very new and we are sifting through everything.
16 May 2006, 16:12 pm
Hi guys!
Anyone from PE?
16 May 2006, 18:42 pm
kaba,
Should we answer you on every thread?
14 Jul 2006, 14:10 pm
SARU lost their court application to Spears and this is second loss for SARU to the Spears. GO SPEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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