Chief executive walk-out deepens SRU crisis

Scottish rugby is in dire straits after chief executive, Phil Anderton announced his decision to resign, becoming the fifth man to leave the Scottish Rugby Union's (SRU) executive board this week.

David Mackay, the chair of the SRU resigned on Monday following a vote of no confidence from the general committee, prompting three directors – Fraser Livingston, Andrew Flanagan and Eric Hagman – to also tender their resignations.

In a joint letter to SRU president, Gordon Dixon, the three said the decision to replace Mackay “flies in the face of good corporate governance”, describing him as a “thoroughly professional and highly motivated chairman”.

The announcement – which is being labelled by the Scottish press as a victory for the ‘blazerati’ – has come primarily from a clash on the grounds of Scottish rugby’s modernisation. Mackay – regarded as a moderniser who was keen to encourage the transfer of more power to the executive – was considered by many amateur clubs to be threatening their decision making influence.

Anderton, who has been a close ally of Mackay in the modernisation drive announced his decision to follow his chairman, commenting: "I am not prepared to work under this regime."

Already, the Premier Forum – the group representing the biggest professional Scottish club sides – has raised the issue of a possible split from the SRU.