Collingwood football boss Graham Wright has quit the AFL club, reports 7NEWS Melbourne’s Mitch Cleary.
Wright’s future has been up in the air since he announced last December that he would take leave through almost the entire 2024 season.
The 55-year-old’s looming return to the Magpies at the end of his European holiday looked increasingly unlikely in recent weeks.
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His departure has now been settled, with the news emerging on the morning after the defending premiers were all but knocked out of finals contention.
Wright, one of Collingwood’s 1990 premiership heroes and a key figure behind Hawthorn’s 2013-15 hat-trick, has been heavily linked to a role at the AFL.
He had initially sought to resign late last year but was instead urged to enjoy his holiday before resuming his role.
Wright’s role with the AFL team was replaced by Brendon Bolton, with Justin Leppitsch contributing on the list management side.
Clare Pettyfor was also leading operations for the Pies’ AFL and AFLW sides before she left for Melbourne early in the year, with Collingwood chief executive Craig Kelly helping to fill the void.
The Magpies will now enter the upcoming AFL trade period in transition even if a permanent replacement is appointed in the coming weeks.
Wright, who briefly served as Collingwood’s acting CEO in late 2022, has reportedly had eyes on a promotion after two decades in football department and list management roles.
He joined the Pies in January 2021 just months after their controversial ‘fire sale’ trade period.
“Having extended leave and spending some time travelling overseas during our winter has been on the cards for me for a few years and now is the right time for my wife and I to do that,” Wright said when his break was announced in December.
“It has been a great few seasons at Collingwood so far and to reach the ultimate success with our men’s program this year is a real credit to everyone involved at our club.
“Wwe agreed that I will stay connected to the club in a consultancy role providing advice to the CEO and wider club during my time away with a plan to return to full-time work in September.”
More to come…
