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he Collingwood Football Club board recently announced the appointment of Mark Korda as its new president, replacing Eddie McGuire who resigned in February.

Korda has served on the Collingwood board since 2007 and served as co-president with Peter Murphy following McGuire’s departure.

The decision has been met with criticism from former AFL player, Joel Wilkinson, who was racially harassed by a Collingwood fan during a game in 2012, saying on Twitter: “Collingwood promotes Mark Korda after he was a part of the systematic racist board the past 15 years?”

“How is that ‘real progress’?

“Collingwood continues to be corrupt and abuse their powers all for their executive power struggles, and at the expense of black people.

“According to Collingwoods contract as a business, the board oversees and implements all key decisions.

“So the current board believes that this is progress and the way forward?

“ZERO policies have changed from Collingwood since that bs report.

“Most of these board members were present during Adam Goodes saga, corruption during my lawsuit and covering up their racist fans.

“Heritier Lumumba’s racism & lies and other players abuse.

“Why isn’t the board held to account like McGuire instead of promotion and adulation?

“Black players who went through racism Lumumba, Goodes Wilkinson, Davis, Krakouer, Egan, Jackson, Winmar & more are the ones who suffered just for those corporate liars to even get promoted and tale racism/justice.

“Yet, not one of these players agree or accept any of this bs.

“Remember, Eddie McGuire wasn’t going to get sacked for racism.

“All he did according to the industry was ‘misspeak’ his opening line.

“If he was so eloquent & sincere, he would still be president.

“They hide behind commercial & corporate language of “justice and progress”.

“So this is your justice Collingwood and AFL?

“White boys club huh, what leadership do Collingwood, the AFLPA, and Gilly (Gillon) McLachlan have as they all make their own rules and have zero accountability for racism and themselves.

“These people don’t give a… about racism.

“I was only 1 of 5 people mentioned in the racism report & still I have not received the report from Collingwood or been spoken to.

“Sponsors like Nike accept all this.

“It seems everyone is intertwined at the top of these corporations,” he said on Twitter.

The concerns have been emulated by many others across the AFL community and media following the appointment of Korda, who served as vice-president of the club under McGuire.

The outrage over the selection comes after the ‘Do Better’ report was released, highlighting a history of systemic racism at Collingwood from the board down.

Speaking on Korda’s appointment, McGuire told Footy Classified the club needs to ensure the right people surround Korda.

“One of the things that I’ve really been concerned about in the last couple of months is that some ghosts at Collingwood have re-appeared, who have been long-term people who have split the club,” McGuire said.

“I was really, really worried and that’s why I’ve been very quiet.

“I don’t want to be running a campaign for anybody.

“I was absolutely worried that we were going to go back to the bad old days.

“Tonight, Mark Korda is the president, rally behind him, get the board right, and go forward,” he said.

Following his appointment, Korda said the club needs to create real progress.

“Collingwood has long held a place in my life and I take on this role with the strong belief that we have in our possession a wonderful legacy, a strength and spirit with which we must seek to do and be better,” Korda said.

“We have challenges but great people and passion to meet them.

“Collingwood has been made by many and it will take many to drive it forward.

“I thank Peter Murphy for his support, particularly over recent months, and his determination to see Collingwood continue to flourish.

“We have worked closely and talked daily over the past months and will continue to do so.

“I welcome Neil [Wilson] to the board.

“I also thank and pay tribute to Eddie [McGuire] for a contribution that may be the equal of any in the club’s 129-year history.

“His time was a transformational one that we must honour by creating a new age of prosperity and growth for Collingwood,” he said.

“There is a collaborative commitment from the board to serve our club and create real progress that will live on through those who follow.”