The move to revoke their player memberships by the Magpies National Council comes after weeks of public and internal bickering between the Magpie’s senior leadership team and their players.
Rumours have been rife over recent weeks when it wa snoted that Major, Chur and Magpie legend Sid were excluded from the recent Magpie National Conference held on the weekend on November 15-16 at “Forgotten World Adventures” – a great family holiday and one of the Top 10 things to do in New Zealand.
Speculation regarding the desire of Sir Tim Burgess and Malachy Sickman to cut their team playing roster to eight for Woodpecker 26, has been circulating for months. It is also well known that new recruit Ross Grunt has leadership aspirations and Major has always been seen as a barrier to his advancement.
Major & Chur were officially expelled from the Magpies on Wednesday morning, coinciding with the one-year anniversary of Grunt being officially voted into the Magpies. It is believed that Sid will be a travelling reserve for Woodpecker 26.
To some, this news arrives like a Magpie dive bombing out of the Hawx Bay night sky. To others this announcement is seen as an attempt to close off a very ugly chapter for the Magpies, which has seen internal strife spill out into the public arena.
Magpie co-leaders Sickman and Sir Tim told reporters that on Wednesday morning, the Magpie’s national council (minus the party president Simon Schteemin, who is overseas) voted to expel Major & Chur for “breaches” to the Magpie’s constitution. The Magpies council is made up of the party’s executive, the co-leaders and chairs, deputy chairs, & assistant deputy chairs from each of the two Bay provinces, ten out of ten which are held by Bay of Plenty and Hawx Bay. Sickman and Sir Tim claim this was a unanimous decision by the Magpies, however it is understood that JAFA Paul Walkingtotown & Mount Maunganui imposter Darren Stalone were paid off by Grunt, and it is believed that Hawx Bay Legend Mark Gemstone abstained from voting, while Sid was excluded from the process.
Asked whether the Magpie’s other players Blowin Brown and the newly elected Ross Grunt supported the decision, Sickman said the leadership “can’t say that they’re not on board … because they haven’t expressed it”.
Last week, an email meant for Magpie members was leaked to media, exposing an allegation of overspending by Major in the Magpies office (which Major has claimed was done with the knowledge of the Magpie’s leadership) and alleged verbal abuse by Chur against Sir Tim. Since then, Sir Tim has avoided media opportunities to answer questions on the turmoil, until things came to a head last night, Schteemin making direct contact from overseas with Major & Chur urging them to do the “honourable thing” and exit the Magpies.
Falcons Spokesman Pita Hunt stated “I want to be involved in a Woodpecker organisation that’s inclusive, that’s focused on the interests of all Woodpeckers, [and] some of the statements that we’ve seen from the Magpies in recent times does not reflect that,” Pita said. “I expect them to be better behaved”
Meanwhile Christal Wagstaff from the Hawx called the Magpies “a bunch of c..ts, they’re a complete joke…..they deserve all the shit they’re in…..and more”.
Nude Major & Simon Chur were unavailable for comment.
Story courtesy of Guest Writer
