Loughborough insiders have revealed that “months of uncertainty” surround the most successful student athletics club in history. Alasdair Donaldson, assistant to LSAC supremo George Gandy, has today announced a formal leadership challenge to the guru- who is not due back from France until Tuesday. The news comes as the student side of the club gears up for elections in a matter of weeks. Rob Hodges, the current LSAC President, was rumoured to be seeking a dissolution of his committee as early as next Wednesday, but Donaldson’s announcement has forced these ideas to be shelved. President Hodges said that “democracy must take its course” but would not be drawn on whether he is planning on supporting the coup.
Donaldson, who only arrived in Loughborough in January, launched his campaign manifesto to a group of three outside the High Performance Athletics Centre this afternoon. In it, he pledges to “put Loughborough first” and to “abolish Tuesday night grass sessions”. He is also calling for a “fundamental reform” in the way Club Directors are appointed in future. The Scot said, “it isn’t right that someone like George can be at the helm for over 30 years....the club is tired and we need a change.”
It is unknown how well his move will be supported with many, including John Nutall, remaining silent this evening. Quick fire opinion polls have shown it unlikely that the 33 year-old would be able to gain an outright majority of votes and therefore automatically win the keys to “the upstairs office”. A spokesman from polling agency, YouGov said “there is an appetite for change, and I think some feel that Mr. Gandy may not be the right man to take the club forward. However, opinions are mixed on whether Mr. Donaldson is the right man to do it.” Donaldson’s supporters refused to rule out a potential coalition with fellow assistant David Howe “if it were enough to get him over the line”. Dr. Howe is currently in Finland, but his spokesman said that he “only sought stable governance within LSAC and nothing else.” Commentators have said that this “leaves the door completely open” for either Donaldson or Gandy to approach him. The BBC’s Sports Editor, Matthew Bond said “it is clear that it could come down to David Howe to play kingmaker in this situation....it’s an unenviable but hugely exciting position to be in”.
Some have said that this is “the worst possible time” for such uncertainty with the club looking at an “eye-watering” level of debt. “Our deficit is reaching record highs and now is not the time for leadership bickering,” said a well placed source, “we need speedy and decisive stability- along with strong leadership”. It is unlikely that the situation will be resolved until Mr. Gandy returns from Front Romeu later this week, but Donaldson knows that he has just taken the biggest gamble of his career. Either it will work and he will lead LSAC, or it will fail and his career will be over before it ever really began.