By David

I hear Sarah Thomas (nee Hardcastle) has resigned as CEO of Auckland Swimming. That is a serious and sad event. No one in New Zealand has as much knowledge of swimming at an elite level than Sarah Thomas. Here is a short version of her Resume.

Talk about being born into the sport. Sarah’s mother, Ann, was a swimming coach. She taught several British elite swimmers including, six times world champion, Mark Foster. Sarah specialized in the 400 m and 800 m freestyle. She won multiple major championship medals including individual silver and bronze medals at the 1984 Olympics and two individual gold medals at the 1986 Commonwealth Games. She retired from the sport in 1986 but returned in 1993, winning gold at the 1995 World Short Course Championships for the 800 m and reached the final of the same event at the 1996 Olympics.

Swimwatch readers may have already realized that when it comes to swimming matters I am an exceptionally difficult bugger. I often regret my rush to judgment. But swimming bullshit drives me crazy. Let me tell you there isn’t even the slightest whiff of bullshit about Sarah Thomas. She is the genuine article; honest and knowledgeable. She is the owner of that deep understanding of what it means to be good at sport that ranks her alongside Arthur Lydiard, Arch Jelley, Lincoln Hurring, Ross Anderson and Duncan Laing. Auckland and New Zealand Swimming could have learned a lot from Sarah Thomas. Perhaps they still will.

Unfortunately I suspect Sarah’s patience of swimming bullshit is even less than mine. I am sure she has little tolerance of stupid people; especially self-important stupid people. I have not spoken to her about the subject of her resignation but my guess is she has left frustrated and disillusioned; frustrated because, better than most, she is acutely aware of the changes necessary to reform swimming and disillusioned because the Auckland Region is no longer leading the drive for reform.

If the Auckland Region knew what was good for swimming it would refuse to accept Sarah’s resignation and would pay her 25% more to stay. The Board would then instruct those who questioned the authority of their CEO to shut the hell up. Their irresponsible behavior has been bad for swimming. Their foolish meddling could well have damaged swimming for a generation. And finally the Board should ask Sarah for her advice on how Auckland should conduct its business and, just as importantly, how Auckland should lead the drive to reform 17 Antares Place. For readers unaware of the significance of that address, it’s the HQ of Swimming New Zealand.

Faced with a choice between Thomas and Renford you can probably guess who I’d have running Swimming New Zealand. Ironically I did hear that some time ago Sarah applied for a clerical position at Swimming New Zealand. She was refused an interview and told, “Sorry, you have the wrong background.” That would be the most honest thing SNZ has ever said. Sarah is a winner of Olympic medals, World Championship medals, Commonwealth medals and European medals. For SNZ she sure as all hell has the wrong background. She actually knows what the view from an Olympic podium looks like. Her whole life in sport has been about excellence, integrity and accountability – unlike some who use those words as empty symbols. Like all weak people Swimming New Zealand was scared of someone who knew more than them – way, way, way more than them.

Just as Sarah’s resignation is of deep concern, what happens next is of equal alarm.

Because the hyenas at Swimming New Zealand will be circling. Miskimmin, Layton and Renford will see Sarah Thomas’ departure as the opportunity of a lifetime. They won’t miss the chance seize control of New Zealand’s biggest region. We are about to embark on a game at which the evil empire is expert.

My guess is that the conversations will probably go like this. “Auckland Swimming? It’s Christian Renford here. So sorry to hear you have lost Sarah Thomas? Just calling to see if we can help. Certainly don’t want to get involved in your internal affairs. You know we’d never do that. But, while you are getting the mess you have sorted, we may have some interim resources to help you through.”

“Thank you Christian. Auckland has been outside the Swimming New Zealand family for far too long. What do you think we can do about it?” is Auckland’s groveling reply.

“Well, I’d like to make a suggestion. What say we slot one of our staff into the Auckland CEO position as a temporary fix? SNZ will cover the cost of the salary. Then, as a priority, we will conduct a review, by a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors, to examine the scope and scale of managing the Auckland Region. We will then have a clear idea of what’s best for Auckland. What do you think?”

“It’s a great idea Christian,” says a relieved Auckland.

Three months later and the Auckland Review has been written. What does it say? With stunning clarity it recommends that the professionals at Swimming New Zealand should manage the affairs of New Zealand’s largest region. Having Swimming New Zealand and Auckland Swimming administration staff in the same town is an avoidable duplication; an unnecessary expense. It also recommends that Auckland’s assets with a book value of $600,000 be “safeguarded” in the coffers of Swimming New Zealand, the parent body. A Special General Meeting is called. The clubs are told that the Review’s recommendations must be accepted in their entirety; management and the assets or nothing at all. As Chris Moller infamously once said, “the reviews recommendations cannot be cherry picked.” Although who the hell was he to say what could or could not be done?

There is no option. The new Regional Constitution outlaws dissent. The vote of Auckland’s clubs will be unanimous. In six months it will all be over. Swimming New Zealand will control Auckland’s management and own its assets. Renford will be pleased. It may even be worth calling into North Harbour Mazda on the way home. That red stitching to offset the black leather and suede trim on the new CX9 is worth a second look; especially now that Auckland is paying the bill.

There it is then. The Swimwatch prediction of what is about to happen. But prophesying this outcome is not difficult. It’s the way Miskimmin does things. A first date followed by the offer of a free review. It’s a tried and true formula. It almost always succeeds in expanding the centralized realm. My guess is that it will work again. Auckland will be annexed to the evil empire.

Those members of the swimming community who made life impossible for talented employees like Palmer and Thomas are about to find out what it’s like to be owned and controlled by the Miskimmin gang. And my guess is they are not going to like it one little bit.