Gold Coast SUNS Chairman, John Witheriff, has penned the following open letter to supporters.
I am as disappointed as any of you to be providing you with this update in relation to the incident between Campbell Brown and Steven May that occurred in Los Angeles following the team’s training camp in Arizona.
As passionate supporters of the Gold Coast SUNS, I believe it is important that the club keeps you updated with the status of our investigation and the process that the club is following to ensure we reach a fair and appropriate outcome for all involved.
The full board of the Gold Coast SUNS met on Thursday afternoon where the incident was discussed at length. Highlighting the seriousness with which the club is treating the issue, the board agreed to delegate its authority to make a decision on the matter to two board members, myself, and Mr Bob East .
Since the meeting of the board, Chief Executive, Travis Auld, and General Manager – Football Operations, Marcus Ashcroft, have been conducting a detailed investigation of the incident.
As you would expect, their brief has been to gather all the relevant facts, ensuring that any ruling the club makes will be made with accurate and substantiated information.
This is being done in a timely manner, but I must stress that the board is committed to a fair and appropriate outcome. The integrity of the investigation is my dominant concern.
Following the board meeting, the club notified Campbell Brown that he would be suspended from the club until the completion of the investigation. Campbell understands the suspension and is cooperating fully with the on-going investigation.
Steven May underwent surgery on Saturday to repair a broken left jaw. He has had two plates inserted into his jaw, and we expect that he will be in a position to resume running in approximately 2 weeks.
As Chairman of the Gold Coast SUNS, I share the high expectations you have of our club.
The club will continue to keep our members and supporters updated and will provide you with further information at the appropriate time.
In the meantime, rest assured, we are committed to a fair process, that will reflect the values of our club - its members, players, staff and sponsors.
JOHN WITHERIFF
Chairman – Gold Coast SUNS
