Embattled AFL player manager Ricky Nixon has been found to be dishonest, unprofessional and lacking in integrity.
An investigation by a prominent Melbourne lawyer into Nixon's dealings with a 17-year-old girl who claims he had been involved in a sexual relationship with her also found Nixon had a prima facie case to answer.
The AFL agent's accreditation board formally suspended Nixon in the wake of the report, but is yet to determine what action it will take against him.
Nixon, 47, last week admitted himself to a rehabilitation clinic, acknowledged he had a substance abuse problem and stepped down indefinitely from player management.
The AFL agent's accreditation board's chairman Ian Prendergast said Nixon would be given seven days to respond to the report by David Galbally, QC.
Galbally found Nixon had failed to act with honesty and integrity towards players he represents and had failed to give those players a complete and truthful account of his dealings with the girl.
Prendergast said his board also accepted Galbally's findings that Nixon had failed to meet the standard of conduct for maintaining his accreditation as a player agent and had engaged in conduct unbecoming an agent.
Among the eight key findings released on Thursday was evidence questioning Nixon's competence to serve in a fiduciary capacity on behalf of players; that he failed to act in the legitimate best interests of players; and that he disregarded the personal and professional welfare of the players he represents.
The investigation into Nixon was prompted by revelations he had spent time with Kim Duthie in a Melbourne hotel.
She claimed the pair was involved in a sexual relationship, but Nixon denied the claim, admitting only to "inappropriate dealings" with the girl.
Duthie had previously posted nude photos of one of Nixon's clients, St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt, on the internet claiming she had taken them in a hotel room.
She later admitted to stealing the photos from the camera of another St Kilda player, Sam Gilbert.
Duthie had also claimed to have been pregnant with twins fathered by Gilbert, but earlier this month admitted she had invented the pregnancy.
It was during her initial claims against Gilbert that she first dealt with Nixon.
But it wasn't until last month that she revealed their relationship by releasing video she said she took on her mobile phone of Nixon cavorting in his underwear in a hotel room.
The video also showed a white powder which was purported to be an illegal drug.
She filmed personal items identifying Nixon and claimed she had been involved with him for some time.
Announcing the findings, Prendergast defended his board against criticism that it had acted too slowly on the Nixon case and had still failed to finalise the affair.
"This was uncharted territory for us," Prendergast said.
"In my view we have been responsible (in our approach)."
Nixon will now be invited to respond to the findings.
Prendergast said a penalty would then be considered and would be announced next week.
He said Nixon had not yet been spoken to directly by the board, although his lawyers had been consulted.
Duthie also questioned his ability to act as a player manager.
"How can he be a manager when he can't even manage his own life," Duthie said.
She said she had initially felt sorry for revealing her involvement with him.
"But now I feel no remorse at all after what he's done," she said.
Here is another typical example of the power of the corporate dollar.
Whilst Nixon may fall, the 'untouchable' Australian 'religion' the AFL will NOT fall.
When light was first shed on the matter, the AFL supported in 'destroying' the girl in the middle of it all.
There was NO 'sorry' involved when he was in his briefs in a hotel room about to have sex with a 'young girl' involving drugs.
A VERY familiar attitude with the ROCK APE mentality of the AFL.
Activities involving drugs are more common within the players than mentioned by the mass media, BUT since the AFL must exist to keep the masses amused, this kind of behaviour is turned a blind eye by the authorities.
Possession and use of drugs is illegal and a criminal offense.
No comments:
Post a Comment