CRAIG COOK reports in the ADELAIDE ADVERTISER that the former vice-chairman succeeds David Peacock who stepped down at an urgently called board meeting.
Peacock, who has ongoing heart issues, made the decision on advice from his doctors.
The former solicitor was expected to stand down before next year's board election but has stood down to allow a new board member to be appointed at this year's annual meeting.
"This is is not the nicest of circumstances for this to happen. When I got the phone call about David's health that was far more important than anything else that has happened since," Newman said.
Former SAJC deputy chairman Bill Spear also resigned yesterday. Spear, who took the jockey club to the Supreme Court in November 2008 prior to a pivotal board election, is understood to be outraged by a decision by the SAJC to settle a court case with former board member Alister McFarlane.
Spear, an accountant, topped the vote of SAJC members at the May 2009 election and is regarded in many quarters as "the man who saved the jockey club". Spear signed Newman's nomination to apply for a position on the board - attained at the 2009 election - and the new chairman is keen to retain him and Peacock as advisers.
STORY SOURCE: ADELAIDE ADVERTISER - NEWS LIMITED: