The decision to do so was revealed in the same week as his shock, immediate dismissal as CEO of Edward River Council on March 19.
At the time Deniliquin RSL board and management were not in a position to publicly comment on the change.
In a letter posted to members late last week and made publicly available by social media this week, new chair Stuart Calagaz said the club had discovered the breach in constitution.
“Mr Stone’s membership had lapsed and, as per our constitution, to hold a position on the board of directors a member must be a financial member for two consecutive years,” Mr Calagaz said.
“As such, at the meeting of the board of directors on March 26 I was voted in as chair and Martin Wilmhurst as vice chair.”
Mr Calagaz said one of the other “enormous challenges” the club has faced in the last nine months was the resignation of CEO David Hart.
Mel Clarke has been acting in the position since that time.
The board last week appointed a recruitment agency to find a permanent CEO, with a slight change in role to be investigated at the same time.
“We have been in negotiations with recruiting agencies regarding the CEO position.
“Unfortunately this is a very intensive process while we ensure we get it right the first time.
“At the board meeting on March 26 we resolved to utilise the services of White Now recruiting.
“Moving forward, the board has requested the recruiter compare options for the structure of management - whether we go with a traditional CEO position, or restructure to have an operating CEO (merging the roles of the CEO and operations manager).
“We anticipate this structure analysis will take two to four weeks, and then we can proceed with finding the correct person for the position, or positions, available.”
“I would like to thank Mel for attending to the job of acting CEO while the board and club has faced many challenges. She is doing a superb job, and I thing everyone would agree that the club is a happier and more exciting environment.”
Mr Calagaz said some positive changes have already been made at the club during this challenging period, and he said this would continue.
And he encouraged members to put forward any ideas they have to improve the club further for discussion at the upcoming AGM.
Three board positions will be open for nominations, and matters for general business are being invited from members.
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