Joe Swan won’t get a second chance to save Orchestra London.

The orchestra board announced Tuesday it had accepted Swan’s resignation as executive director.

His departure from the post that paid $72,000 a year came the same day city hall documents were released outlining Orchestra London’s bid for an emergency infusion of $375,000 from city taxpayers — including $50,000 to manage its slide into bankruptcy.

Swan couldn’t be reached Tuesday for comment.

In a brief interview, Joe O’Neill, president of the orchestra’s board, said he had no comment when asked if board members had demanded Swan’s resignation.

As the symphony’s financial crisis deepened the last two weeks, Swan vowed to launch a “save the symphony” campaign after orchestra officials meet Thursday with city politicians.

Swan steered the orchestra through an earlier crisis when he became a consultant in 2008 and executive director in 2009.

Before he resigned, Swan and O’Neill said the loss of a major donation put the orchestra on a financial precipice, leaving employees unpaid, concerts cancelled and ticket holders unable to get refunds.

Documents made public Tuesday show exactly what’s being sought from the city by O’Neill, a businessperson and volunteer president of the orchestra’s board.

His letter states it needs:

$215,000 to pay the salaries and benefits of musicians and staff for December

$110,000 to pay Canada Revenue Agency for unspecified “source deductions” that haven’t been paid.

$50,000 to pay for “insolvency practitioners to manage a voluntary bankruptcy of Orchestra London.”

O’Neill’s letter will go to council’s strategic priorities and policy committee Thursday.

It doesn’t specify the deficit from last season that’s pushed the organization to the financial brink. But earlier this week, O’Neill indicated to The Free Press the shortfall was roughly $330,000.

It’s believed that has pushed the orchestra’s accumulated debt to more than $1 million.

It’s unclear how much money in ticket sales to now-cancelled future concerts was collected and already spent. Ticket holders are unlikely at this point to get refunds.

On the matter of the $110,000 owed to the Canada Revenue Agency, O’Neill in his letter appears to distance the orchestra board from its management team, which was led by Swan. O’Neill writes, “The board of directors was unaware that these amounts were unpaid.”

Orchestra London emerged from a financial crunch about five years ago and has since posted relatively small annual surpluses. But a $350,000 donation expected this summer didn’t arrive, Swan and O’Neill have said.

That created a budget shortfall for last season, which has triggered the financial crisis and emergency request to city hall.

Mayor Matt Brown said the $375,000 request is “even more than I’d originally thought” they would seek. “By all accounts it appears this is an organization that’s in serious trouble and there’s a downward trend.”

The orchestra has delivered long-requested financial statements to city hall, though they haven’t been audited.

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THE ORCHESTRA STATEMENT

Today, December 16, 2014, at 5 p.m., the Board of Directors of Orchestra London Canada Inc. accepted the resignation of Executive Director Joe Swan — effective immediately. The Board thanks Mr. Swan for his considerable contributions on behalf of Orchestra London and wish him well in his future endeavours.

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JOE SWAN

1988-2003: London city councillor

2008: Consultant for Orchestra London

2009: Named executive director of Orchestra London

2010:Elected as city councillor in Ward 3

Oct. 27, 2014: Finishes third in mayor’s race

Dec. 16, 2014:Resigns as orchestra’s executive director

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THE ORCHESTRA

BY THE NUMBERS

$375,000: Request for emergency cash infusion, going to politicians Thursday.

$50,000: Portion of that request that would be spent managing its bankruptcy.

$330,000:Estimated budget shortfall from last season, pushing it to the brink.

$1.2 million:Estimated accumulated debt the orchestra is carrying.

$500,000:Annual grant already given by city hall.

$500,000: Line of credit underwritten by city taxpayers; likely to be due in event of bankruptcy.

$0: Amount musicians and other employees have been paid mere weeks before Christmas.

patrick.maloney@sunmedia.ca

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WHAT THEY SAID

“By all accounts it appears this is an organization that’s in serious trouble and there’s a downward trend.”

Mayor Matt Brown

“I’m glad to have the information in advance of (Thursday’s) meeting. I think who’s managing the orchestra is something you’d want to consider.”

Ward 4 Coun. Jesse Helmer

“We’re a new council and we’re looking for new ideas and new approaches. What we need is to look for a new idea.”

Ward 1 Coun. Michael van Holst

Compiled by Free Press reporter Dan Brown