Collingwood CEO Gary Pert has resigned. Credit:Darrian Traynor "It is with a heavy heart I accepted the resignation on behalf of the board from Gary Pert," he said. Pert, who is midway through his contract and had asked to be released, said he had told McGuire of his resignation last week. He said the club had been "transparent in redefining what the club is going to look like in the future". "I was involved in starting that process ... start to predict what the club looked like in the future," he said.

"It forces you to think am I going to be the one leading you in that period of time ... is it my time to step aside. I see that as the responsible thing for me to do." Pert is expected to leave the role within a fortnight, leaving businessman Peter Murphy to fill it on an interim basis. He said he did not know what had been reported in Murphy's review to date, but this could change at a board meeting on Tuesday night. "The timing is good for the club, the timing is also right for me. I have been doing the role for 10 years," Pert said. Pert said the role had become "twice the task it was 10 years ago" because of the expansion of the club.

"It's now time for someone else to take on the new vision ... that's what was behind the decision," he said. Pert said McGuire had been "amazingly supportive" of the decision, and added he wouldn't have a role in determining the future of coach Nathan Buckley. The former Fitzroy and Collingwood player said he had not considered any vacant AFL roles at head office. "There have been roles available in the industry for six months ... I know my next step is to take a break. I have been involved in executive roles for 25 years," he said. Pert said he and his family want to so the "travel things" that had been put on hold.

The Magpies are completing three separate reviews, including a wide-ranging club review by Murphy. The football department is also under review by football operations department boss Geoff Walsh, while there is a separate governance review of the board. McGuire has said he has no intention of stepping down and is determined to set the Magpies up for the next decade. It remains to be seen whether out-of-contract coach Buckley will be retained, having led his side to seven wins in 17 games so far in 2017. The Pies appear almost certain to miss the finals for the fourth-straight season. Buckley said last year he felt he was unlikely to be given a new contract if the Pies failed to make the finals this season.

Under Pert, the Magpies claimed the 2010 premiership when former coach Mick Malthouse was in charge. Pert was also involved in the succession plan which controversially saw Buckley replace Malthouse ahead of the 2012 season. Buckley has not been helped by the revolving door that has been football-operations boss through his tenure. In the past year, the Magpies have had Neil Balme, then Graeme Allan briefly before he was suspended by the league for his role in the Lachie Whitfield scandal, and now Walsh again in the top role. Walsh has twice held the position in Buckley's time.