Carlton is facing a challenge to the club's board from a businessman who has been in discussions with the club hierarchy and a grassroots member who says the club needs more democracy.

Both of the challengers – Softball Australia chairman and businessman John Hollingsworth and grassroots member Steve Khatib – are critical of the club's handling of the exit of favourite son and list manager Stephen Silvagni, who was removed after the national draft, with the club citing the difficulty of managing his role when he had two sons, Jack and Ben, on the club's list.

Former Carlton list manager Steve Silvagni. Credit:Chris Hopkins

The board challenge emerged on a day when the Blues announced that Silvagni would be replaced as list manager by Nick Austin, the Bulldogs' national recruiting manager who is also the son of a former Carlton great Rod "Curly" Austin.

Hollingsworth, who is chairman of Stellar, a customer care provider, and Softball Australia, is running for the board on a platform of bringing "transparency and best practice to the club", while Khatib is critical both of Carlton's handling of Silvagni's exit and of what he argues is the club's reluctance to let members have their say in the composition of the board.