BREAKING: Bombers CEO Xavier Campbell quits as fallout from botched Clarko bid deepens

Xavier Campbell has resigned as Essendon CEO to continue the chaotic fallout at the club.

It comes after a horror week for the Bombers including David Barham replacing Paul Basher as president after board upheaval and the club’s pursuit of coaching great Alastair Clarkson backfiring as Ben Rutten was eventually sacked.

AFL Media reports Campbell told Barham of his decision on Sunday night, putting an end to Campbell’s nine-year tenure at the club.

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It’s believed other board members including Simon Madden and Sean Wellman could depart, while long-time list boss Adrian Dodoro is also under pressure.

The Herald Sun reports the club is weighing up a new-look football department, but that footy boss Josh Mahoney’s position is safe.

Campbell has resigned as Essendon CEO (Picture: NCA NewsWire/Luis Enrique Ascui)Source: News Corp Australia

It comes despite Campbell earlier this year despite signing a two-year extension with the club, but the change in leadership has prompted mass changes.

Campbell was a key orchestrator of the succession plan from John Worsfold to Rutten and a fan of the recently-sacked coach, wanting the club to stick with him for the final year of his contract.

Therefore the club’s 11th-hour bid for Clarkson, led by Barham, made Campbell’s position as CEO untenable.

Campbell also helped steer Essendon out of its messy supplements saga, and despite the club’s indifferent on-field results, has helped build it into a financial powerhouse including record numbers in sponsorship and membership

The Bombers celebrated their 150th year anniversary in 2022, finishing 15th on the ladder with seven wins after last year’s finals appearance.