Essendon president Andrew Welsh rejects ‘conflict of interest’ claim after appointing good mate Mark McVeigh

Essendon president Andrew Welsh has been grilled over his relationship with the club’s new coach Mark McVeigh , quickly rejecting suggestions of nepotism or a conflict of interest.

McVeigh was best man at Welsh’s wedding, and Welsh was also in McVeigh’s wedding party.

They were also teammates at Essendon, with Welsh’s career spanning from 2002-2011 and McVeigh playing 232 games for the Bombers between 1999 and 2012.

“Surely that’s a bit of a conflict for you?” Welsh was asked when appearing on Channel 7’s The Agenda Setters on Tuesday night.

“We’ve had five individual people that are of the highest regard on the selection panel. So they all form their view independently and recommended Mark unanimously to the board.

“And then we’ve got a board of 10 highly successful people with their views. And he was unanimously voted through that process as well.”

Welsh was then pressed about the possibility of having to sack his best friend in the future, and he didn’t shy away from the reality.

“Well, you shouldn’t hire people if you can’t fire them,” Welsh told The Agenda Setters.

Welsh maintained the rigorous selection process justified the appointment and had nothing to do with the fact that he was a good mate of McVeigh’s.

“So we’re very pleased that the process that was put in place was one that our members wanted, and that Mark was voted unanimously at the end of this process as the clear standout candidate.”

Essendon great James Hird — another former teammate of Welsh’s — was overlooked for the position but Welsh admitted he was a strong candidate and they would like to have him at the club in some capacity.