Earlier, three club sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity as the departure had not yet been announced to members, confirmed that Brown had vacated his role.

A club update on February 9 informed members of Cossar’s resignation. It said:

“Adam has recently embarked on a new professional role and believes he no longer has the capacity to fully devote the time and energy required in the role of president of our great club - a position he has held for almost three years.

“Adam feels the time is appropriate for new leadership to take the club into the next phase of its development, and that conclusion his role at this time will afford ample opportunity leading into the 2024 annual general meeting to secure the next generation of club leadership.”

The club called in accounting firm Grant Thornton to review its books in November after it announced a $2.4 million loss from its dining and functions operations, and an overall loss of nearly $1 million – a seven-figure swing from the previous year’s $980,000 profit.

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Cossar told members at the time the findings of the review were expected to be handed down in January. In a statement released in February, the board said: “The Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club board today reiterates their previous statements to members that investigations had shown that the loss announced in the annual report and at the annual general meeting had been caused by poor financial management and account reporting. There was no evidence of criminal activity.”

Asked whether these were the findings of the Grant Thornton audit, Cossar said: “Yes, the investigation is in reference to the Grant Thornton review.”

The dent in Kooyong LTC’s dining and functions operations was first recorded in its annual report for the 2023 financial year, and announced to members at its AGM on October 25th.

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