Kane Cornes has questioned whether it’s appropriate for Collingwood football boss Graham Wright to be posting photos of his family holiday in Europe amid the club’s concerning decline. The defending premiers have slumped to 12th on the AFL ladder heading into Round 18, and are in serious danger of missing the finals altogether.

On top of poor performances on the field, details have come to light about some dramas going on in the front office that might be having a destabilising effect on the club. According to The Age, Wright offered his resignation last December, but president Jeff Browne asked him to stay on.

The report states that Browne is keen to find Wright a new role at the club, and Wright has taken a sabbatical in the meantime – heading off to Europe for a break with his family. But Wright hasn’t left his role as football manager and is still acting in a consultancy role from Europe.

“Through my discussions with Jeff [Browne], Ned [Kelly] and Fly [Craig McRae], we agreed that I will stay connected to the club in a consultancy role providing advice to the CEO and wider club during my time away with a plan to return to full-time work in September,” Wright said in a statement when he announced his extended leave earlier this year. Wright is due back in Australia at the end of August, and the club’s director of coaching Brendon Bolton has helped fill the void on an interim basis.

Kane Cornes questions Graham Wright over holiday photos

But Wright’s absence has meant a number of staff have had to switch roles and help out in other departments. And according to Cornes, it might not be the best idea for Wright to be posting happy snaps on social media while the club is struggling so badly.

“If he’s out, he’s out,” the Port Adelaide great said on Channel 9 program ‘Footy Classified’ this week. “Let’s just pay him to go on a holiday and watch his Instagram clips as we’re sitting 12th on the ladder and trying to qualify for finals.

“I don’t think we begrudge anyone for going on holiday and having a break, it’s a pretty intense industry. But to see the images of him on holiday from his Instagram account, I don’t think it’s a great look when you’ve got your head of footy on holiday, posting pictures on Instagram and your side is sitting in 12th.”

Has Graham Wright’s absence affected Collingwood?

Essendon great Matthew Lloyd said he believes the front office changes have impacted Collingwood on the field. “The game stops for no one, Collingwood in this situation then changed everyone’s roles,” he said.

“Assistant coaches changed their positions, (coaching director) Brendan Bolton changed his position, Justin Leppitsch changed his position – too much change. It just shows you need everything to go right to win a flag, they got that right last year but they haven’t this year.”

Wright reportedly wants to be a CEO at an AFL club and had eyes on joining the Tasmania Devils. But former Richmond boss Brendon Gale scored the CEO job there instead. According to leading journalist Sam McClure, Collingwood is looking at restructuring its football department in an attempt to keep Wright.

“There’s no way he’s staying in the current role he’s been in and he’s not becoming the CEO because Craig Kelly is in that role,” Tom Morris added on Footy Classified. Morris said Tasmania isn’t out of the question and Wright could easily take a different role at the new AFL franchise.