The ACT Brumbies board will meet with the club's senior management this week to detail its strategy for replacing chief executive Michael Jones after ending a turbulent period by finalising a payout to part ways.
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Mr Jones will complete his final day in the Brumbies office on Monday and finish his tenure as chief executive at 5pm following a drawn out saga that divided the club.
It's understood that Mr Jones is no longer pursuing legal action against the Brumbies board as part of negotiating a settlement.
But it is believed a statement of claim has been filed in the ACT Supreme Court against the University of Canberra, its vice-chancellor Stephen Parker, David Lamont, Joe Roff and the University of Canberra Union. More parties could be added to the action in the coming days.
Mr Jones and the Brumbies have agreed to financial settlement to see Mr Jones leave the club with a significant payout.
Brumbies chairman Robert Kennedy will address the Brumbies staff on Tuesday to organise an acting chief executive and outline plans for a search.
Three people have already been floated as potential candidates for the role into the future, with former general manager Michael Thomson, former Brumbies and Wallabies star Joe Roff and outgoing Canberra FM manager Eoghan O'Byrne early options.
The changes at the top could also trigger governance changes after many fans and members grew disenchanted through the ugliest and darkest period in the club's history.
Any governance changes could also involve a review of the constitution and a potential shift to a more professional board.
There is no workplace investigation into Brumbies players Stephen Moore and Scott Fardy.
The Rugby Union Players' Association released a statement that said: "RUPA acknowledges that the Brumbies have confirmed that there will not be any investigations into the workplace conduct of any players, as earlier news reports had suggested.
"Furthermore, RUPA understands that there is not and was not any basis for such an investigation.
"RUPA does not accept it as being appropriate to drag players and their reputations into internal club management disputes."
The AFP is still investigating a KPMG report into transactions at the club between 2009 and 2013 relating to the sale of the Brumbies' Griffith headquarters and subsequent move to the University of Canberra.
Former Brumbies president Geoff Larkham urged the Super Rugby club to find a way to rebuild its family atmosphere and unity in the board room.
Mr Larkham was the Brumbies' president for more than a decade and resigned from his role at the end of last year after 20 years involved at the club.
"When we first started it was like a big family, the kids who were playing were all foreign to one another and the next thing they came together with their parents and players," Mr Larkham said.
"The board was involved in that … we've lost that family feel now, and that's a shame. There's still unity within the players and with their families, but it's not the family that it was.
"It's terribly sad to sit here and watch it crumble. A lot of people put a lot of effort in to bond the club together and link Canberra rugby together to be one big family. Now it's hard to watch."
ACT Supreme Court Justice Richard Refshauge ruled that Mr Jones' public interest disclosures were the "dominant factor" in the board's decision to stand him down, and allowed him to keep his position.
Mr Jones rejected an initial payout offer before finalising an arrangement in official mediation.
"We seem to have lost the plot a little bit. But there is definitely a way back, there needs to be some changes but there is light," Mr Larkham said.
"If we can rally the members, particularly the founding members, and get them back in, there's a way forward."
The Brumbies are desperate to get their on-field performance back on track after losing four of their past six games and facing a make or break game against the Pretoria Bulls on Friday night.
Coach Stephen Larkham will take charge of player contracts and negotiations while the Brumbies search for a replacement of Jones.
Stephen Larkham said: "I think the fans have been there this year, but this is where we need them more than ever.
"We've got a game at home against the Bulls and in the context of the season it's going to be a massive one. We need as many supporters out there as possible.
"I'm confident there will be stability [at the Brumbies]. This is going to be a period where we have to find a solution. But we've had a number of chief executives and everyone has learnt from those experience. I'm sure we'll get some stability back there very soon."
