Wilson, who has spent 14 years at the club including six as chairman, said in an interview on Friday that a $12.6 million year-on-year turnaround and a $5.4 million profit were key reasons he felt the organisation had emerged from the financial pain of the pandemic. The club lost $78 million across the five years between 2020 and 2025.
"I'm leaving with the view that this momentum and this growth and this strong performance will continue," he said.
But Wilson said he was disappointed to confront allegations of a board rift on the eve of the Melbourne Cup carnival. A source, speaking anonymously because of the sensitive nature of club business, told The Age that the decision to appoint Wilson's replacement had split the VRC board.
The club announced Vin Cox as chair elect last week after a secret vote. Numbers were not released, but the source said they understood the 11 directors voted 6-5. Three candidates initially sought the chair role, the source said, with votes split between Cox and vice chair Michael Ramsden, prompting a re-vote between the two. Ramsden's late father, Andrew, was a former VRC board member and chairman.
Wilson and club chief executive Kylie Rogers, who is also a director, took part in the vote. The decision to anoint Queensland-based Cox raised eyebrows because he is up for re-election next month, meaning he could theoretically be voted off the board before taking over as chairman in December. The source also noted that Wilson had voted on his successor despite never intending to serve under their leadership, with his seat to be filled in the coming elections and announced at the AGM.