Don McLardy goes back on his word with Cameron Schwab resignation Melbourne FC president Don McLardy gave Cameron Schwab the tap on the shoulder. A DECISION of so-called strength and unity ended in farce. It was weak, even. Certainly embarrassing for a club which for the past three days had spruiked togetherness and a commitment to resurrect this once great club. Three days ago, chairman Don McLardy hit the radio airwaves and said they were prepared for the fight, on Monday he sent a letter to the members, and on yesterday's back page of the Herald Sun he said they would be "strong - stability is critical." Schwab: the buck stops with me And then, bang, he sacks Cameron Schwab. Don McLardy could be Don Corleone in Godfather IV. It was, he said numerous times yesterday, in the best in the interests of the footy club. The reason Cameron Schwab was asked to resign yesterday - sacked in other words - was never fully explained at a hastily arranged media conference, other than to say Schwab had polarised the Melbourne Football Club community. The fans had turned on him, including one of major influence behind the microphone who demanded immediate change, but who hasn't the time to offer anything of real substance himself. Neil Mitchell would be happy, as are probably tens of thousands of other Demons fans who wanted Schwab gone. Schwab survived long than most: Ralphy In fairness, they were probably right, for someone had to be responsible for the dreadful and despairing position the club was is. But but it was unfair to not only single out Schwab, but to sack him. If positions at the club are under review, and the administration had made a good fist of it under Schwab, which McLardy acknowledged, then heaven help coach Mark Neeld if this embarrassment continue on the field. The players, whether they liked Schwab or not, have to take responsibility. And so does McLardy. It's always a dirty and difficult time when a close friend is removed, and McLardy didn't handle it as best he could. He was contradictory and unforgiving of the gibberish he had spoken in the past few days. This is what McLardy told the Herald Sun on Sunday: "What we saw on the ground on the weekend, you can't link it directly to our CEO and say if we sacked him it would solve our problems." Although he oversaw the reappointment of Schwab for three years just last year, and had ladled praise on Schwab whenever he could, he said yesterday this decision had been several months in the thinking. Clearly, this was a political move, one to quiet the dissidents and perhaps even shore up his own standing at the club. For sure, McLardy had to do something and it was either resign, sack Neeld, or sack Schwab. The day began routinely for Schwab and changed dramatically when McLardy called him, requesting they catch up in the afternoon. Schwab knew then his time was over. After 22 years as an administrator at three clubs - Melbourne, Richmond and Fremantle - the famous Schwab name is out of football. He's been a survivor. He escaped the shellacking at Geelong in 2011 by the hair of his chinny chin chin, but the wolf got him at the weekend, as he probably knew it would one day. He departed with dignity, too. He supported the club's decision, supported McLardy as he stumbled and mumbled, and like a half-back flanker who has dished out a bit and wore some himself, he said: That's football. To the end, he displayed his love of the game, which the critics say allowed him too much say in football department discussions, by taking a Melbourne jumper to his public execution yesterday. It was a signed No.31 guernsey given to him by Ron Barassi in 2008, when Schwab returned to the club from the Dockers. The message read: "Cameron, welcome back to a great challenge and a great opportunity, Ron Barassi." The opportunity is gone, but the challenge is as massive as it's ever been.