Rugby: Andrew Golightly: Time is right to move on

Andrew Golightly

Dubbed as a "good servant for Northland rugby", it's no wonder Northland Rugby Union chairman Andrew Golightly is content to be stepping down from his role in April.

Those "servant" like characteristics serve as the reasoning behind Golightly's shift, announced at last night's annual general meeting.

"The time is right," he conceded. "Really with any organisation that you work in it is always good to hand it on when it's in a better position than when you came onboard.

"Looking back I'm certainly very proud where the union is sitting at the moment, and there's still work to do but, it's in a good space."

Six years ago, Golightly came onboard when the NRU was in terrible shape. With $500,000 worth of debt, Golightly and co set about fostering relationships with various groups within Northland and around the country to aid - something that he credits to the region's survival at provincial level.

"I certainly still recall when I introduced myself to the AGM in 2008, I pledged I would work to the best of my ability and that Northland rugby would survive and be in a better place. That was a key driver for me."

Still in his early days as chairman holds Golightly's fondest memories from the role.

"If I had to pick one thing it's that survival in 2008/09, in those reviews and standing firm and still preserving key relationships through New Zealand was a highlight. I think that took a bit of diplomacy."

NRU chief executive Jeremy Parkinson said Golightly would be missed, but hoped he would go on to bigger and better pastures.

"Andrew's been a very good servant for Northland rugby and presided over a time when we potentially were going to be kicked out of the premiership, so he has sort of steered us through that time and fought a good battle for us with the NZRU," Parkinson said.

"He will be a loss, he's a good man and has done a good job. It is a volunteer's role and it opens the door for someone else to come in and steer where they think we should go and put their stamp on the role."

For Golightly, the next move is up in the air as he has put his name forward for the vacant Northern Zone director role with the NZRU.

"What will be, will be," Golightly said. "It's very much a wait and see."

The last person from Northland to be in the northern zone director role was Warwick Syers, who finished up in 2007.