Skelt remains as city councillor despite sudden stadium departure
In a statement from the stadium board it noted Skelt would be retiring from the Stadium on “medical grounds and personal reasons” with immediate effect.
Invercargill Mayor Nobby Clark says Nigel Skelt has not resigned as an Invercargill city councillor despite departing his job at ILT Stadium Southland on “medical grounds” and for “personal reasons”.
The Stadium Southland board released a statement on Monday confirming Skelt had resigned from his role as its’s general manager after 24 years in the job.
The statement from the stadium board says Skelt was retiring from the Stadium on “medical grounds and personal reasons” with immediate effect.
ILT Stadium Southland board chair Alan Dennis said: “Nigel has contributed significantly to both the venue and the city in his tenure at ILT Stadium Southland. He was involved in setting the early vision of the Stadium and along with bringing successful national and international events to the venue he also navigated the Stadium roof collapse of 2010 and, of course, the Covid pandemic”.
“The Board would like to thank Nigel for his 24 years of service to the Stadium and wishes him well in his retirement.”
Clark told The Tribune that Skelt, who is a second-term councillor, had not tendered his resignation from the council as well.
When asked questions about Skelt’s resignation from the stadium he said he was unable to comment because it was not a council matter.
Clark is a trustee on the Southland Leisure Centre Charitable Trust which owns Stadium Southland. The Invercargill City Council is one of its biggest annual funders for the stadium providing $700,000 per year for the venue.
Dennis was asked a series of questions about Skelt’s resignation, including if there would be a “send-off type function” to honour Skelt’s 24 years in the job.
“[It is] our position to never comment on a matter that could involve an employee,” Dennis stated in an email response.
Skelt has been approached for comment.
Skelt, who was the highest-polling councillor at the election, is the project lead for the council’s Project 1225. It is the quest to get a museum building built by December 2025.