The man expected to be chosen is Nigel Chamier, a Brisbane businessman who, like Stockwell, is a property developer. 

Support for Stockwell was led by Sam Coffa, the chairman of the ACGA, who rang the local newspaper to deny that they were behind his removal.

"There is no truth to the statement that we had lost faith in Mr Stockwell," Coffa told the Gold Coast Bulletin.

"We supported him.

"We confirmed his appointment as chairman with the Government.

"We never directed the Government to sack him."

The Gold Coast's former Mayor Ron Clarke also backed Stockwell. 

"Mark's contacts in the sporting world are unsurpassed," said Clarke, who worked closely with Stockwell during the successful bid. 

"Where could you find someone more perfect for the job?

"They don't come around every decade, even."

Campbell Newman (pictured), the new Premier of Queensland, however, refused to elaborate why the Liberal National Party (LNP) State Government had decided to sack Stockwell. 

"I don't think it's fair for me to talk about why the Government's made a decision other than to say this - we greatly appreciate the work that Mr Stockwell did to lead the bid," he said.

"We congratulated him at the time and thanked him for that, but it's now time to go to the second stage of this, which is to deliver the Games."

Stockwell continued to maintain a diplomatic position. 

"I understand that Governments have to make their own decisions and I respect that decision," said Stockwell, a former swimmer who won three medals a the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, including two silver.

"What is so important is that we all pull in behind the Minister and pull in behind the leadership team and make the Commonwealth Games as successful as they can be on the Gold Coast.

"I'm passionate about this event of course - I can't just give up on it and walk away," he said.

"In 1982 I was an usher at the Brisbane Commonwealth Games and I watched the swimmers on the deck and I wanted to be there.

"The next year I was and I went to the Olympics so I might be an usher at the Opening Ceremonies or something like that."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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