New PJA chief should 'speak the language' as organisation begins search following McMahon departure

The next chief executive of the Professional Jockeys Association (PJA) should have experience of racing and "speak the language", the organisation’s new chair Nick Attenborough said on Sunday, after Ian McMahon left his role as CEO following unrest from jockeys.

McMahon’s departure marks the coup de grace for riders after heightened tensions over the perceived handling by senior PJA figures of critical issues such as the whip review, valets’ pay and the closure of racecourse saunas. 

Jockeys had attempted to unseat McMahon last month when presenting a petition to hold an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) at which his future would be debated. This prompted Jon Holmes, the sports agent who counts the likes of Gary Lineker, Nick Luck and Ruby Walsh as clients, to resign as PJA chair along with board members Simon Cox and Mick Fitzgerald.

In their place, Henry Brooke, Neil Callan, Tom Marquand, Andrew Mullen, Jonjo O’Neill Jr, Tabitha Worsley and Attenborough were appointed as new board members, with Attenborough announced as Holmes’s successor following the EGM at Warwick racecourse on Sunday.

In a statement released following the EGM, the PJA said it would launch the search for a new chief executive with the aim of completing the process by the end of the year.

Attenborough, a long-standing owner who has worked at Great British Racing, the British Racing School and at Sandown, said experience of racing should be a prerequisite for McMahon’s replacement given the way the sport operates.

He told the Racing Post: “In my experience, and I would hope this is a generally held view, what you really do need is someone who is used to the sport and can speak the language. You can be quicker to get a consensus if you know the background and have that specialist knowledge, are a fan and have worked within a sport already. 

“Plenty of people have come into racing with impressive CVs and been floundered by it because we have our own language and way of working, and I am sure that is the same for other sports.”

Nick Attenborough: announced as the new PJA chair following the EGM on SundayCredit: Mark Cranham

There has been speculation in recent weeks that Paul Struthers, the former PJA chief executive, could return to head the organisation he left at the end of 2021 in the aftermath of the high-profile disciplinary case involving jockeys Bryony Frost and Robbie Dunne.

While the search takes place for McMahon’s replacement, Dale Gibson, the PJA’s racing director, has been appointed interim CEO for the second time in 18 months having combined the positions between the departure of Struthers and McMahon joining in April last year.

McMahon, a former professional footballer, joined the PJA after working in a range of sports, including golf, but had no prior experience within racing. 

In recent weeks jockeys have reportedly become increasingly agitated about how senior management has overseen key issues on their behalf and by a perceived lack of visibility, particularly from McMahon. The PJA also confirmed it had terminated its contract with You First, a PR agency hired to represent it in March.

Attenborough said on Sunday that he hoped the PJA would be able to offer a greater level of communication with its members and other groups from now on.

He said: “One of the reasons we wanted more jockeys on the board was that they are riding or out of the country with other commitments and you’re not going to get everyone in the same place every time. But by having a strong group, it’s very helpful and we can ensure better communication with everyone.

“When I was initially getting involved with the board I was very impressed by their ability and their commitment to get on and help the sport. It’s nice to find people who want to commit time, energy and effort to make it work and that is what the PJA has. I think we really are in a position to have a positive future.”

Read this next:

Embattled PJA appoints seven new board members after 'listening to membership' 

Jockeys move to bring back former chief Paul Struthers as member revolt leaves PJA in crisis 

Unrest among jockeys prompts PJA board resignations  

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