Former Queensland Steward Allan Reardon has been appointed as Director of Steward Development and will return to Brisbane to take up the newly created position in the restructured Racing Queensland Limited integrity division.

Reardon, who is currently deputy to chairman Terry Bailey on the Melbourne stewards’ panel will take up his new duties on July 30.

“Allan possesses the experience, the attitude and approach to the role of stewarding that will serve to enhance the professional development of the stewards currently operating on the Queensland panel,” Racing Queensland Chief Steward Wade Birch said.

Also in the restructure, Racing Queensland has confirmed that Birch has been appointed as Chief Steward of All Codes, as well as remaining as Chief Steward of Thoroughbreds.

Reardon has a wealth of knowledge and experience and had formerly held the position as chairman of Stewards in Queensland before moving to Sydney to take up a senior steward’s roll before taking up the position as deputy chairman in Victoria.

The return of Reardon to Queensland has left a gaping hole in the Victorian Steward’s ranks with a number of stewards moving on in recent times.

The retirement of long serving chairman Des Gleeson was followed by the departure of his deputy Terry Sharp and female steward Sally Miller as well as former senior panel member Mark Hill taking up a position in Malaysia.