Former Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett insists the club should not be held responsible for the damage caused to the reputations of Alastair Clarkson, Chris Fagan and Jason Burt.
The trio are at the centre of a First Nations investigation relating to racism allegations stemming from their time at the club.
The situation was clouded further on Thursday when former Hawks coach Clarkson stepped away from his role as head coach of North Melbourne due to the toll the investigation has taken on his mental wellbeing.
Clarkson also recently took a shot at the Hawks for their “shameful” governance and conduct throughout the process.
However, Kennett has denied any wrongdoing, claiming the initial report was leaked without Hawthorn’s knowledge.
“We were not responsible for the leak,” he said on SEN Breakfast.
“Once we got the report, we did not ourselves have the powers to be an investigatory body. We were bound to hand it over to integrity.
“I’m not trying to duck-shove here, I’m just telling you the process.
“We’re as hurt and I’m as hurt as those three who have been accused because this is a good club and it did the right thing.
“I’ve got no idea who leaked the report, I have no idea. But whoever leaked the report is responsible for the damage that now has occurred to these three people.
“I was so disappointed when Clarko had an attack at the club the other day because it’s just not right.”
Kennett feels it careless to suggest that the Hawks have defamed Clarkson, Fagan or Burt.
He has denied the club is responsible for this.
“I’m happy to admit where there has been failure or where I’ve made a mistake in life, not just in football,” he added.
“We have never defamed Alastair Clarkson, we have never defamed Chris Fagan or Jason Burt.
“We put in a process to make sure we had a safe work place. We got a report from those that we got their stories and we’re in the process - or would have been if this hadn’t blown up - of addressing the information that we received.
“Before we were able to do that, someone leaked it to the media.
“The process has been correctly handled, there’s no doubt about that.”
Despite alluding to a leak, Kennett insists the Hawks did nothing wrong and admits he has no proof as to how the report was made public.
“I am prepared to say to you that Hawthorn did the right thing,” he said further.
“I’m very disappointed that many in the media and others are saying that we did not. I don’t know what you’d expect of us to do.
“I have no idea who the leak was. There are probably two or three suggestions that are floating around, but that’s very different from having any proof.
“I know it certainly didn’t come from the Hawthorn Football Club. So the only question was where else could it have come from?
“I have no facts.”
Listen to the full chat with Kennett below: