Emotional Davies explains stadium exit

An emotional David Davies says he is returning to England to keep his family together.

Mr Davies, the chief executive of Dunedin Venues Management Ltd, was speaking at a hastily-arranged press conference at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin this morning.

The press conference was prompted by Otago Daily Times questions about Mr Davies' future.

This morning he told gathered media his 16-year-old daughter was returning to England to take up an educational opportunity, together with his wife, in early August.

Mr Davies' two older daughters - aged 23 and 21 - were still studying in England, one of whom he had not seen for two years.

He planned to follow in March, once succession planning within DVML was complete and a suitable replacement found.

He paid tribute to his DVML staff and acknowledged the role did not come without challenges, but insisted his "conscience was clear'' when it came to his performance and that of the stadium.