^This (Edit: what Reg22 said)
The fact that there is no CEO and Fred made himself the mouth piece means he earns 100% of the vitrol whether he deserves it or not. Regardless whether its his decision that he made or others did, he is complicit purely because the communication of it is such a hatchet job and he fronted on that. For a guy that has CEO skill (GM of a company?) he definitely gets a brick bat for the way this has been communicated.
My next question is what are NZF going to do if the parents refuse to pay....? I don't think it will be too difficult for them all to band together in the growing face of negative publicity on this and push back. This could become a massive problem for NZF at a time where they don't really need it and it is growing and is not going away anytime soon. The media have latched onto it and have given air time to two prominent voices in Milicich and Hay (regardless if they have a point or its factually correct, or not) so it seems it may not go away anytime soon.
If FVH is watching, this may count against Fred as the next CEO just the way this has all been handled. I notice that the interim CEO Mark Aspden sits quietly in the background. Smart.