Sturt in Financial Trouble?

[story of my life]

No Fords are allowed to be permanently parked in Elizabeth. Do so at your own risk.
In fact who would want to own a Ford anyway ????

Because unemployed BOGANS who live on welfare drive holdens and I don't want to be associated with that riff raff in any way shape or form. I have my standards and driving a Holden is beneath contempt

Well get back in your Toyota Starlett and bugger off

[Rucciangelo]

I have been saying it for a loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong time now, show some guts, grow some nuts, move to where the growing population is, Mount Barker, or stay & stagnate.

Moving there won't overcome inept management...

I'm not saying we shouldn't move there, but I am saying its not the panacea to all our woes.

Look pretty obvious you're still piised you didn't get the CEO position when it was up for grabs.
Maybe your management style isn't all it should be either...being the corporate guy and all.

I didn't realise I was nominated for it...

... and I didn't realise you knew my management style either. Feel free to drop by my desk at work to give me pointers...

So Mr Bowes as unfamiliar as I am with you and what you're about, tell me exactly which management period of the SFC are you most pointing the finger at?
I'm interested in your opinions...sorry I don't have time to drop by your desk, I have too many other things to get on with.
I apologise to you for the cheap shot at the CEO position...I have no idea if you went for it or not and I'm not interested either way.

[csbowes]

So Mr Bowes as unfamiliar as I am with you and what you're about, tell me exactly which management period of the SFC are you most pointing the finger at? I'm interested in your opinions...sorry I don't have time to drop by your desk, I have too many other things to get on with. I apologise to you for the cheap shot at the CEO position...I have no idea if you went for it or not and I'm not interested either way.

I'm not sure if you're taking the piss or not... but assuming you're not...

I didn't actually point the finger at anyone in particular, I initially asked if anyone on here knew anything about the clubs financials for last season, as I wasn't able to go to the AGM and therefore don't know what was or wasn't discussed. I was hoping someone could enlighten me about some of the details. Unfortunately, it doesn't appear people on here know much, I got a couple of PMs telling me what companies had reneged on their sponsorship payments, but that's about it.

As far as the management of the SFC goes, I don't think there is a bad period so to speak. I think over the last 20 years the club has been managed in a reasonable way in most areas and good in many others. The one criticism I do have of the club, is that during that period our revenue has increased 10-fold, but despite that increase in income, we don't seem to have been able to put ourselves into a position where we comfortably and regularly make profits.

Why is that? I'm not exactly sure...

A few supporters at recent AGMs have been extremely critical of the clubs management of Barzaar and/or Tavern. I don't subscribe to that myself, while I don't profess to be an expert on all things publican, my impression is that the club have tried hard, tried some new approaches and over time have increased the revenue and profits from the two establishments. It doesn't appear that either will be a gold mine, but certainly they seem to be contributing in a positive way.

Finally, with respect to the thread you commented about, you'll notice I didn't say the current management was inept, I said that moving to Mt.Barker wouldn't overcome inept management. I wouldn't have any idea whether the current management is good or bad. What I don't understand is the annual losses the club posts almost every year. It just doesn't appear as though we've learnt much from previous seasons.

... and for the record, I've never run for the SFC board.

[MATT IN WA]

.... I initially asked if anyone on here knew anything about the clubs financials for last season...

Doesn't the SFC post out a financial report to it's members?

[csbowes]

No. You have to go to the AGM. I asked for one by email and the GM sent me one. The club puts the annual report online but I don't think it puts the financials online.

I could be wrong though...

[CUTTERMAN]

From the SFC:
"After a really promising start to the year our league team has lost its way in recent weeks and we have now put ourselves under intense pressure to turn things around in the next few games. Whilst the draw has not been ideal for us – not enough football early – and now two byes in 3 weeks, the reality is that we have been in the thick of games and then fallen over at the proverbial ‘last jump’. We have had a few injury concerns, but it would be dangerous for us to start finding excuses other than the obvious – that we are not backing ourselves at the business end of games. We have a quality list and some great newcomers to the club – both recruits and juniors, but I know I speak for all when I say that we don’t need to get to round 15 and still be talking about not being far away – we simply have to start winning.

Off the field our challenges will continue – and on-field success is a pivotal ingredient in maximising our returns in a business sense. Why is it so tough? Well, quite simply (and one might argue too simply), if a club makes good money out of gaming it should be in reasonable financial shape – subject to the debt it has incurred making that investment in gaming. Our football industry’s survival is inexorably linked to gaming profits. Irrespective of one’s views on poker machines (and I respect all views on that matter) the sad reality is that without a consistent flow of dividends from these activities, no SANFL club would survive – and some are barely doing so now. Our club’s gaming certainly compares favorably to industry standards – but it is getting much tougher.

An overview; in very round terms it costs between $1.5 and $2m to run an SANFL club. Traditional income areas (sponsorship, membership & fundraising), together with the SANFL administration grant should net a club a majority of the funds required – but not all. Every club HAS to find additional income streams to make up the difference – and the only income stream in town has been gaming revenue. The challenge for all of us is to find a future where our total reliance on gaming is diminished, so that we can prosper in the absence of prohibitive debt and the whims of gaming returns in, what is now, a tumultuous economic and political environment. I am sure all clubs have been looking for other strategies – but that is much easier said than done! This is not a case of re-inventing our raffles (notwithstanding the importance of those to our fundraising efforts) – but re-jigging the very financial base on which our club has existed for too long.

The Sturt Football Club’s total off-field focus has to be debt reduction – no ifs, no buts. I am more than happy to discuss these issues with any member who calls me – and if you wish to assist us in getting the fundamentals of our business and financial structure in better shape I look forward to talking. This is a crucial time for the Sturt Football Club, and we need as many of our faithful on board to turn things around. As they say – when the going gets tough…………………

Matt Benson | CEO"
Ok times are tough, I know for myself business has gone down, so the question remains to YOU Blues supporters out there, what are YOU going to do to help. I'm getting things in place to help where I can, question is, are others going to be negative or proactive?

[dedja]

Looks like code for ... we have NFI what to do

[CENTURION]

Wouldn't Mount Barker residents be deemed to have a "more disposable income" than residents of Unley? Time to move, time is running out.

[CUTTERMAN]

Looks like code for ... we have NFI what to do

That sounds like code for You've been a rich vein for answers when pushed for one dedja, delivered none....piss weak...dedjanodelivery from now on spudjocks.
@ Centurion, Mt Barker ain't gonna work, might've 10 years ago, but in this current enviroment I don't think the SANFL is going to back up such a risky move, the biscuit barrel has been drained! I'm a born and bred Hills bloke, my family all still live in the Hills, I live in the city, and I hate to say it but I reckon I'd struggle to get to the majority of Sturt games at Mt Barker. There's no easy answers here. But we will survive.

[JK]

Fair comments by Benson, and pretty similar would be trotted out by most clubs I would imagine.

I think all clubs have spent the best part of the last 10 years trying to find new larger levels of Revenue to lessen the reliance on Gaming income, but I'm not aware that any club has yet found another method to rake in decent amounts of coin.

I don't see that a move to Mt Barker would change any of the issues the club is presently facing .. They need to reduce debt as quickly as they can, and then perhaps tweak their model/plan to make trading as an ongoing concern safer than it presently is.

[csbowes]

My understanding is the club is going to ask members and supporters to donate in the hope they'll raise around $250K.

I'm not sure what other strategies the club has to reduce debt...

Hopefully, the club will make a profit (or break even if any forecast profit is going to debt reduction) and the money raised by members and supporters will be a bonus on top of that.

Anyone who has the time can volunteer to help the club out on game day, that'll help save $$$.

[Dutchy]

Like most businesses they havent factored in or prepared for a downturn in economic conditions and are now suffering where their existence is on a knifes edge.

I work at Mt Barker and it wont work, firstly there are no facilities, who is going to pay the millions to get a SANFL standard ground there? Redeveloping the current oval isnt even viable. Plus people reckon Noarlunga is cold in winter? take another 4-5 degrees off that. If they were looking at a move, Murray Bridge would be more viable.

[dedja]

Here's an answer for you ... merge with Norwood.

[CENTURION]

now that IS too far.

[Squawk]

I know all clubs have their moments of monetary mayhem - a few years ago Norwood members were asked to make a one off donation of $100 or more.

I think the important thing is for the club to be transparent to its members - tell them the situation, keep them regularly updated on the situation, and report against progress made with the help of members and supporters. I also think that the club has to be prepared to give a bit in return - eg offer some rare opportunities in return for $$$.

Eg, on a bye weekend, offer a player to be an assistant coach, runner, waterboy or whatever for a one-off fee. All those who pay for this, go in to a random draw where the winner gets to have the SFC senior coaches and/or senior players assist their club in some way that helps their specific needs, as mutually agreed. So, a local club might pay $500 say for the first weekend to have Jade Sheedy be their runner, and then win the draw and somehow make $2,000 out of the help returned by the SFC who donates two signed jumpers and organises for John Halbert to be the guest speaker at a fundraising dinner, for no fee.

What is the total SFC debt at present, that $250k would offset?

[CENTURION]

dust off the good old tried-and-tested chocolate wheel!

[Squawk]

Here's an answer for you ... merge with Norwood.

now now, just because Glenelg merged with the state team for a week.....

[CUTTERMAN]

Jeez Dutchy I agreed with a good part of that but, Murray Bridge, you'll hardly get opposition supporters to Mt Barker let alone Murray Bridge. (respects to Country Cousin). We're a state of a small population and wide areas and for an SANFL club to survive they have to keep in and around the suburbs of Adelaide. The Adelaide suburbs spread north and south due to geography hence Noarlunga and Elizabeth are viable for all supporters, just. Can't see Mt Barker or Murray Bridge being the same.

[csbowes]

What is the total SFC debt at present, that $250k would offset?

The bank loans look to be $2.5m.

[dedja]

Here's an answer for you ... merge with Norwood.

now now, just because Glenelg merged with the state team for a week.....

No need to learn a new club song ... you know it makes sense.