PAFC/PAMFC merger

[Barto]

Port Adelaide...they can go and get FORKED!!!

NEVER FORGET 1990!!! They made the bed and now they can go lie in it!!!

That's just scapegoating. Once the WCE entered the VFL, the SANFL had no choice. The SANFL knew it's hand was forced and there'd be no way a national competition of sorts could continue on without SA involvement. While people may not have been happy about PAFC entering into some sort of negotiation with the expanded VFL at the time, really they just gave the league the kick up the arse to get moving on it themselves.

Yes but the clubs agreed to make a united approach in 1993. Port went behind everyone else's backs and did the dirty which forced the SANFL's hand earlier.

[Lynwood]

To probably the surprise of nobody here


"Firth told the Power on Thursday night the $230,000 his club needed by the end of October has been raised from members and sponsors, some of whom have made interest-free loans to the Magpies."

Now play on and stop flogging the dead horse.

He also siad that they would need to see the deal making the Magpies stronger. By what I have read the last Merger was started by the Magpies. This one seems to be coming from the Power who say us in need of a quick fix. Well we already have it and now the rumor of a big sponsorship deal, if true, there is little point for us to go into this.

I have no issue with the Power offering a joint membership deal not only with us but other clubs as a way to branch their supporter base out. A merger at this stage is a step backwards in terms of gaining supporters for them

[beenreal]

BIG story on 5AA that G Pickard, J Firth and B Barreau were spotted lunching at the House of Chow yesterday. Apparently GP is determined that his money goes towards a merged Port Adelaide Football Club.

[CUTTERMAN]

It's great that the PAMFC board is working through to a solution to their viability and sponsorship. To have a possible sponsor dictate a merger is, to me, troubling. I'm for the survival of both the clubs but not a merger, it opens a can of worms for the future of the SANFL, it's integrity and viability but that's been said before.
Both Ports merge and still aren't profitable after the beneficiaries money has run dry, what then?
The merger goes ahead and 5 years on another SANFL club is in danger financially, after a few more years of SANFL dividends forwarded the club is still in trouble so they work on a merger with Adelaide but because the Crows have already put in a SANFL reserves side to be on par with Port there is no merger option available. The club has no options and has to fold because of other pressures to rid the comp of the bye now that there are the 2 SA AFL teams playing in the SANFL. Would this be fair? I would think not.
A merger doesn't need to go ahead to keep the Port tradition alive.

[LBJ8]

I just don't know why the power would bother, it wouldn't help them at all in gaining more supporters or members it would put them back even further. The best option for the Power is for the magpies to fold imho. The best option for the magpies might be to merge. The best option for the SANFL would probably be for the magpies to fight there way out of it as many other clubs have done in the past.

[Apachebulldog]

If they cannot find the money to stand alone then bye bye, if they merge all it means SANFL will be putting millions and millions of dollars into two teams that are going broke so does that means when another SANFL club starts to go under is everyone then happy for the SANFL to hand out millions to bail them out as well.

My view is if not fianacially viable let them fold, and lets have a 8 team comp, also, as i have said in the past fans can only spend so much money, Port Adelaide supporters are unable to support two teams it has to be one or the other,this is the same old debate year in year out so end of story.

[Wedgie]

I just don't know why the power would bother, it wouldn't help them at all in gaining more supporters or members it would put them back even further. The best option for the Power is for the magpies to fold imho. The best option for the magpies might be to merge. The best option for the SANFL would probably be for the magpies to fight there way out of it as many other clubs have done in the past.

The Power want the pub. Pure and simple. If there wasn't a pub they wouldn't even consider it and why would they.

[Hazydog]

As I recall, one of the main concerns of the other SANFL clubs re the merger was along the lines of the Magpies automatically being guaranteed their financial future based on the SANFL/AFL's propensity to bail out the Power whenever needed.

Putting it another way - As the AFL are unlikely to let any of their clubs die, (in order to protect their media revenue), if the Magpies were combined with the Power, then they would be forever financially protected.

Thinking about it - I would be surprised if the AFL would be comfortable with that type of arrangement.

So if the only way around this is to ensure the finances of both clubs are not combined - how can it be a merger?

[Lynwood]

The fact is our club has gotten themselves to a position where they can go on. Yes it will be a tough few years still but we will get out of trouble and get the pub running to full potential.

Alot of supporters are seeing this as an a quick way out and the only solution for our club.

On the issue of people not having money to support two clubs, even with out this seasons increase look at the Magpies membership numbers over the past two years. even our attendances are not that bad considering our position on the field. as soon as we get the POW revenue increased we will have no financial issues.

The Power need to get their pub up and running soon to save themselves and 30,000 members are not a bad number. just atendance and increased revenue from home games.

This is just a grab for the POW nothing more

[Psyber]

It will happen and i think the AFL will be a big player in making sure it does. It may even be linked in with Port getting full control of their license.

Wouldn't Port have to pay out all the other teams that own a share of it through the SANFL to do that?
My understanding is that the licence is not "theirs" but is owned by the SANFL.

[Lynwood]

And even if they get the licence given to them and merge with the Magpies they will still need to get permision from the SANFL to have an AFL owned team compeating in the league. But then they will have the pub so they will have little concern for what happens to them then

[CUTTERMAN]

Get what license given to them? FFS if the SANFL is to rid themselves of the Power then it has to be for the license fee paid plus 14/15 years inflation added on. Someone buy it soon please! Maybe the SACA might be interested!

[ca]

If they cannot find the money to stand alone then bye bye, if they merge all it means SANFL will be putting millions and millions of dollars into two teams that are going broke so does that means when another SANFL club starts to go under is everyone then happy for the SANFL to hand out millions to bail them out as well.

My view is if not fianacially viable let them fold, and lets have a 8 team comp, also, as i have said in the past fans can only spend so much money, Port Adelaide supporters are unable to support two teams it has to be one or the other,this is the same old debate year in year out so end of story.

Well said.