Port Cash Crisis = ? for SANFL Clubs and Comp?

[The Sleeping Giant]

HBT I'm sure Port get looked after very well by the AFL, by agreeing to be the away team against Richmond and Melbourne in Darwin. I believe there is some sort of deal in place.

[am Bays]

Well, if you view it as that, nothing I can do to change it.

I see it as a win, one we sorely needed to give players and fans some joy ( albiet perhaps short lived ) and give the players some confidence to turn the on field issues around.

I'll support Booney here to an extent, spending money on an extra day in Darwin isn't a major problem or an example of poor financial management. Getting a 4 Mill bail out from the SANFL then spending 25% of it on paying out a coach for 2011 and contributing money to a project to extend their already excellent facilities at Alberton well I raise an eyebrow at those.

[Booney]

Well, if you view it as that, nothing I can do to change it.

I see it as a win, one we sorely needed to give players and fans some joy ( albiet perhaps short lived ) and give the players some confidence to turn the on field issues around.

I'll support Booney here to an extent, spending money on an extra day in Darwin isn't a major problem or an example of poor financial management. Getting a 4 Mill bail out from the SANFL then spending 25% of it on paying out a coach for 2011 and contributing money to a project to extend their already excellent facilities at Alberton well I raise an eyebrow at those.

Cant win them all....if they'd have sacked him and not paid out his contract they would have been called cheap.

[Big Phil]

Statement just released by the SANFL:

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

SANFL STATEMENT

The Chairman of the SA Football Commission John Olsen and Executive Commissioner Leigh Whicker have today met with the Board of the Port Adelaide Football Club and are pleased to announce a long term strategy is being worked through with the AFL to secure the long-term financial sustainability of the Club.

This is a collaborative effort between the PAFC, the SANFL and the AFL.

The strategy, which has the strong backing of the AFL, is currently being put in place to ensure the financial viability of the PAFC.

Following today’s discussions with the Board, we are confident the future of the Club is secure and we’re building the bridge to the Adelaide Oval.

This is an exciting development for PAFC and South Australian football at all levels.

As there are three vacancies on the PAFC Board, the SA Football Commission will be working closely with the Club to support the existing united Board and identify the necessary skill sets and experience to lead the club into the future.

The SA Football Commission, together with the AFL, will continue to work with the Board of the PAFC over the coming weeks and will keep the football community updated on further developments.

[the milky bar kid]

Surely the players weren’t sitting around their rooms ordering free room services. Whilst they were adjusting to the conditions, I’m pretty sure the players would’ve been sent out into the community to do vast promotional work for the club. Which should hopefully lead to new supporters & members.
The club does gain a financial advantage out of the two away games up in Darwin each year. But obviously trying to tap into different membership markets is frowned upon…

[HeartBeatsTrue]

So when does it end? When Adelaide Oval is upgraded?

If Port are crying poor then why did they go to Darwin on Thursday when their oppononents, who are also on a debt reduction scheme, went over later? Brett Deledio was on the footy show (earning money for his club for the appearance) while Port were spending cash in Darwin.It might be pocket change, but if you want to call accomodation, meals, incidentals for 24 players plus coaches, trainers, officials etc for an extra day as being pocket change, then it doesnt matter as it all adds up. Maybe enough to pay a magpie player for the year. So they may have got a win from it, but what benefit is that when theres little chance of making the 8? Waste of money.

Look at North Melb and Western Bulldogs, they received handouts but at least they tightened their belts at every opportunity. Spend money on facilities as at least that gives you a return.

Port is like a 10 year old kid that gets pocket money and spends it all on mixed lollies 10 minutes later.

Experience showed that a day extra and a training session in the conditions are more valuable than training in a simulated environment. There is no way you can rubbish them for doing what they felt they needed to and enable them to, as they ultimately did, win the game. They spent that 24 extar hours on 4 premiership points and with the on-field performances copping some of the blame for our financial situation then a win is worth a hell of alot more than the cost of that 24 hours.

Waste of money? No sir, money well spent. ( For a change )

Wow Booney. They are now 16th instead of 17th. Thats gonna get them streaming thru the gates and sponsors are lining up!

Well, if you view it as that, nothing I can do to change it.

I see it as a win, one we sorely needed to give players and fans some joy ( albiet perhaps short lived ) and give the players some confidence to turn the on field issues around.

Fair enough we are not gonna come to agreement. Could they have just turned up the heat in an air conditioned room and run on a treadmill to aclimatise?

[sjt]

Well, if you view it as that, nothing I can do to change it.

I see it as a win, one we sorely needed to give players and fans some joy ( albiet perhaps short lived ) and give the players some confidence to turn the on field issues around.

I'll support Booney here to an extent, spending money on an extra day in Darwin isn't a major problem or an example of poor financial management. Getting a 4 Mill bail out from the SANFL then spending 25% of it on paying out a coach for 2011 and contributing money to a project to extend their already excellent facilities at Alberton well I raise an eyebrow at those.

Cant win them all....if they'd have sacked him and not paid out his contract they would have been called cheap.

They couldn't afford to sack him, I think that's the point. If you make a decision to sign him for two years and can't afford to break the contract, then dont. It's not as though they sacked him to replace him with some "coaching guru". They didn't even have a replacement at the time.

[Grahaml]

If Port are so destitute they can't go to Darwin for an extra day then lock the doors now.

The issue is the fan base is too small. They get less from membership and gate receipts than the Crow by some margin, less viewership on TV means worse game slots (which I don't agree with but it's the reality) which all reduces corporate $$. Sacking Williams hurt the balance sheets no doubt, but once their crowds starting dropping under 25k they were in big trouble. Unless Port can address that issue their future I feel is limited.

Did we err in having Port as the second license to start with? Most people seemed to expect Port wouldn't sustain the 35k attendances they claimed they would. Perhaps a Norwood/Sturt venture was a better model after all. Or a North/South divide. But now that we've gone down this path is another model even an option if the Port one falls over?

[Grahaml]

Well, if you view it as that, nothing I can do to change it.

I see it as a win, one we sorely needed to give players and fans some joy ( albiet perhaps short lived ) and give the players some confidence to turn the on field issues around.

I'll support Booney here to an extent, spending money on an extra day in Darwin isn't a major problem or an example of poor financial management. Getting a 4 Mill bail out from the SANFL then spending 25% of it on paying out a coach for 2011 and contributing money to a project to extend their already excellent facilities at Alberton well I raise an eyebrow at those.

Cant win them all....if they'd have sacked him and not paid out his contract they would have been called cheap.

They couldn't afford to sack him, I think that's the point. If you make a decision to sign him for two years and can't afford to break the contract, then dont. It's not as though they sacked him to replace him with some "coaching guru". They didn't even have a replacement at the time.

They appointed their coach, so they should have stuck with him. Fairly simple concept. And the massive gamble is paying dividends now. One wonders whether at the end of the year the board talks about whether they could afford to pay out Primus and go after Roos.....

[Booney]

Well, if you view it as that, nothing I can do to change it.

I see it as a win, one we sorely needed to give players and fans some joy ( albiet perhaps short lived ) and give the players some confidence to turn the on field issues around.

I'll support Booney here to an extent, spending money on an extra day in Darwin isn't a major problem or an example of poor financial management. Getting a 4 Mill bail out from the SANFL then spending 25% of it on paying out a coach for 2011 and contributing money to a project to extend their already excellent facilities at Alberton well I raise an eyebrow at those.

Cant win them all....if they'd have sacked him and not paid out his contract they would have been called cheap.

They couldn't afford to sack him, I think that's the point. If you make a decision to sign him for two years and can't afford to break the contract, then dont. It's not as though they sacked him to replace him with some "coaching guru". They didn't even have a replacement at the time.

We couldn't afford to keep him either! The soft decision to reappoint him was made and that has hurt us more than any financial hit we have taken.

[Dirko]

The issue is the fan base is too small.

They make their bed though....

I co-ordinate the 5 games that the Glenelg Zone are allocated to Footy Pk, for the Auskick half time games.

After each Crows home game, a player comes down to the rooms and speaks to the Auskickers & Mini-League kids (68 of 'em) and they get a Crows poster & sticker.

Not once have I ever seen Port send a rep down to do the same. And because of the crowds they get, they actually get more Auskick kids in and therefore have the opportunity to speak to 92 kids.

92 kids over say 10 home games = 920 kids. That's a fair whack of football mad kids they aren't accessing freely.....

[sjt]

[quote="am BaysI see it as a win, one we sorely needed to give players and fans some joy ( albiet perhaps short lived ) and give the players some confidence to turn the on field issues around.

I'll support Booney here to an extent, spending money on an extra day in Darwin isn't a major problem or an example of poor financial management. Getting a 4 Mill bail out from the SANFL then spending 25% of it on paying out a coach for 2011 and contributing money to a project to extend their already excellent facilities at Alberton well I raise an eyebrow at those.

Cant win them all....if they'd have sacked him and not paid out his contract they would have been called cheap.

They appointed their coach, so they should have stuck with him. Fairly simple concept. And the massive gamble is paying dividends now. One wonders whether at the end of the year the board talks about whether they could afford to pay out Primus and go after Roos.....[/quote]

You don't always have to pay big bucks to get good results or coaches. I'm sure Alistair Clarkson wouldn't have cost Hawthorn much at the time (one example).

[Squawk]

Statement just released by the SANFL:

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

SANFL STATEMENT

The Chairman of the SA Football Commission John Olsen and Executive Commissioner Leigh Whicker have today met with the Board of the Port Adelaide Football Club and are pleased to announce a long term strategy is being worked through with the AFL to secure the long-term financial sustainability of the Club.

This is a collaborative effort between the PAFC, the SANFL and the AFL.

The strategy, which has the strong backing of the AFL, is currently being put in place to ensure the financial viability of the PAFC.

Following today’s discussions with the Board, we are confident the future of the Club is secure and we’re building the bridge to the Adelaide Oval.

This is an exciting development for PAFC and South Australian football at all levels.
As there are three vacancies on the PAFC Board, the SA Football Commission will be working closely with the Club to support the existing united Board and identify the necessary skill sets and experience to lead the club into the future.

The SA Football Commission, together with the AFL, will continue to work with the Board of the PAFC over the coming weeks and will keep the football community updated on further developments.

I'd like to see this explained properly....

[Ronnie]

If Port are so destitute they can't go to Darwin for an extra day then lock the doors now.

The issue is the fan base is too small.

Got it in one. Everything else flows from that fact. Pages and pages of debate won't change that.

[Banker]

So the Press Conference didnt actually announce anything at all? Just pointless media spin

Sounds like they have hired the Mike Rann PR machine

[southee]

So the Press Conference didnt actually announce anything at all? Just pointless media spin

Sounds like they have hired the Mike Rann PR machine

I thought the same. Pure spin.......achieved sweet f.a

[Pseudo]

This is an exciting development for PAFC and South Australian football at all levels.

I'd like to see this explained properly....

[southee]

Duncanson on 5AA now....."Its a great day for the Port Adelaide football club......"

Yes, wonderful Brett

[CUTTERMAN]

Duncanson on 5AA now....."Its a great day for the Port Adelaide football club......"

Yes, wonderful Brett

Heard that too and thought "I'd hate to see a bad day"

[Squawk]

This comment by El Supremo himself raises more questions that I'm not sure I'm keen to hear the answers for, from a SANFL competition's (and club's) perspective...


http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/port-adelaide-football-club-runs-out-of-cash-sanfl-may-take-over/story-e6freco3-1226066003365

"We want to assure the members and supporters of the Port Adelaide Football Club that the AFL is committed to the long-term future of the club, and will continue to closely work with both the club and the SANFL to identify what further steps need to be taken to ensure the club's health off the field, and to enable them to compete strongly in the most challenging sporting stage in Australia," Demetriou said.

reduced SANFL dividends, reduced salary cap....??? AFL SA?