New Board Members at North

[robranisgod]

Robert Gerard and his family have been great supporters of North for a long time and we probably wouldn't be around without him, but he has become more and more dictatorial. Three years ago he sent a letter to all members saying that he would pull his sponsorship if his preferred candidates weren't elected to the Board. This time his candidate came last and he has pulled his sponsorship. clearly he has become consumed with Adelaide United and North Adelaide doesn't matter any more.

[Agile]

Robert Gerard and his family have been great supporters of North for a long time and we probably wouldn't be around without him, but he has become more and more dictatorial. Three years ago he sent a letter to all members saying that he would pull his sponsorship if his preferred candidates weren't elected to the Board. This time his candidate came last and he has pulled his sponsorship. clearly he has become consumed with Adelaide United and North Adelaide doesn't matter any more.

Please excuse my ignorance but what advantage to Mistral and Gerard was their to have the Board stiched up?

[Ian]

Please excuse my ignorance but what advantage to Mistral and Gerard was their to have the Board stiched up?

If enough board members were from the "Gerard camp" he would be effectively be able to influence decision the board make regarding the running of the club.
Being an astute business man this may not seem so bad at face value, but when his influence extends to demanding management sharing with AU which most board members believe the trial was to the detriment of the NAFC, that influence is being taken too far.
Decisions of that nature need to be made in the best interest of the NAFC, not the best interest of Gwerard and his other business ventures.
I'm sure there are many other ways he could also influence the board to benefit himself.

[Agile]

Please excuse my ignorance but what advantage to Mistral and Gerard was their to have the Board stiched up?

If enough board members were from the "Gerard camp" he would be effectively be able to influence decision the board make regarding the running of the club.
Being an astute business man this may not seem so bad at face value, but when his influence extends to demanding management sharing with AU which most board members believe the trial was to the detriment of the NAFC, that influence is being taken too far.
Decisions of that nature need to be made in the best interest of the NAFC, not the best interest of Gwerard and his other business ventures.
I'm sure there are many other ways he could also influence the board to benefit himself.

So RG wanted to save money by having the NAFC maagement team do the job on the cheap? I doubt whether there is a professional sporting team in the country that offers a return on investment above 1%. He must be backing AU and likewise The Roosters in the past, for the love of the game and not much else.

[The Sleeping Giant]

Not often you loose a sponsorship and feel happy about it.

[Sploosh]

He definitely saved us from a terrible situation almost 10 years ago, and I will always appreciate that. However, it does seem like he was exerting undue influence recently that clearly was not in the best interests of North.

[on the rails]

Gerard has shown his true "dummy spitting" qualities with the withdrawing of the sponsorship.

Him not getting his way re convincing the NAFC to buy a share in AU when we had enough debt to service and also outlay $1.7 million to the Oval redevelopment was the responsible Board move yet he couldn't see it??? His last distch attempt to influence the Board re having Glenn Elliott stand was a desperate and sad reflection of his tactics. His blackmail letter a couple of seasons ago was the start of his downfall re the relationship with the club and utterly disgraceful!

This move just weeks before the season is disgrace and I am afraid I have lost all respect for him and his companies not to mention his fellow AU owners who are or have served on the NAFC Board. Not only do we lose a sponsor but the cost of having to buy new jumpers etc and also change stationary logos etc. just prior to the season proper is also going to be costly and an admin nightmare, very poor timing but we will survive! Surely he could have waited until end of the season or announced the deal was finishing at end of 2012 not pull out because he didn't get his way!

The irony of this sponsorship loss is that Mistral was not the biggest sponsor in terms of $$$ at North anyway!

Whilst he helped the club out in years gone by etc., the way he has ended his association is a disgrace.

Get **** Gerard!

[whufc]

Gerard has shown his true "dummy spitting" qualities with the withdrawing of the sponsorship.

Him not getting his way re convincing the NAFC to buy a share in AU when we had enough debt to service and also outlay $1.7 million to the Oval redevelopment was the responsible Board move yet he couldn't see it??? His last distch attempt to influence the Board re having Glenn Elliott stand was a desperate and sad reflection of his tactics. His blackmail letter a couple of seasons ago was the start of his downfall re the relationship with the club and utterly disgraceful!

This move just weeks before the season is disgrace and I am afraid I have lost all respect for him and his companies not to mention his fellow AU owners who are or have served on the NAFC Board. Not only do we lose a sponsor but the cost of having to buy new jumpers etc and also change stationary logos etc. just prior to the season proper is also going to be costly and an admin nightmare, very poor timing but we will survive! Surely he could have waited until end of the season or announced the deal was finishing at end of 2012 not pull out because he didn't get his way!

The irony of this sponsorship loss is that Mistral was not the biggest sponsor in terms of $$$ at North anyway!

Whilst he helped the club out in years gone by etc., the way he has ended his association is a disgrace.

Get **** Gerard!

Great post, seems to sum up the situation pretty well.

[dedja]

+1 ... maybe he should help out at Gold Coast United, would fit it well there.

[Jimmy_041]

and Glenelg

[Dutchy]

So NAFC obviously hadnt contracted Mistral for 2012? Yet went ahead with jumpers presuming?

[Wedgie]

So NAFC obviously hadnt contracted Mistral for 2012? Yet went ahead with jumpers presuming?

Yeah I thought about that and even though he was a long term sponsor nothing should have been presumed especially with whats happened in recent history.
Things could be worse, I could be stuck at a huge sports bar in the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne with 100 screens and not one on the big rugby match tonight. Oh hang on, I am!

[The Sleeping Giant]

Was the mistral jumper a show of appreciation to Bob? Could the club put another name on there for more money?

[HOORAY PUNT]

If the sponsorship is worth more than $50 grand then yes.

[Wedgie]

We have 40 pokies that make more than 50k each a year. Put our jumper back to the way it should be without crap all over it. Merchandise sales alone would help get that back too.

[HOORAY PUNT]

That means an extra 50 grand in merchandise and the pokies already do it ? Be good to see a guernsey without all the necessary sponsorship though.

[Wedgie]

We could always put Indian Dreaming on the front and Dolphin Treasure on the back.

[Strawb]

Just put this space for sale on the front of your Jerseys.

[HOORAY PUNT]

Guernsey

[Pseudo]

Knock up some simple iron-on transfers reading "Club abandoned by" and apply to each guernsey directly above the existing sponsor's logo. Hey presto - no need to order brand-new guernseys sans advertising, saving the club tens of thousands!