Sturt in Financial Trouble?

[smac]

My point seems missed. He was arguing that Sturt never left Unley. Whilst true, the intent of the preceding post was to discuss the playing of home games. Far more has been made of my comment than was ever intended.

[csbowes]

1. NOT go online and argue irrelevant facts when the intent of the post was both clear and correct.

2. Contact the club and ask what I could do.

3. Go and do it.

In the case of Sturt, perhaps take leadership and form a group to run for the board as the current admin would struggle to give answers.

Sitting around doesn't help, that much I am sure we'll agree on.

So simplistic, why didn't I think of that?!

Motivation is an issue. The Sturt FC board did a presentation to a number of members a couple of months ago, but this same presentation or alternatively, the details behind it, have not been released to the members. In fact, I know a request was made to one journalist not to write down in his notepad anything he had heard. WTF? As this journo said to me, its tough to ask members to put their hands into their pocket and give cash to the club, if there isn't confidence that the future will be any different.

Last year the debt blew out by 20%, if the members hand the club $250K this year, what's to say that in 2 years time the club won't be back at the same debt level again. I'd like to know what is going to be done with the money, what the business plan is and so on, so I can at least judge whether I'm throwing good money after bad or whether this is an age of a new dawn! Bottom line is, I know absolutely nothing (well almost, journo obviously filled me in on some things) about their plans / hopes.

Before anyone comes back with the obvious, "why don't you ring them up and find out", I remember saying to Mr House at that AGM a couple of years back, it wasn't Sturt's responsibility to help Port put forward a good business plan. Likewise, if Sturt needs the support of its fans, needs their money, its the clubs responsibility to convince us they are on the right track and have the right plan, so some effort needs to be made by the club to win over its supporter base.

At present, not a single thing has been done to publicise the (a) plight (b) the plan and (c) the hoped-for-result from that plan.

I have no idea why, it'd be the first thing I'd do if I were on the board.

[csbowes]

Too late to help unfortunately. Castle Plaza was one of many mistakes. Business partner the ATO wants his money and the SANFL claim no money to help. Move or die - should have happened years agobut the old boys club is about to die. Real pity that - no soul left, you only need go to a game, does not even feel like a club anymore. All good juniors have left - ask yourself - why has a club that has had so many good junior teams ended up like they have....... They are a snob club and don't listen, that private school mentality, we are better..........simple but sad................

Just about the stupidest post I've ever read about this topic.
Have a look at how many AFL players have been recruited from Sturt (players that have come through the Juniors, not blow ins from interstate ), and how many of them have been first round draft picks. While you're at it, have a look at where Sturt are on the Reserves and U18's ladder. How do you back up your comment that all our good juniors have left?
Meanwile, your comments about it being a "snob club" and "private school mentality" are old, tired, lazy and outdated.
If you're the model for the current Norwood supporter then it's no wonder supporters from other clubs are coming to the realization that there is a large knob mentality at the Parade. Apologies to other reasonable Legs fans.

Definitely see where you're coming from Cutterman, but on the Reserves and U18s, maybe our problem is that they are very good Reserves and U18 teams, but none of the players are good enough at the next level. Its like Centrals, they have great SANFL players, not a whole bunch of AFL capable players, that's how you win the league these days. Look at our 2002 team, a ton of top SANFL players, but hardly a decent AFL player amongst them (based on AFL teams not recruiting any of them).

I totally agree with your comments on the "snob club" jibe though.

To me, I would have thought that Norwood and Sturt had almost the same socio-economic demographic in general and a very similar club culture.

[CENTURION]

Was there a recent board meeting, at which approximately $20,000 was raised?

[therisingblues]

Just about the stupidest post I've ever read about this topic.
Have a look at how many AFL players have been recruited from Sturt (players that have come through the Juniors, not blow ins from interstate ), and how many of them have been first round draft picks. While you're at it, have a look at where Sturt are on the Reserves and U18's ladder. How do you back up your comment that all our good juniors have left?
Meanwile, your comments about it being a "snob club" and "private school mentality" are old, tired, lazy and outdated.
If you're the model for the current Norwood supporter then it's no wonder supporters from other clubs are coming to the realization that there is a large knob mentality at the Parade. Apologies to other reasonable Legs fans.

Definitely see where you're coming from Cutterman, but on the Reserves and U18s, maybe our problem is that they are very good Reserves and U18 teams, but none of the players are good enough at the next level.

So, none of them were picked up by the AFL then? I read different on this thread.

[has been]

All very noble but no one still answers the question who is going to pay the ATO etc etc etc. SANFL very quiet on the whole issue, probaby wishing that the blues did fold then they would have 8 teams. How many local lads have you got playing in your league team at present on a regular basis and how many have stayed to play ressies which by the way has an average age of what ? 22 ? Is that what developing players is all about. I know the numbers I have done them and I'm from another club so lets see what you blue baggers come up with. will be interesting. When you understand the answer to why the trend becomes apparant and you see a culture developed andnot seen by insiders. It is a boys club private school mentality. It hear it coming now ..................................so sad.

[Ronnie]

I'll blame South's lack of success, or West's lack of success on...public school mentality. There you go, easy.

[Bluedemon]

All very noble but no one still answers the question who is going to pay the ATO etc etc etc. SANFL very quiet on the whole issue, probaby wishing that the blues did fold then they would have 8 teams. How many local lads have you got playing in your league team at present on a regular basis and how many have stayed to play ressies which by the way has an average age of what ? 22 ? Is that what developing players is all about. I know the numbers I have done them and I'm from another club so lets see what you blue baggers come up with. will be interesting. When you understand the answer to why the trend becomes apparant and you see a culture developed andnot seen by insiders. It is a boys club private school mentality. It hear it coming now ..................................so sad.

time to come out with the facts has been?

[SANFLnut]

All very noble but no one still answers the question who is going to pay the ATO etc etc etc. SANFL very quiet on the whole issue, probaby wishing that the blues did fold then they would have 8 teams. How many local lads have you got playing in your league team at present on a regular basis and how many have stayed to play ressies which by the way has an average age of what ? 22 ? Is that what developing players is all about. I know the numbers I have done them and I'm from another club so lets see what you blue baggers come up with. will be interesting. When you understand the answer to why the trend becomes apparant and you see a culture developed andnot seen by insiders. It is a boys club private school mentality. It hear it coming now ..................................so sad.

Hard to follow your point here. Too many locals staying at club or not enough? What is a boys club private school mentality and how is it holding Sturt back?

By my count Sturt have played 18 players this year in their league side that came through juniors at their club. Not sure how many went to private school.

[therisingblues]

All very noble but no one still answers the question who is going to pay the ATO etc etc etc. SANFL very quiet on the whole issue, probaby wishing that the blues did fold then they would have 8 teams. How many local lads have you got playing in your league team at present on a regular basis and how many have stayed to play ressies which by the way has an average age of what ? 22 ? Is that what developing players is all about. I know the numbers I have done them and I'm from another club so lets see what you blue baggers come up with. will be interesting. When you understand the answer to why the trend becomes apparant and you see a culture developed andnot seen by insiders. It is a boys club private school mentality. It hear it coming now ..................................so sad.

Hard to follow your point here. Too many locals staying at club or not enough? What is a boys club private school mentality and how is it holding Sturt back?

By my count Sturt have played 18 players this year in their league side that came through juniors at their club. Not sure how many went to private school.

That's because he has no point. Nor has he answered any of the challenges made to his earlier post. Just enjoying himself a nice little troll.

[Sojourner]

Sturt also have to compete for juniors against the Goodwood Saints, one of the best and most professional SAAFL sides in S.A, think Sturt actually do a pretty good job with what they have got!

[heater31]

Sturt also have to compete for juniors against the Goodwood Saints, one of the best and most professional SAAFL sides in S.A, think Sturt actually do a pretty good job with what they have got!

Ridiculous statement Sojourner

Most of Goodwood Saints area is zoned to West Adelaide.

[am Bays]

Sturt also have to compete for juniors against the Goodwood Saints, one of the best and most professional SAAFL sides in S.A, think Sturt actually do a pretty good job with what they have got!

Aren't Goodwood Saints (Goodwood oval) in Westies zone?? Be more of an issue for them. But then again it isn't really a matter of how many clubs/schools and as aconsequnce teams are in an SANFL clubs zone, it all comes down to each club having roughly the same number of juniors to work with.

[Dutchy]

Westbourne Park, St Anthonys and Blackforest Schools all play in the Westies school footy league and most their kids turn up in Goody Saints tops so think you are right am.

[Ronnie]

Westies zone extends east of Goodwood road to the train line i think taking in Colonel Light Gardens, Clapham, Westbourne Park, part of Lower Mitcham even slicing leafy Hawthorn in two with the other part Sturt.
Not that i associate that area with too many Westies people but they seem to lack a 'natural' zone big enough to avoid taking in some of these suburbs at the the fringes.

Back on topic yes Sturt in serious trouble, next six months will tell the tale.

[Gozu]

STURT Football Club will be asked to front a meeting with Unley Council to explain the club's fragile financial state.

Unley councillors earlier this week unanimously backed a call by fellow elected member Mike Hudson for a meeting between the council and the football club.

The meeting would thrash out issues surrounding the Double Blue's financial woes, which has seen it battling to clear a $2.2 million debt.

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/sout ... 6458978332

[supercoach]

Will be a sorry day when in the week after the last game this season the ATO will request payment of its outstanding debts and make moves to appoint an administrator and clean this mess up once and for all. The Blues banker is very very very nervous. Absolute shame.

[CENTURION]

Will be a sorry day when in the week after the last game this season the ATO will request payment of its outstanding debts and make moves to appoint an administrator and clean this mess up once and for all. The Blues banker is very very very nervous. Absolute shame.

If an administrator is appointed, what will the likely scenario be? Also, why would the ATO wait until the last game of the season?

[CUTTERMAN]

STURT Football Club will be asked to front a meeting with Unley Council to explain the club's fragile financial state.

Unley councillors earlier this week unanimously backed a call by fellow elected member Mike Hudson for a meeting between the council and the football club.

The meeting would thrash out issues surrounding the Double Blue's financial woes, which has seen it battling to clear a $2.2 million debt.

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/sout ... 6458978332

Cr Mike Hudson posted a comment to that article asserting that the SFC are asking for the UCC to bail them out.
"Sorry, Anna, but your bias is showing. No one is "gunning" for Sturt.What we need is facts, not fantasy from the administration. Who is going to bail the Blues out?. Not the ratepayers if I have anything to do with it. Councillor Mike Hudson."
To the best of my knowledge, the SFC have never, and will never expect or request a bailout by the UCC and for a standing Councillor to assert that on a public forum is a disgrace.

[Dutchy]

Will be a sorry day when in the week after the last game this season the ATO will request payment of its outstanding debts and make moves to appoint an administrator and clean this mess up once and for all. The Blues banker is very very very nervous. Absolute shame.

If an administrator is appointed, what will the likely scenario be? Also, why would the ATO wait until the last game of the season?

Administrator is OK, they can choose to trade out of the problems, when a liquidator is appointed thats when the doors close.

The ATO would not care enough to wait until the end of the season.

Sturt have been in breach of their banking covenants (acknowledged in their annual report) so its the bank that could call in the administrators but havent at this stage.