South Have Imploded

[drebin]

I would have thought by definition
- an implosion does damage internally (ie inwards force)
- an explosion does damage externally (ie outwards force)
I'll leave it to others to state which, if any, best applies to South

A termite tends to white-ant internally until things implode as has been the case here in recent days.....

What role has your CEO in this mess? My mail is that he is in it up to his neck as he was with the Pyman matter. Does he have too much of a say on Football matters compared to some other CEO's?

[Sojourner]

What role has your CEO in this mess? My mail is that he is in it up to his neck as he was with the Pyman matter. Does he have too much of a say on Football matters compared to some other CEO's?

My mail is very much the same, according to 5AA he and David Kappler went into Cahill for a meeting and that is where it all boiled over.

[Squawk]

Yep like the time the membership had their say and got rid of Peter Alexander as Chairman because the members who voted were hoodwinked by in coming board members who wouldn't be fit to clean his boots let alone replace him!

Peter secured the $1 peppercorn annual rent for South. Then he got turfed. Without that gain, would South be in any position to do all the ground works they are undertaking now? Unlikely.

[drebin]

In all serious and a few of us (well a lot really) other club's supporters on these types of forums make light of South and their lack off success, their oval and their off field stuff but in reality I sense it is because a few us think, "Thank **** it's not our club". All of our clubs have had periods of under achieving, off field issues etc but most nowhere to the extent that South do or have of recent years.

However I have great admiration for the true South fans (1) those who post on here, defend their club and serve it up as good as they get and (2) those who go week in week out and (3) those in both the previous points.

You people deserve better than what your club has served up off field in recent years and your Board members, many of whom are ex players clearly do not see the big picture in terms of short term pain for long term gain and seem to have their own agendas which is ripping your club apart to a degree. I have seen similar at North (although to a lesser degree) in recent times but fortunately we haven't had a board who is quite as trigger happy and stupid as some who serve South.

To you loyal South fans, stick with your club as things will change at some stage and when they do it has to be that your club use that as a base and not slip back after a year or two. For those of you who are angry, and if it was my club, I would be demanding answers. If that means collecting some signatures and calling for a special AGM to get at the truth and the problems then so be it - DO IT!

After that then decide who should stay on your Board. Remember Board members are just elected members despite whatever public profile or occupation they have. Their being on the Board doesn't make them all high and mighty and they have to remember that as easily as they were elected, they could as easily be tossed* out. As for CEO's - they answer to the Board and if the Board can't get it right because there is undue influence from a CEO on some matters then CEO's can also be replaced when a Board changes.

[UKPanther]

In all serious and a few of us (well a lot really) other club's supporters on these types of forums make light of South and their lack off success, their oval and their off field stuff but in reality I sense it is because a few us think, "Thank **** it's not our club". All of our clubs have had periods of under achieving, off field issues etc but most nowhere to the extent that South do or have of recent years.

However I have great admiration for the true South fans (1) those who post on here, defend their club and serve it up as good as they get and (2) those who go week in week out and (3) those in both the previous points.

You people deserve better than what your club has served up off field in recent years and your Board members, many of whom are ex players clearly do not see the big picture in terms of short term pain for long term gain and seem to have their own agendas which is ripping your club apart to a degree. I have seen similar at North (although to a lesser degree) in recent times but fortunately we haven't had a board who is quite as trigger happy and stupid as some who serve South.

To you loyal South fans, stick with your club as things will change at some stage and when they do it has to be that your club use that as a base and not slip back after a year or two. For those of you who are angry, and if it was my club, I would be demanding answers. If that means collecting some signatures and calling for a special AGM to get at the truth and the problems then so be it - DO IT!

After that then decide who should stay on your Board. Remember Board members are just elected members despite whatever public profile or occupation they have. Their being on the Board doesn't make them all high and mighty and they have to remember that as easily as they were elected, they could as easily be tossed* out. As for CEO's - they answer to the Board and if the Board can't get it right because there is undue influence from a CEO on some matters then CEO's can also be replaced when a Board changes.

Totally agree with the above sentiments. I do think the members derserve some answers, I signed up again, even though I am on the other side of the world, because I believed we were going in the right direction. I know for certain I would like some answers.

You are right as well about the Board, lets hear what they have to say and then decide who should or shouldn't go. I don't care what their profiles are, some may be ex-footballers but that doesn't mean you are any good at managing/leading/providing direction etc. They do need to explain what has happened though as they are doing a good job at providing a very unstable base to build a successful club.

We will improve, am not sure when that will be, but I like most supporters are determined to turn this around somehow. I would be willing to vote for change if people are prepared to stand for the Board. I only wish I could.......

Roll on tomorrow and lets see what it brings....

[drebin]

Well said UK Panther!

[Squawk]

I agree wholeheartedly Drebin

Compare South to Westies:

1. South headhunt 1 option supported by an ad in the paper with a 10 day closing date.
West advertise to get the best person for the job.
2. South start with 3 wins and a draw, followed by 3 losses (including to some decent sides). West loses its first 6 games and then wins 1. Collins still in a job, Cahill gone.
3. Pyman sacked, Weidemann sacked (but finishes out the year IIRC).
4. South and West have similar stature in membership numbers.
5. West make cultural changes over 2 years - first it was bye bye Doug and in with a new GM. Then a new coach. South make cultural change overnight, and if it doesn't work within a quarterly reporting cycle, they make change again.
6. Westies communicate with their members right throughout the recruitment process of both the GM and the coach and engage the members. South just make announcements when decisions are made.
7. South do an external review (Kevin Morris), Westies do an introspection. What is the status of the Morris review now?
8. Pyman case goes to Court. Doug Thomas case settled and never reaches Court.

You tell me - who is gonna do better sooner? Good luck to both clubs but I think the Panthers supporters need it most. Full credit to Westies - as an outside observer they seem to be doing all the right things and when you aren't winning many games, it's much easier to take when there are all the signs of continuous improvement.

[PhilH]

Not quite correct re membership numbers

In 2005 - South 1000 (9th)
- West 1030 (8th)

In 2006 - South up 57 to 1057 (9th)
West up 51 to 1081 (8th)

In 2007 - South up 505 to 1562 (still 8th)
- West up 104 to 1185 (now 9th by 377)

In 2008 as at last reports from each club
- West up 625 to 1710 (up to 8th)
- South down 451 to 1101 (down to 9th)

[Squawk]

Well Phil, all of your Herculean efforts in 2007 are now showing their true value based on 2008 figures at South and on the other hand, Westies stocks are on a bull run in 2008 even though on the field the results haven't fallen out yet - just goes to show the strength of the building blocks they are laying at Richmond.

[redden whites]

Does N.Smart have an official capacity at the club ???

If he doesnt get him on board and quickly ( not as coach though ) !!!

Why ??????

[qwerty]

I think south's boost in membership came on the back of finals action in the prior season, rather than one individual (no disrespect to Phil). I think who ever was in that same role in 2008 was on a hiding to nothing based on the finish to the 2007 season.

[pipers]

Great effort by Westies there to boost their memberships so significantly in one season with no "bandwagon" factors such as a final appearance or appointment of a novelty coach.

However memberships are a mere drop in the ocean in a club's income and some board members, dazzled by the non-football revenues of clubs like Centrals, North or Eagles lose sight of the fact that it is members, and not poker machines that have the final say on board appointments.

In all seriousness - and even though I have a strong dislike of South - I would echo drebin's call to the SAFC faithful to organise a meaningful challenge to the current board. The candidates do need to be football people, but as suggested elsewhere by Rushby, they need to understand the politics of the boardroom too. The last thing South need now is another couple of ex-legends (cough) on the board.

And you know what, despite all that, approaching Fitzy as coach would not be as stupid as it seems.

[am Bays]

And you know what, despite all that, approaching Fitzy as coach would not be as stupid as it seems.

Sure he's won a couple of Davis Cups but do you think John Fitzgerald will cut it as a footy coach?

[smithy]

Maybe he meant his dad and ex-Glenelg player Mick ?

[Pseudo]

Maybe he meant the well-known GFC barfly?

[cd]

OFF TOPIC
Dear Fatal
As regards memberships at the Eagles - it is considered extremely important and an area where we continue to offer the best deals we can to have supporters involved with the club.

That is why over the past 4 years or so I've been on the board we have tried to be visible, out there and accessible plus reduced costs of memberships and added value to the various packages - so that members do feel part of the club.

We must never lose sight of our members being a critical component of our club.

[pipers]

OFF TOPIC
Dear Fatal
As regards memberships at the Eagles - it is considered extremely important and an area where we continue to offer the best deals we can to have supporters involved with the club.

That is why over the past 4 years or so I've been on the board we have tried to be visible, out there and accessible plus reduced costs of memberships and added value to the various packages - so that members do feel part of the club.

We must never lose sight of our members being a critical component of our club.

CD - I have no doubt of that and was not insinuating that the Eagles are guilty of losing sight of their signed-up supporter base. However the non-football revenues raised by yourselves, North and Centrals are the envy of most other clubs, and a few of those other clubs ARE guilty of focussing too much on growing that at the expense of their members.

I think Eagles and Centrals have maintained a good balance in giving enough back to their members while at the same time generating money from non-football activities. Westies and Glenelg are heading the right way now after perhaps losing sight of their fans for a period. It has been well explained to the Port members that we do need to grow the non-football revenue streams. We can cop that for a year or two I think, provided money set aside for initiatives like the academy are not drained in acheiving that. Norwood's problems are well known. North are doing well financially, but some posters on here accuse them of a lack of respect towards their fan base. Sturt and South perhaps need to spend more time on their supporters.

I will start up a separate thread here, as this is an interesting topic.

[CENTURION]

I can barely believe what's happened with Jack. Whatever the true reasons it's so disappointing.

In my 2008 members pack I received a Sticker which reads "On the Attack with Jack"

They should now bring out a new sticker - " Utter Dismay with Clay"

"You got the sack, Jack"

"Don't come back, Jack"

"We fail with Cahill"...

What about "If you're Jack, **** off back!"

[NO-MERCY]

A few players are looking for a way out from South already, i wonder how many the club can save from walking?

[Cambridge Clarrie]

On the SAFC website their motto (for want of a better word) is New Focus, New Future, New Breed.

I think this needs to be replaced with something else as they are obviously following this statement on a far to frequent basis.