Future of the Melbourne Rebels?

[Beaussie]

Just $17,300 in the bank with Rugby Australia telling staff to seek government handouts.

Where to from here?

Rugby Aus confirms Super Rugby CEO axed, staff told to seek gov handouts amid $17k in bank reveal

The future of the Melbourne Rebels has taken a dark turn with five staff including CEO Baden Stephenson sacked, and all remaining staff including coaches put on four-month deals to cover the 2024 Super Rugby season.

The ailing side was clearly facing a difficult future when it was revealed earlier this week they had just $17,300 in the bank but $20 million in debts.

But having entered administration The Age reports PwC terminated the employment of all staff members excluding players (because Rugby Australia is a party to their contracts).

RA then stepped in to place a minimal number of administrative and coaching staff on new deals running until June.

Rugby Australia [RA] announced Thursday that five staff, including CEO Stephenson, would not be given short-term deals.

“RA can confirm that the role of Rebels CEO, currently held by Baden Stephenson, has been made redundant,” the governing body said in a statement on Thursday.

“A new CEO contract has not been offered for Baden to continue with the club. RA would like to thank Baden for his years of work at the club and recognises this has been a difficult period for him and his team.”

Staff have been advised to seek government handouts rather than Rugby Australia offering payouts.

RA then stepped in to place a minimal number of administrative and coaching staff on new deals running until June.

Rugby Australia [RA] announced Thursday that five staff, including CEO Stephenson, would not be given short-term deals.

“RA can confirm that the role of Rebels CEO, currently held by Baden Stephenson, has been made redundant,” the governing body said in a statement on Thursday.

“A new CEO contract has not been offered for Baden to continue with the club. RA would like to thank Baden for his years of work at the club and recognises this has been a difficult period for him and his team.”

Staff have been advised to seek government handouts rather than Rugby Australia offering payouts.

“Affected staff members (including those offered contracts by Rugby Australia) will be able to claim a redundancy package via the government’s Fair Entitlements Guarantee (FEG) scheme,” RA said in a statement.

The team has entered voluntary administration and auditors from PwC have found they owe over $20 million, including:

- $11.6 million to the tax office;

- $5.7 million to board members;

- $2.8 million to suppliers;

- $1.1 million in unpaid stadium fees;

- $720k to the state revenue office;

- $250k in employee superannuation.

But they have just $17,300 in their bank accounts with assets including office furniture, gym equipment and two cars.


Fans are currently unable to buy home tickets or memberships for the team with a week until the season begins.


https://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/supe ... 4f92bdbbe2

[Terry]

The Rebels are history. They will be wound up. RA is also on thin ice. They currently operate by virtue of a debt facility.

It's a good chance for the fumbling game to swoop in and grab a few more uber white, uber wealthy public school uber knobs. They'll fit in perfectly lololololololol!!!!!!!!!!

[leeroy*NRL*]

Rebels are taking A.U to Court lol

looking to retrieve upwards of 10mill from HQ

https://www.theroar.com.au/2024/03/05/r ... om-summit/

[azif]

Rebels are taking A.U to Court lol

looking to retrieve upwards of 10mill from HQ

https://www.theroar.com.au/2024/03/05/r ... om-summit/

hahaha
what a kluster fuck union is

RA is broke , they won't be able to pay any judgement amount or even settle , I'd say the Rebels will tell RA they'll drop the law suit if their future is guaranteed for X years , but that would be too much of a financial strain on RA.

remember when the owner of this site predicted the Rebels would run the Storm out of Melbourne




oh wow

[Beaussie]

Looks like the Rebels may survive after all.

[Terry]

Looks like the Rebels may survive after all.

Anyone who would pump $30M into the Rebels is either crazy/brave or just plain crazy!!! I predict this will not happen.

[Quolls2019]

Looks like the Rebels may survive after all.

Anyone who would pump $30M into the Rebels is either crazy/brave or just plain crazy!!! I predict this will not happen.

Yep, will just delay what looks like the inevitable.
A broke club, in a broke sport, is just broken.

[Beaussie]

Yep, will just delay what looks like the inevitable.
A broke club, in a broke sport, is just broken.

Not knowing Melbourne’s western suburbs that well, is it true there is a large Pacific Islander population out there that rugby are trying to tap into?

[Quolls2019]

Yep, will just delay what looks like the inevitable.
A broke club, in a broke sport, is just broken.

Not knowing Melbourne’s western suburbs that well, is it true there is a large Pacific Islander population out there that rugby are trying to tap into?

The last census for the western suburbs had about 65% of residents having one or both parents born overseas but the pacific islands heritage did not figure enough to rate. New Zealand heritage was approximately 2.5%.
So on the figures i would say there is not a prominent islander population in the west at large.
But in my own experience, i live just outside that area, there are some small enclaves where Samoans and Tongans seem to be the dominant ethnic population, i doubt if thats enough to support a rugby side though.
They, the rebels, may get a good deal to play out of the new Wyndham City stadium, which may alleviate some financial issues….but not for long.