Brisbane Bears ask for handouts

[Rabbit]

Lions seek cash for salary cap

Date
August 8, 2013

Jake Niall
Senior sports writer for The Age

The Brisbane Lions have asked the AFL for financial help to enable the club to pay 100 per cent of the salary cap from next year.

The Lions, who anticipate another substantial seven-figure loss this year, have made a formal request to the AFL that it provide financial help that would allow them to boost their total player payments from about 95 per cent - among the league's lowest - to 100 per cent, and also to assist in funding an increased football department budget.

The Lions say their football department resources are beneath ''minimum AFL standards'' and need a lift - and they need help from the league to achieve this.

Brisbane notes it is the only club in Queensland or NSW that does not have a salary cap allowance. But it has not asked for an allowance and merely wants the capacity to be able to pay its players 100 per cent of the TPP, which it says each club should have the capacity to do as part of the league's equalisation measures.

''We're seeking financial help from the AFL to enable the club to pay 100 per cent of the salary cap and to put resources into our football department,'' Lions chairman Angus Johnson said.

He confirmed that the Lions were paying about 95 per cent of their TPP this year and pledged they would increase this to 100 per cent.

''The rider on that is that we need to have the ability to pay 100 per cent of the salary cap. My expectation is that we will pay 100 per cent,'' he said.

Johnson said the club, which was restructuring and was in much better shape as a consequence, had not budged from its position on coach Michael Voss - his position will be determined at the end of the season - despite improved results in recent weeks.

Johnson said of the club's projected loss: ''We'll lose money again this year. It'll be a reasonably substantial sum.''

This is understood to be a seven-figure sum, though the club's position has picked up as the on-field fortunes have improved late in the season.

The Brisbane request to the AFL is a measure of the club's on-field struggles since 2004 - when it was beaten by Port Adelaide in the grand final when competing for a fourth consecutive flag - and of the impact of on-field results on the always fragile finances in a developing market.

The club had a salary cap allowance during those premiership years, but this was removed - largely in response to that success, after intense lobbying against it by the likes of Collingwood and other Victorian clubs.

Johnson said the AFL was now more mindful of the difficulties faced by the Lions, with the league having focused on bedding down the Gold Coast in the Queensland market.

The Lions' submission to the AFL also suggests that football department spending cannot keep rising. While Johnson said the club did not argue in favour of a cap on spending, it had put the case for other mechanisms that would stop the level of increased spending.

He said equalisation was the greatest issue facing the AFL and that criticism of league chief executive Andrew Demetriou for being in the US on a delegation with some club presidents was ''totally nonsensical'', despite the importance of the ASADA report on the Bombers.

[Drac]

You'd almost think they were agressively paying off their Springwood club or something?

[Stewie]

You'd almost think they were agressively paying off their Springwood club or something?

/thread

[adamj1300]

You'd almost think they were agressively paying off their Springwood club or something?

you gotta wonder whats going on at the lions, they currently pay around 5 million a year to train at the gabba. there was some talk to move their head quarters out to a new training facility that is currently being built at Springfield.

they can also take a leaf out of the broncos book, build a massive poke venue, and train in the council grounds behind it! >

[ParraEelsNRL]

Channel 7 cuz 123, home of International RL, yep, even in QLD you can watch it after the brisbane bears season has finished, aye cuz123?

[Raiderdave]

:_<> :_<> :_<> :_<>

F me

how bad is this code going
the Wions are an embarrassment

I mean
not in the league of port shatmedaks ... that mob are the biggest shit stain of a club in Australian sport

but wow
just wow

where do VFL clubs find these incompetent boobs to run them

wheres that Qldisfumblesnbumbles bloke ?
ya know
always sayin the Wions are on the up ...... RL is in trouble in the sunshine state
the Broncs are in danger of being swamped by these fumbling twits



:_<> :_<>
get in here son
you've got some explaining to do

[Raiderdave]

You'd almost think they were agressively paying off their Springwood club or something?

but but

but but but

but but

:_<> :_<>

a river in Africa dickhead
have a nice cruise on it

[NRLCrap1]

Try again, Dave "Allen". The Lions (not the Bears, OP!) are spending for their future and the balance is just off by 5 percent. So what? NRL clubs are worse off than that by miles!

So who's taking the cruise on the river in Africa? You are, Dave "Allen". You are.

[Swans4ever]

Oh dear the Sharks have gone cap in hand!
Cronulla Sharks' plea for help
JOSH MASSOUD AND JAMES HOOPER
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
JULY 31, 2013 12:00AM
Video Quality 3GWi-Fi
CRONULLA asked the NRL for a $7 million guarantee to safeguard against financial ruin within a month of being engulfed in the ASADA scandal.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal Cronulla conducted doomsday scenario budgeting after contemplating the suspension of 10 players and subsequent legal action before approaching the NRL for funding assurances.

The figure was calculated to be $7 million over the coming three years, but club bosses were also fearful that player lawsuits could increase financial damage even more.

And now the nightmare scenario has begun, with ex-winger Isaac Gordon preparing to sue over severe bruising and emotional anguish he suffered as an alleged result of the 2011 supplement program.

In response to the pleas, NRL boss Dave Smith gave verbal assurances that he would support the club.


But he refrained from giving any written guarantees until the NRL conducted its own financial modelling.

Given his ongoing support, Smith was left with a bitter taste in his mouth over Monday's decision to reinstate trainer Mark Noakes and leave the door open for three other sacked staff - Darren Mooney, David Givney and Konrad Schultz - to return.

The four were dismissed by the former Sharks board on March 8 after an independent investigation found "serious management failures" in relation to the club's 2011 supplement program.

Shortly after the new board was elected in late April, Smith travelled to the Sutherland Shire to address chairman Damian Keogh and his directors.

It's understood Smith told the meeting he'd need highly compelling evidence to be convinced that the sackings should be overturned.

The NRL maintained that attitude throughout, preferring the Sharks to wait until the ASADA investigation was complete to change the status quo.

The exit of interim CEO Bruno Cullen - disgusted over the lack of consultation - was a sign of the NRL's disappointment, given the former Broncos boss was on a subsidised salary as part of measures to aid the club.

As early as February, the Sharks conducted forecasting on the worst-case financial scenarios for the ASADA investigation.

Preliminary estimates ran to around $1.5 million, putting Cronulla in distinct jeopardy of insolvency given the club's $3 million debt to St George Bank and lack of Leagues Club support.

Former directors reached out to Smith, who gave them a verbal guarantee League Central would cover any shortfall.

The promise remained as the predicted cost skyrocketed, particularly when 10 Sharks players were believed to have been on the verge of accepting six-month bans in exchange for financial guarantees in March.

Smith felt he had Cronulla's back, but is now disappointed the club failed to heed his recommendations in return.

Keogh spoke with Smith about the backflip Tuesday, but would not respond to suggestions his club owed the NRL a unique debt of gratitude.

"That's your view," Keogh said.

"We, like every other club, if we require help we'll talk to them.

"But at the end of the day the NRL's position is correct: it's up to the clubs to run themselves."

Gordon's lawyer, James Chrara, on Tuesday said Gordon had suffered ongoing emotional stress and public abuse as a result of the revelations.

While Gordon is being viewed as a test case, at least one other player who was at the club in 2011 is believed to be considering legal action.

And what was the NRL response:-



ShareRead Later28 comments Adjust font size
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Future requests from Cronulla for financial assistance from the NRL to help cover possible legal action may be in jeopardy following the club's decision to overturn the sacking of four key staff members before the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority completes its investigation.
The potential fallout from the stunning decision by the new Sharks board and the subsequent resignation of NRL-appointed interim Cronulla chief executive Bruno Cullen was all the talk in league circles on Tuesday as shocked observers across the game questioned why the club would take such action on the eve of players interview with ASADA.
''They have just stuck their finger up at the NRL and ASADA,'' one official told Fairfax Media.
Advertisement

Former Cronulla winger Isaac Gordon revealed in Tuesday's Herald that he was considering legal action against the cash-strapped club and Fairfax Media has been told that he won't be the only player likely to do so if suspensions were meted out over the substance program at the Sharks in 2011.
While Cronulla are expected to be hardest hit by the ASADA investigation, members of the 2011 squad now at other clubs may also face suspension and they and their new clubs could also sue over any ban for using banned substances supplied by the Sharks.
''If you bought a watermelon and you got it home and you found it had a grub in it you could take legal action against whoever sold it to you,'' an official at a rival club said.
Fairfax Media has been told that the Sharks fear legal action could cripple the club and the previous board had asked the NRL to provide up to $3 million if needed to cover the loss of sponsorship and legal expenses after ASADA announced it was investigating allegations of systematic doping at Cronulla in 2011.
The NRL had indicated it would give the Sharks an interest free loan or advance on their annual club grant but that money may now not be as forthcoming after the decision to reappoint trainer Mark Noakes and invite the other three staff to apply for jobs at the club was made without consulting Cullen or other senior management.
In response, the NRL issued a brief statement saying it ‘‘trusts that the board has compelling reasons for reversing its earlier decision’’.
The statement also said: ‘‘Clubs are required to comply with the terms of their Australian Rugby League Commission members agreement, the NRL licence and NRL rules but they have sole responsibility for their own good corporate governance particularly in relation to the proper adminstration of their organisation’.
NRL officials declined to comment further on Tuesday but most in the game interpreted the statement as a warning to the Sharks not to automatically assume a bailout if things were to go bad.
‘‘I wouldn’t be surprised if the Sharks cease to exist at some stage in the not too distant future,’’ a rival club CEO said.
Besides Cullen, whose wage was being subsidised by the NRL, the governing body had also helped the club with marketing and welfare, as well as being involved in the appointment of football director Steve Noyce.
Meanwhile, the Sharks have successfully delayed their second round of interviews with ASADA until next week.
ASADA is expected to begin the interviews with 30 NRL players on Thursday but the Sharks have successfully lodged for their meetings to be put off with the bulk of the squad leaving for their clash with New Zealand Warriors on Friday.
It is believed that the interviews with Cronulla players, likely to be hosted in hotels across Sydney, will start on Tuesday with nine players to be grilled over an eight day period. Cronulla host Newcastle at Remondis Stadium next Saturday, in between the scheduled interviews.
ASADA are expected to start interviewing 20 players from other NRL clubs from

Oh dear with their huge debt they are really fucked!
An advance on that deal enabled them to pay $10 million off their debt last November, but pay-outs made to Cronulla's sacked staff will add to the remaining $3.5 million debt.
http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2013-03-0 ... bt/4562576

[NRLCrap1]

Handout for a club in NRL heartland? Who would have thunk it?

[Raiderdave]

Try again, Dave "Allen". The Lions (not the Bears, OP!) are spending for their future and the balance is just off by 5 percent. So what? NRL clubs are worse off than that by miles!

So who's taking the cruise on the river in Africa? You are, Dave "Allen". You are.

:_<> :_<> :_<>

OMG

the delusion
the rampant delusion

the Wions are broke
skint

pennyless

10 Million lost in the last 3 years
another million plus loss in 2013

& the only way they can pay their players is with assistance

95 Million in debt are VFL clubs
the interest on this debt is killing them ....its compounding

this silly little Victorian oddity .. is in its death throws

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[Raiderdave]

Handout for a club in NRL heartland? Who would have thunk it?

:_<> :_<> :_<> :_<> :_<> :_<>

95 Million in debt are VFL clubs
&

all bar about 3 VFL clubs in the fumbles n bumbles heartland are part of this financial failure & survive only ... with assistance from the VFL
jesus
what a blithering fuckwit :_<> :_<> :_<> :_<>

[Swans4ever]

Handout for a club in NRL heartland? Who would have thunk it?

:_<> :_<> :_<> :_<> :_<> :_<>

95 Million in debt are VFL clubs
&

all bar about 3 VFL clubs in the fumbles n bumbles heartland are part of this financial failure & survive only ... with assistance from the VFL
jesus
what a blithering fuckwit :_<> :_<> :_<> :_<>

Getting upset again are you RD- getting upset that AFL is winning the war - yeah your kids kids will be kicking Sherrin's. hahaha soooooo funny!

[NRLCrap1]

Handout for a club in NRL heartland? Who would have thunk it?

:_<> :_<> :_<> :_<> :_<> :_<>

95 Million in debt are VFL clubs
&

all bar about 3 VFL clubs in the fumbles n bumbles heartland are part of this financial failure & survive only ... with assistance from the VFL
jesus
what a blithering fuckwit :_<> :_<> :_<> :_<>

Show us the proof that the VFL is in debt to such a level, Dave "Allen".

[Swans4ever]

He can't tell the difference between the VFL and the AFL!