SWANSBEST
4th June 2003, 07:09 AM
Swans competence questioned
By Greg Denham
June 04, 2003
THE AFL executive and several rival clubs yesterday questioned whether inept administration had led to the shock revelation that Sydney needs $2 million immediately to remain viable beyond this season.
AFL chief executive Wayne Jackson said Sydney could not expect to be supported by the league if their problems stemmed from mismanagement.
"Financial mismanagement cannot be rewarded," Jackson said.
Richmond president Clinton Casey queried why the AFL should not take control of Sydney's administration.
"Questions need to be asked; whether they are competent or does the AFL need to get involved in management?" Casey said.
"Sydney's a vital cog in our national competition and we need to get it right."
After revelations about the Swans' dire financial predicament in The Australian yesterday, former chief executive Kelvin Templeton and outgoing general manager Colin Seery avoided questions regarding their roles in recent years.
Templeton, who ended a long tenure at the club late last year, did not want to comment on claims of mismanagement.
"I don't think it's appropriate, I don't want to get into it," he said.
"I really had no role in the day-to-day running of the club since last August."
Seery, who took over from Templeton and has announced he will resign this year, directed all enquiries to chairman Richard Colless.
Casey said it was a function of any board to ensure there was no problems with management.
"It's a board's responsibility that governance is transparent," he said.
While Casey said Richmond were sympathetic to Sydney and acknowledged they needed financial assistance, he said it was not acceptable to expect a one-off payment of between $1.5m and $2m to solve the problem.
Western Bulldogs president David Smorgon backed Casey.
"We have shed almost as much as Sydney has cut off their costs since last year, but we couldn't get a one-off sum of the significance they are asking," Smorgon said.
"We would support the same AFL assistance package as we are receiving."
Sydney revealed on Tuesday that despite cutting costs by $4m since they posted a shock loss of almost $2m last year, they were heading for a similar loss this season.
"We can't survive the sort of losses we did last year, and more than likely will have this year," Colless said.
"It's impossible and we could go out of business."
Colless said his preference was for a special grant to be made available to compensate for Sydney's income loss due to competition from this year's rugby union World Cup.
Sydney received a $250,000 pledge from a businessman, not aligned with the AFL.
"His explanation was simply that the Swans are a critical part of the fabric of this town," Colless said.
"We will gratefully accept that (the money)."
Colless described Sydney's cash plea as a "philosophical discussion looking to solve a chronic problem that has existed in this club for 22 years".
At the Swans' invitation, AFL corporate auditors John Kelly and Olaf O'Duill reviewed their position and their confidential report to the AFL is believed to be scathing in its findings of management accounts.
Geelong president Frank Costa said it was obvious the Swans needed to appoint a quality chief executive.
"They not only need good management, but a long-term fix ? not just a one off," Costa said. "Sydney is so terribly important long term to the competition."
Brisbane chairman Graeme Downie favoured Sydney taking the same assistance package as the Bulldogs and Kangaroos.
"It is essential that whatever is needed to ensure their viability should be made available by the AFL," Downie said.
Expected resistance to the league providing assistance to Sydney from Collingwood and Essendon ? fierce opponents of Sydney's extra 15 per cent salary-cap allowance ? did not eventuate.
Collingwood president Eddie McGuire and Essendon chairman Graeme McMahon said Sydney needed to be a viable part of the 16-club national competition.
Most clubs baulked at Sydney's wish for a grant, indicating any more than the annual $1m funding available at the discretion of the AFL commission was not acceptable.
Jackson said the Swans were considering options and the AFL would not act until Sydney was specific in what it wanted.
"The AFL is understanding of the Swans' position and will endeavour to assist them in due course," he said.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,6541462%255E2722,00.html
By Greg Denham
June 04, 2003
THE AFL executive and several rival clubs yesterday questioned whether inept administration had led to the shock revelation that Sydney needs $2 million immediately to remain viable beyond this season.
AFL chief executive Wayne Jackson said Sydney could not expect to be supported by the league if their problems stemmed from mismanagement.
"Financial mismanagement cannot be rewarded," Jackson said.
Richmond president Clinton Casey queried why the AFL should not take control of Sydney's administration.
"Questions need to be asked; whether they are competent or does the AFL need to get involved in management?" Casey said.
"Sydney's a vital cog in our national competition and we need to get it right."
After revelations about the Swans' dire financial predicament in The Australian yesterday, former chief executive Kelvin Templeton and outgoing general manager Colin Seery avoided questions regarding their roles in recent years.
Templeton, who ended a long tenure at the club late last year, did not want to comment on claims of mismanagement.
"I don't think it's appropriate, I don't want to get into it," he said.
"I really had no role in the day-to-day running of the club since last August."
Seery, who took over from Templeton and has announced he will resign this year, directed all enquiries to chairman Richard Colless.
Casey said it was a function of any board to ensure there was no problems with management.
"It's a board's responsibility that governance is transparent," he said.
While Casey said Richmond were sympathetic to Sydney and acknowledged they needed financial assistance, he said it was not acceptable to expect a one-off payment of between $1.5m and $2m to solve the problem.
Western Bulldogs president David Smorgon backed Casey.
"We have shed almost as much as Sydney has cut off their costs since last year, but we couldn't get a one-off sum of the significance they are asking," Smorgon said.
"We would support the same AFL assistance package as we are receiving."
Sydney revealed on Tuesday that despite cutting costs by $4m since they posted a shock loss of almost $2m last year, they were heading for a similar loss this season.
"We can't survive the sort of losses we did last year, and more than likely will have this year," Colless said.
"It's impossible and we could go out of business."
Colless said his preference was for a special grant to be made available to compensate for Sydney's income loss due to competition from this year's rugby union World Cup.
Sydney received a $250,000 pledge from a businessman, not aligned with the AFL.
"His explanation was simply that the Swans are a critical part of the fabric of this town," Colless said.
"We will gratefully accept that (the money)."
Colless described Sydney's cash plea as a "philosophical discussion looking to solve a chronic problem that has existed in this club for 22 years".
At the Swans' invitation, AFL corporate auditors John Kelly and Olaf O'Duill reviewed their position and their confidential report to the AFL is believed to be scathing in its findings of management accounts.
Geelong president Frank Costa said it was obvious the Swans needed to appoint a quality chief executive.
"They not only need good management, but a long-term fix ? not just a one off," Costa said. "Sydney is so terribly important long term to the competition."
Brisbane chairman Graeme Downie favoured Sydney taking the same assistance package as the Bulldogs and Kangaroos.
"It is essential that whatever is needed to ensure their viability should be made available by the AFL," Downie said.
Expected resistance to the league providing assistance to Sydney from Collingwood and Essendon ? fierce opponents of Sydney's extra 15 per cent salary-cap allowance ? did not eventuate.
Collingwood president Eddie McGuire and Essendon chairman Graeme McMahon said Sydney needed to be a viable part of the 16-club national competition.
Most clubs baulked at Sydney's wish for a grant, indicating any more than the annual $1m funding available at the discretion of the AFL commission was not acceptable.
Jackson said the Swans were considering options and the AFL would not act until Sydney was specific in what it wanted.
"The AFL is understanding of the Swans' position and will endeavour to assist them in due course," he said.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,6541462%255E2722,00.html