ID :
165311
Wed, 03/02/2011 - 11:25
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http://m.oananews.org//node/165311
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Fury blame game begins
SYDNEY March 2 - The blame game has begun over North Queensland's A-League axing, with the Fury advisory board demanding an independent review of Football Federation Australia (FFA).
Board member Peter Brine accused the FFA of keeping them in the dark as they battled to save the club and disputed figures the governing body's chief executive Ben Buckley used to justify the Fury's closure on Tuesday.
In light of the failed World Cup bid and now the Fury's demise, Brine wanted an independent review committee - similar to the one that produced 2003's Crawford Report into sports funding - to look into the FFA.
"Out of respect for us we need them to come clean with the numbers," he said.
"There needs to be a completely independent review.
"If not then they can just do that to any club in the future."
Brine also claimed then A-League boss Archie Fraser assured the advisory board when they came together in 2010 that the club had a guaranteed two more years of existence under FFA ownership.
"Ben Buckley said to us yesterday that (Fraser) wasn't authorised to say that - but he was his representative, he was head of the A-League," he said.
But the FFA said they had been transparent with the Fury advisory board (FAB).
Buckley said on Tuesday the Fury were cut after being deemed "too big of a financial risk" for 2011-12.
He said the Fury - solely owned by the FFA - had failed to secure the $1.5 million capital required to ensure their survival for that season.
Buckley said the FFA had already spent $9 million in two seasons on the club and with a loss of "at least" $2 million predicted for 2011-12 they pulled the pin.
But Brine said the board were shocked by the figures when told by Buckley on Tuesday.
"A couple of weeks ago when we had a hook-up with the FFA, we were left in no uncertain terms by the FFA that we had done everything we possibly could to save the Fury," Brine said.
"We have not heard anything back from the FFA about that until yesterday when they told us we were $2 million short.
"If we are $2 million short and they knew we are $2 million short two weeks ago, why didn't they let us know?"
Fellow FAB member Sean Knights said the board was not told until Tuesday by the FFA their "substantial" sponsorship dollars would not be considered projected revenue and that only capital would be assessed in their bid to save the club.
The board also claimed the FFA did not disclose how they had calculated the minimum $2 million loss next season or how they had spent $9 million on the club.
But an FFA spokesman said: "It is understandable that they are upset and emotional as a decision to close a club is not taken lightly.
"We feel for everyone involved, from the board to the staff and the players.
"However, the facts remain and FFA stands by the figures released yesterday after they were presented to the meeting with the advisory board.
"The fact is that the FAB received in writing notification that they needed to bank $1.5 million in capital to get a one-year interim license and they presented only $275,000 in pledges.
"It was never agreed that they only need to raise that in sponsorship - and sponsorship and capital are two very separate things and very difficult to confuse."
Board member Peter Brine accused the FFA of keeping them in the dark as they battled to save the club and disputed figures the governing body's chief executive Ben Buckley used to justify the Fury's closure on Tuesday.
In light of the failed World Cup bid and now the Fury's demise, Brine wanted an independent review committee - similar to the one that produced 2003's Crawford Report into sports funding - to look into the FFA.
"Out of respect for us we need them to come clean with the numbers," he said.
"There needs to be a completely independent review.
"If not then they can just do that to any club in the future."
Brine also claimed then A-League boss Archie Fraser assured the advisory board when they came together in 2010 that the club had a guaranteed two more years of existence under FFA ownership.
"Ben Buckley said to us yesterday that (Fraser) wasn't authorised to say that - but he was his representative, he was head of the A-League," he said.
But the FFA said they had been transparent with the Fury advisory board (FAB).
Buckley said on Tuesday the Fury were cut after being deemed "too big of a financial risk" for 2011-12.
He said the Fury - solely owned by the FFA - had failed to secure the $1.5 million capital required to ensure their survival for that season.
Buckley said the FFA had already spent $9 million in two seasons on the club and with a loss of "at least" $2 million predicted for 2011-12 they pulled the pin.
But Brine said the board were shocked by the figures when told by Buckley on Tuesday.
"A couple of weeks ago when we had a hook-up with the FFA, we were left in no uncertain terms by the FFA that we had done everything we possibly could to save the Fury," Brine said.
"We have not heard anything back from the FFA about that until yesterday when they told us we were $2 million short.
"If we are $2 million short and they knew we are $2 million short two weeks ago, why didn't they let us know?"
Fellow FAB member Sean Knights said the board was not told until Tuesday by the FFA their "substantial" sponsorship dollars would not be considered projected revenue and that only capital would be assessed in their bid to save the club.
The board also claimed the FFA did not disclose how they had calculated the minimum $2 million loss next season or how they had spent $9 million on the club.
But an FFA spokesman said: "It is understandable that they are upset and emotional as a decision to close a club is not taken lightly.
"We feel for everyone involved, from the board to the staff and the players.
"However, the facts remain and FFA stands by the figures released yesterday after they were presented to the meeting with the advisory board.
"The fact is that the FAB received in writing notification that they needed to bank $1.5 million in capital to get a one-year interim license and they presented only $275,000 in pledges.
"It was never agreed that they only need to raise that in sponsorship - and sponsorship and capital are two very separate things and very difficult to confuse."
