ID :
60453
Wed, 05/13/2009 - 17:29
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/60453
The shortlink copeid
Port on road to recovery, says AFL boss
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou says that Port Adelaide have bottomed out
financially and can now stride out on the road to recovery.
Demetriou said on Wednesday that Port would gather strength now the extent of their
financial difficulties was being confronted in detail by the club, the SANFL and the
AFL.
He also promised that once discussions have been completed between the three parties
there would be a "significant" financial package sent the Power's way to aid the
development of a more sustainable business model than the one Port have subsisted on
since their 1997 entry to the national competition.
However Demetriou stopped short of saying when the Power would see any additional
funding, or when the club would be able to benefit from a more equitable stadium
deal.
"I don't think there's more pain to come, they've pretty much bottomed out in so far
as they know what the result is going to be and they're addressing it," Demetriou
said.
"They're working terrifically with the SANFL and with us - I think the pain has been
inflicted and now it's time to start talking about the recovery and I'm pretty
confident they're going to get there.
"I'm sure that when we finalise what we're doing with Port Adelaide and the SANFL
you'll see a significant package that helps this football club get back on its feet.
"I don't put timeframes on things because then you guys hold us to timeframes.
"All I'll say is that we're all committed to getting this done, and it's more
important to get it done than to try to get hung up on a timeframe - when we do it
it'll be done because it's done rightly."
This assistance will be in addition to the $1.75 million the SANFL has already
handed to the Power by way of a $1 million grant and a $750,000 advance on future
revenue.
Demetriou spent Wednesday in Adelaide talking to the players and officials of both
Adelaide clubs while also speaking with the SANFL.
He issued a rallying speech to the Power's players, assuring them that they would
not be left to fend for themselves in an unhappy financial climate.
"When I briefed the staff and players and coaches and board members today I
reiterated that Port would work their way through this issue together with the help
of the SANFL and the AFL," he said.
"I've no doubt we'll get there, there have been other clubs in a similar position,
we've had issues with Fremantle, not too long ago they were in significant debt, so
you can turn a football club around."
Port's players were left impressed by their boss' presentation, though ruckman Dean
Brogan admitted most had other things on their mind.
"He opened the floor up for questions but none of the boys asked any questions, we
just wanted to be here for training," Brogan said.
"From a playing point of view to be honest with you we're not worrying about that at
all, we're not going to go under or anything like that, we're more concentrating on
what we're doing on weekends and what we're doing Monday to Friday."
financially and can now stride out on the road to recovery.
Demetriou said on Wednesday that Port would gather strength now the extent of their
financial difficulties was being confronted in detail by the club, the SANFL and the
AFL.
He also promised that once discussions have been completed between the three parties
there would be a "significant" financial package sent the Power's way to aid the
development of a more sustainable business model than the one Port have subsisted on
since their 1997 entry to the national competition.
However Demetriou stopped short of saying when the Power would see any additional
funding, or when the club would be able to benefit from a more equitable stadium
deal.
"I don't think there's more pain to come, they've pretty much bottomed out in so far
as they know what the result is going to be and they're addressing it," Demetriou
said.
"They're working terrifically with the SANFL and with us - I think the pain has been
inflicted and now it's time to start talking about the recovery and I'm pretty
confident they're going to get there.
"I'm sure that when we finalise what we're doing with Port Adelaide and the SANFL
you'll see a significant package that helps this football club get back on its feet.
"I don't put timeframes on things because then you guys hold us to timeframes.
"All I'll say is that we're all committed to getting this done, and it's more
important to get it done than to try to get hung up on a timeframe - when we do it
it'll be done because it's done rightly."
This assistance will be in addition to the $1.75 million the SANFL has already
handed to the Power by way of a $1 million grant and a $750,000 advance on future
revenue.
Demetriou spent Wednesday in Adelaide talking to the players and officials of both
Adelaide clubs while also speaking with the SANFL.
He issued a rallying speech to the Power's players, assuring them that they would
not be left to fend for themselves in an unhappy financial climate.
"When I briefed the staff and players and coaches and board members today I
reiterated that Port would work their way through this issue together with the help
of the SANFL and the AFL," he said.
"I've no doubt we'll get there, there have been other clubs in a similar position,
we've had issues with Fremantle, not too long ago they were in significant debt, so
you can turn a football club around."
Port's players were left impressed by their boss' presentation, though ruckman Dean
Brogan admitted most had other things on their mind.
"He opened the floor up for questions but none of the boys asked any questions, we
just wanted to be here for training," Brogan said.
"From a playing point of view to be honest with you we're not worrying about that at
all, we're not going to go under or anything like that, we're more concentrating on
what we're doing on weekends and what we're doing Monday to Friday."
