Identity row talk riles club president

[The Scarecrow]

By: BRETT STUBBS From The Mercury

IF Hobart players and the coach want to "flap their traps'" over the football club's lack of identity, then that is up to them, an angry Hobart president Philip Baker said yesterday.
Hobart coach Michael MacGregor, captain Daniel Gray and vice-captain Brent Dickson have all called for the club to sort out its identity crisis since losing the Tigers nickname when it came into the Southern Football League.
But Baker said the club was in negotiations and planned to decide at last night's board meeting whether to make an announcement about the club's identity today.
If everything went to plan, the board hoped to ratify a new identity with its members at the club's annual general meeting in November.
Baker said the board had been working to come up with a solution since February.
But asked if there was a communication breakdown between the board and the players, Baker fired back: "Don't use that language with me. There is no bloody breakdown.'"
The club has been discussing a liaison with St Kilda that could lead to it adopting the Saints' nickname but not their colours.
St Kilda's red, white and black colours are the traditional strip of fellow Premier League team New Norfolk.
St Kilda chief executive officer Brian Waldron said he had not had any correspondence from Hobart since an informal meeting with its representatives while in Tasmania for the St Kilda-Port Adelaide game on July 4.
"I told them they had a number of things they should consider if they wanted to try and build up their supporter base and utilise their relationship with St Kilda,'' Waldron said yesterday.
"They were going to come back to me with some feedback on that and I haven't heard anything since that meeting.
"It is neither one way or another because I have had no further discussions with them." Sorell captain Jonathon Brimfield has been suspended for one week after being found guilty of striking Dodges Ferry playing-assistant coach Craig McLeod in the Southern Regional League first semi-final.
This will rule him out of this Saturday's preliminary final against Kermandie at North Hobart.
But Sorell has appealed against the decision, and the case will be heard today.

[WCL]

Hobart should work out their problems and use the nickname "PANTHERS" and maybe even strike up and alliance with South Adelaide, this could help both clubs, for 1 in Tassie the Hobart Panthers is a lot more appealing than just Hobart, and in Adelaide ex-Tasmanians living there might embrace South.

[The Scarecrow]

Hobart should work out their problems and use the nickname "PANTHERS" and maybe even strike up and alliance with South Adelaide, this could help both clubs, for 1 in Tassie the Hobart Panthers is a lot more appealing than just Hobart, and in Adelaide ex-Tasmanians living there might embrace South.
Maybe you should e-mail the Hobart Football Club and send along your idea, it could only help give them 1 possible name.

[Kingpin]

Already been discussed - Panthers.
No point emailing the Club - they don't reply.
Nice to see that amongst Phil Baker's ramblings there, that he says that the club were about to make a decision on it - The ******* members told this A-grade ****tard what they wanted 18 months ago - did he listen? NO :rolleyes:

Many Old players/officials and supporters were NOT impressed at Baker's comments in the paper. He is seen as an arrogant, aloof person.
My opinion is, that he only took on the presidency to further his chances of gaining entry to politics at a latter stage. He is currently a union leader - President of the AMWU.
He was a decent bloke when used to be the barbecue cooker at the TCA - became President and became extremely arrogant.
I wouldn't be surprised if we see violence at the upcoming AGM, over this issue.

[The Scarecrow]

Talk about lazy he told me he would give me a list of players that have come and gone from Hobart, but has yet to send me any such an e-mail since then. So if Baker goes who would be in line to be the next president?

[Kingpin]

Talk about lazy he told me he would give me a list of players that have come and gone from Hobart, but has yet to send me any such an e-mail since then. So if Baker goes who would be in line to be the next president?

Yeah Dave, you're not wrong. He goes to the board meetings etc, but does nothing else.
Interesting that when he is contacted by a member or supporter on his mobile, with an idea to help out the club - he is always "currently driving up North" and "can't hear you, the reception is bad, I'll get back to you" - never does. :rolleyes:

There's various names being mentioned at the moment - I heard of 5 names the other night. The trouble is, at the moment the club is just SO fractured its not funny. I've seen the place over the years have its problems/squabbles etc - NEVER this bad.
Hopefully this turmoil might eventually come to a head, and good things start to happen

[The Scarecrow]

There's the problem that lies in a few clubs, people that don't seem to care what happens, Clarence is like that with their fans, and that will soon prove to be their downfall as it seems to be at Hobart.

[Kingpin]

Yes I do hope that what's happened in the last eighteen months or so won't have a lasting effect on the club ie: 90% of its members walking out etc.
I just hope that they get together a quality group of proper HFC people up there, who inturn, inspire many other old Hobart's to come back.

[Walsh Bay]

Since they've changed their spots, how about The Leopards?

[WCL]

Already been discussed - Panthers.

What was said about this idea?

In my book Clarence has to be the most arrogant and unfriendly club in australia. The way they treat their supporters is appalling, they are just a bunch of Devil wannabes who really couldn't give a stuff about the SFL. No wonder everyone hates them. Tho put it into perspective I think they are very much like today's Brisbane Lions, arrogant and that used to winning that they would take another premiership with a grain of salt.