The Scarecrow
26 Aug 2004, 21:03
By: DAVID STOCKDALE From The Mercury
HOBART coach Michael McGregor has called on the football club to ``get its act together'' over the continuing debate about it not having an identity.
``Until now I haven't had much to say publicly about the issue, but in-house I have,'' he said in the wake of Hobart's loss to arch-rival Kingston in Saturday's SFL Premier League elimination final at North Hobart.
``I know from personal experience the problem of not being able to call and market ourselves as the Tigers because Kingston already has it and it's something we have to fix as soon as possible.''
A prolific goalkicker at several clubs for a number of years, McGregor said when he played for Sandy Bay it had sat on its hands, hadn't been pro-active and duly folded.
``Rather than work hard and look at other options, the Bay became pig-headed,'' he said.
``Hobart made a tough decision a few years ago to go back to the SFL and I congratulate them for it because it's got them where they are now and that is playing in the best league in southern Tasmania.
``But I think they're at a crisis point now where if they can't come to an agreement with Kingborough and the SFL then they need to make a decision about the identity of the club.
``We're running around out there just as Hobart. We're not the Tigers, we're not the Panthers, we're not the Lions, we're not the Cubs, we're nothing.''
McGregor also said it was crucial to the club's future that it saw more of its past players and supporters at games.
``They've got to stop complaining about us not being the Tigers, get over it and and move forward,'' he said.
While McGregor said he hadn't decided if he would play for Hobart again next season, it is understood he has had an approach from Huonville and has bought a house in the area.
HOBART coach Michael McGregor has called on the football club to ``get its act together'' over the continuing debate about it not having an identity.
``Until now I haven't had much to say publicly about the issue, but in-house I have,'' he said in the wake of Hobart's loss to arch-rival Kingston in Saturday's SFL Premier League elimination final at North Hobart.
``I know from personal experience the problem of not being able to call and market ourselves as the Tigers because Kingston already has it and it's something we have to fix as soon as possible.''
A prolific goalkicker at several clubs for a number of years, McGregor said when he played for Sandy Bay it had sat on its hands, hadn't been pro-active and duly folded.
``Rather than work hard and look at other options, the Bay became pig-headed,'' he said.
``Hobart made a tough decision a few years ago to go back to the SFL and I congratulate them for it because it's got them where they are now and that is playing in the best league in southern Tasmania.
``But I think they're at a crisis point now where if they can't come to an agreement with Kingborough and the SFL then they need to make a decision about the identity of the club.
``We're running around out there just as Hobart. We're not the Tigers, we're not the Panthers, we're not the Lions, we're not the Cubs, we're nothing.''
McGregor also said it was crucial to the club's future that it saw more of its past players and supporters at games.
``They've got to stop complaining about us not being the Tigers, get over it and and move forward,'' he said.
While McGregor said he hadn't decided if he would play for Hobart again next season, it is understood he has had an approach from Huonville and has bought a house in the area.