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Blues meet to consider seeking AFL assistance
By Caroline Wilson
February 21, 2006
THE new streamlined Carlton board will convene tonight to vote upon a series of groundbreaking issues that will determine the future of the club.
The Age believes there is a push from sections of the board to seek AFL financial assistance, with the Blues set to announce another significant loss at next month's annual meeting.
While the football club is expected to announce a small profit, that will be more than swallowed up by a big social club loss — the size of which is still being determined by the club's auditors.
Carlton's first board meeting for 2006 — and the first without outgoing directors Ken Hunter and David McKay — is expected receive a mixture of good and bad news from president Ian Collins.
Among the positives, extensive negotiations led by Collins and his chief executive Michael Malouf mean the Blues have received an assurance from the Australian Taxation Office that the club will not be liable for an anticipated social club tax bill, which could have cost Carlton at least $1 million and challenged its already perilous cash flow situation.
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But Collins is also expected to lead the debate on what now seems inevitable, with the enforced closure of the social club as a legal entity. This significant restructure of Carlton's complicated group of entities will end a long era for its famous social club but cannot come about without a vote from the members at the March annual meeting.
Carlton remains one of several Victorian clubs that does not have a ball sponsor, and is yet to strike a commercial deal for coach Denis Pagan as he embarks upon his second three-year stint with the Blues. Although Carlton is believed to be hopeful it will seal a deal with Pagan before the start of the season, it also faces 2006 without its long-term Optus agreement.
The Blues are not confident of signing a sponsor for Princes Park, given the stadium's new position as a training venue rather than an AFL matchday ground. Optus is said to have rejected a series of smaller but significant signage offers with Carlton.
The future of the stadium also will be debated tonight, with the club soon to finalise rebuilding and renovation agreements with the AFL, the Melbourne City Council and the State Government.
By Caroline Wilson
February 21, 2006
THE new streamlined Carlton board will convene tonight to vote upon a series of groundbreaking issues that will determine the future of the club.
The Age believes there is a push from sections of the board to seek AFL financial assistance, with the Blues set to announce another significant loss at next month's annual meeting.
While the football club is expected to announce a small profit, that will be more than swallowed up by a big social club loss — the size of which is still being determined by the club's auditors.
Carlton's first board meeting for 2006 — and the first without outgoing directors Ken Hunter and David McKay — is expected receive a mixture of good and bad news from president Ian Collins.
Among the positives, extensive negotiations led by Collins and his chief executive Michael Malouf mean the Blues have received an assurance from the Australian Taxation Office that the club will not be liable for an anticipated social club tax bill, which could have cost Carlton at least $1 million and challenged its already perilous cash flow situation.
advertisement
advertisement
But Collins is also expected to lead the debate on what now seems inevitable, with the enforced closure of the social club as a legal entity. This significant restructure of Carlton's complicated group of entities will end a long era for its famous social club but cannot come about without a vote from the members at the March annual meeting.
Carlton remains one of several Victorian clubs that does not have a ball sponsor, and is yet to strike a commercial deal for coach Denis Pagan as he embarks upon his second three-year stint with the Blues. Although Carlton is believed to be hopeful it will seal a deal with Pagan before the start of the season, it also faces 2006 without its long-term Optus agreement.
The Blues are not confident of signing a sponsor for Princes Park, given the stadium's new position as a training venue rather than an AFL matchday ground. Optus is said to have rejected a series of smaller but significant signage offers with Carlton.
The future of the stadium also will be debated tonight, with the club soon to finalise rebuilding and renovation agreements with the AFL, the Melbourne City Council and the State Government.

