Squizz
Brownlow Medallist
- Joined
- Oct 10, 2007
- Posts
- 14,562
- Reaction score
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- AFL Club
- St Kilda
Noticed the other day that discussions had been held with Cameron Schwab, and think that Archie Fraser is lucky that Jimmy Stynes managed to plead his case passionately to sway Schwab.
Discord at Saints 'healthy debate'
By Stephen Rielly August 27, 2008
St Kilda president Greg Westaway described the tensions within his board that have clouded the future of chief executive Archie Fraser as "healthy debate" and suggested that Fraser's contact with the Gold Coast consortium is to be expected.
Westaway did not deny that Fraser is confronting disquiet from within but portrayed the agitation as "standard" for a board prepared to "challenge the status quo".
The Australian reported Tuesday that Fraser, who flew out of the country last Friday to assess the merits of an Irish-based football academy, has come under pressure from certain members of the board after two years in the chief executive's chair, and has expressed interest in the same role with GC17, the group expected to create the AFL's 17th team on the Gold Coast by 2011.
St Kilda lost $414,000 last year to be the only club in 2007 to post a loss, after five consecutive years of $1million-plus profits.
The club is unlikely to produce a profit this year either, despite a finals finish and a $385,000 windfall from the side's win in the pre-season competition, although this result can be partly attributed to a $1.5m increase in the football department budget that has helped, for instance, to reduce the club's injury and recovery record significantly.
A return to profitability is expected next year as budgeted sponsorship revenue for 2009 is said to be above this year's figure already, with the club's back-loaded major sponsorship with Jeld-Wen set to increase significantly.
Fraser succeeded Jim Watts as chief executive in 2006, at the height of the club's difficulties with then coach Grant Thomas, and Fraser's strongly held view that the club should not appeal against the County Court decision which recently saw Thomas awarded more than $200,000 compensation for his acrimonious departure, has also caused him grief in the board room.
"As you would expect, healthy debate exists and is pretty standard within any board," Westaway said. "I'm not sure if you've noticed but we haven't won 15 premierships so we need to continue to challenge the status quo.
"I'm not going to comment on individual board members. The board is all about Football First and we'll continue to be about putting Football First and nothing will distract us."
It is understood that, after being one of many sounded out about the CEO's position with GC17, Fraser has expressed firm interest in the role.
"Speculation about Archie and the Gold Coast doesn't surprise me at all - he's a very good CEO," Westaway said.
* Richmond's search for a new head of its football department took an unexpected turn yesterday when the favoured candidate, Hawthorn's list and recruitment manager Chris Pelchen, withdrew from the process.
Former Melbourne and Essendon football manager and current chief executive of Athletics Australia, Danny Corcoran, will meet the Richmond board today but is no certainty to win the position as North Melbourne's current list manager Tim Harrington has re-emerged as a strong contender.
Discord at Saints 'healthy debate'
By Stephen Rielly August 27, 2008
St Kilda president Greg Westaway described the tensions within his board that have clouded the future of chief executive Archie Fraser as "healthy debate" and suggested that Fraser's contact with the Gold Coast consortium is to be expected.
Westaway did not deny that Fraser is confronting disquiet from within but portrayed the agitation as "standard" for a board prepared to "challenge the status quo".
The Australian reported Tuesday that Fraser, who flew out of the country last Friday to assess the merits of an Irish-based football academy, has come under pressure from certain members of the board after two years in the chief executive's chair, and has expressed interest in the same role with GC17, the group expected to create the AFL's 17th team on the Gold Coast by 2011.
St Kilda lost $414,000 last year to be the only club in 2007 to post a loss, after five consecutive years of $1million-plus profits.
The club is unlikely to produce a profit this year either, despite a finals finish and a $385,000 windfall from the side's win in the pre-season competition, although this result can be partly attributed to a $1.5m increase in the football department budget that has helped, for instance, to reduce the club's injury and recovery record significantly.
A return to profitability is expected next year as budgeted sponsorship revenue for 2009 is said to be above this year's figure already, with the club's back-loaded major sponsorship with Jeld-Wen set to increase significantly.
Fraser succeeded Jim Watts as chief executive in 2006, at the height of the club's difficulties with then coach Grant Thomas, and Fraser's strongly held view that the club should not appeal against the County Court decision which recently saw Thomas awarded more than $200,000 compensation for his acrimonious departure, has also caused him grief in the board room.
"As you would expect, healthy debate exists and is pretty standard within any board," Westaway said. "I'm not sure if you've noticed but we haven't won 15 premierships so we need to continue to challenge the status quo.
"I'm not going to comment on individual board members. The board is all about Football First and we'll continue to be about putting Football First and nothing will distract us."
It is understood that, after being one of many sounded out about the CEO's position with GC17, Fraser has expressed firm interest in the role.
"Speculation about Archie and the Gold Coast doesn't surprise me at all - he's a very good CEO," Westaway said.
* Richmond's search for a new head of its football department took an unexpected turn yesterday when the favoured candidate, Hawthorn's list and recruitment manager Chris Pelchen, withdrew from the process.
Former Melbourne and Essendon football manager and current chief executive of Athletics Australia, Danny Corcoran, will meet the Richmond board today but is no certainty to win the position as North Melbourne's current list manager Tim Harrington has re-emerged as a strong contender.
