It's Time To Go... Rick Hart

[Chops_a_must]

Isnt Longley a West Coast fan, anyway, think he might have his hands full with the cats.

He's been our #1 ticket holder at one stage at least.

I don't think he owns the Wildcats anymore.

Lives in Freo.

Gives us instant, and enormous cred within the sporting community. Knows what sporting professionalism is at an infinitely higher level than anyone playing or working for the club does.

Gives the players a good role model on the board, not just from the coaching staff.

Has many investments and has played some role in business in the past, so he's not completely green.

Would be great for a guy like Pav, I feel, to have an absolute champion there to relate with. Must be lonely for Pav...

I think he could have a pretty sweet case to be honest... if someone could twist his arm.

 

[bigburger]

If I was Freo I'd be looking for less of a figurehead and someone whose more professionally involved in sport. Less conflict of interest and more focus on the club is the next step for Freo, even the possibility of making the Presidents position a paid one (assuming its not already). Like I said earlier, financially your set now its a matter of on field success so you can take the next step.

 

[greenred]

I think a lot of people forget that big Rick arrived at Freo when we were a complete and diabolical mess on and off the field. Bottom of the ladder (not much has changed in that regard!) and about 3 million bucks in debt. If nothing else he and Schwabby turned us right around off field to a point where we are in top 5 for memeberships and for facilities and bucks in the bank. He deserves a heap of credit for this
If we are going to replace big Rick then how bout this for a short list:
1. Brad Hardie
2. Brad Hardie
3. Brad Hardie
Any thoughts on those 3 candidates?

8 million.

 

[ImperialPurple]

Article in The Worst today says Big Rick would step aside if asked...

http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=12&ContentID=155303

Hart 'willing to quit' dismal Dockers
15th July 2009, 6:15 WST

Fremantle president Rick Hart says he will step aside if the club “taps him on the shoulder” in the wake of the toughest loss he can remember during his eight-year term at the helm.

Hart, whose term finishes at the end of the season, has previously said he would be happy to continue if wanted.

Yesterday, he indicated he was only likely to continue if the club could not identify a successor.

Fremantle’s on-field stocks were dealt another blow yesterday when veteran Des Headland ruled himself out of Saturday’s clash with Brisbane because of hamstring trouble.

Speaking at the launch of the club’s Live The Dream program, Headland said he would miss at least one more week.

Much supporter anger in the wake of Fremantle’s one-goal effort against Adelaide at the weekend has been aimed at the club’s longest serving directors, Hart and Tony Buhagiar, with calls for them to be held accountable for the club’s lack of on-field success.

Hart said Buhagiar would finish after 10 years on the board this season and he was prepared to leave if it was in the best interests of the football club. It is likely both will be replaced, while vice-president Ben Allan is a member-elected director and faces an election.

A sub-committee which includes Fremantle board members Grant Donaldson and Brian O’Donnell is currently liaising with the WA Football Commission to identify possible board members and a new president.

“There will be two vacancies at the end of the season when Tony and my terms come to an end,” Hart said. “We will go through a process of identifying potential board members and what I will do is make a decision that is in the best interests of the Fremantle Footy Club.

“I have indicated that I will go on if they need me but if through this process they find an opportunity to identify someone else — I have always said eight years is a fair stint.

“If they tap me on the shoulder and say you have got to go as a result of that, I will be happy to do that.”

Hart urged supporters to stick with the club despite Saturday’s thrashing.

“I can’t remember a tougher one within the term that I have been there,” he said. “We were dreadfully undermanned and Adelaide are such a well-drilled unit that we just couldn’t crack them either way.

“We couldn’t get through their defence and they just swept the ball forward with plenty of options getting into the forward line.”

He asked supporters to focus on the big picture rather than one game.

“People can’t look at one game in isolation,” he said. “The plan is there, everyone knows what the plan is. As a result of that plan you are going to end up with a lot of youngsters in the team and when they play top sides sometimes you are going to get exposed.

“It’s the way it is as you develop players and it might be a two to three-year project but everyone is focused on that. It is the first year of that program and we won’t be deviating from it — it just has to evolve.

“This is the first year where a definite program has been put in place where there is going to be a definite focus on youth.”

Hart described his time at the helm as rewarding but admitted the club hadn’t come close to the on-field success he had aimed for.

“We have managed to get the club up and running as a very healthy AFL footy club but what we haven’t been able to achieve is the on-field success that we wanted,” he said. “We have had a couple of little snippets of it but it hasn’t been what any of us would want. I will always be involved in Fremantle because I love the club.”

PERTH
MARK DUFFIELD

 

[wehavethepassion]

What do we expect a new president to do differently that would win us a flag?

The only direct control I can think of that they have in that area is appointing the coach.

He sat around with stars in his eyes and let the Yuppey and Cuddles trade precious draft picks for hacks.

 

[surfsup]

Yeah, lets sack him everyone! Yeah! Down with the President!!
What? He's going at the end of the year anyway? Oh, ok, well when he's gone let's get a West Australian President. Yeah! Let's get a local in the job!! What? He is a west aussie?
Ok, well, how about we sack the captain then? Let's get a west aussie to replace him! Yeah! Woo!....blah, blah, blah

 

[Rob]

I would be totally all into Carps.

Rick Hart has zero cash, he is going to lose his pull around town.

When you say he has zero cash, do you mean him personally or the business?

You know Rick Hart (the business) is actually owned by Clive Peeters, the East Coast appliance retailer? They bought Rick Hart (the person) out years ago.

 

[longsuffreosupp]

I wonder if the West got their idea for a story from this thread.

 

[Chops_a_must]

I wonder if the West got their idea for a story from this thread.

In regards to?

 

[MadMac]

Fridgeman had his stint. Time for a change.

 

[IbbosBFF]

didnt know his contract was actually up at the end of the year.

looks oh so sad in the picture as well

 

[estibador]

I wonder if the West got their idea for a story from this thread.

First thing I thought when I saw it this morning as well.

In regards to?

This bit in particular:

Much supporter anger in the wake of Fremantle’s one-goal effort against Adelaide at the weekend has been aimed at the club’s longest serving directors, Hart and Tony Buhagiar, with calls for them to be held accountable for the club’s lack of on-field success.

Though I don't think any of us mentioned Buhagiar. DL might have... but they don't usually criticise anything over there.

 

[Peter Bellend]

Enoughs enough president Hart. You have to be apart of the clean out as well. The business and sponsorship endevours have been appreciated and it's all great we are a viable club financially, but we need to get this maiden premiership. You've had you're turn. Time for fresh leadership.

First time poster, long time lurker, here guys.

I think Hart has had his day and should step down. He has hit is use by date and the club could do with an injection of new blood on and off the field.

For me I associate Hart with what I call our "Wasted Years" - that 4 years "window" period that Hart, Connoly, Schwabb and their merry band of yes men managed to squander.

 

[SupersonicDocker]

The man who ruined this club on field (Schwab) has left.

Harts job is purely a commercial based one.

People on here are just looking for any excuse other than we are not good enough. What will bringing in a new president achieve?

People forget when he took over the club it was broke. Rick Hart has brought us a multitude of wealth from a corporate standpoint, including the big dollars LG pump into our club. In terms of his job, he has done everything you could want (including push for rosich and bond to have roles at the club)

No longer are we a club with idiots at the helm and an underachieving team.

We are now a team with football brains and leadership at the helm, compiled with a developing list of youth.

I know people can come back and say we have been rubbish for ages etc. Big whoop we know that. But any true fan can surely see this is a new era we will be seeing.

Patience is a virtue. Lets not be West Coast fans and jump ship when it gets hard.

 

[Peter Bellend]

The man who ruined this club on field (Schwab) has left.

Harts job is purely a commercial based one.

People on here are just looking for any excuse other than we are not good enough. .

This comment is a tad naive.

Firstly I agree that Schwab was a destructive influence at the club, however I think Connoly also deserves equal blame.

The problem we have is that Hart was Chairman of the board while Schwab and Connoly were pulling the temple down from within.

Hart was playing his fiddle whilst Rome was burning.

Schwab and Connoly were the "problem", but Hart was responsible for creating that "problem".

For example, Hart renewed Connoly's second contract prematurely without proper due process - this allowed Connoly to destroy our list even more with hairbrained recruiting strategies.

Secondly, Hart allowed Scwab to ride rough shot over him. Hart let Schwab go on an all expenses paid study tour to Europe during the middle of the season (and then didnt make Scwab pay the money back when he jumped ship). Secondly, when Schwab announced his "retirement" he was allowed to remain at the club for months working an "extended leave notice". Schwab was effectively being paid to poison the water supply at the club.

Hart was responsible for that. He really should do the honourable thing and stand down.

 

[Peter Bellend]

Can anyone forget when Hart gave our 07 season a "big tick"?

No wonder we struggle when Hart was setting such low standards at the club.

 

[Belnakor]

when Schwab announced his "retirement" he was allowed to remain at the club for months working an "extended leave notice". Schwab was effectively being paid to poison the water supply at the club.

Probably one of the worst decisions in the history of management.

 

[dominguez]

The man who ruined this club on field (Schwab) has left.

Harts job is purely a commercial based one.

People on here are just looking for any excuse other than we are not good enough. What will bringing in a new president achieve?

The board approved Connolly's extension in early 2005 and stood by as Schwab traded away all our draft picks so they should be held accountable for our current predicament.

Budgie and Hart can f*** off.

 

[Billy Hunt]

This comment is a tad naive.

Firstly I agree that Schwab was a destructive influence at the club, however I think Connoly also deserves equal blame.

The problem we have is that Hart was Chairman of the board while Schwab and Connoly were pulling the temple down from within.

Hart was playing his fiddle whilst Rome was burning.

Schwab and Connoly were the "problem", but Hart was responsible for creating that "problem".

For example, Hart renewed Connoly's second contract prematurely without proper due process - this allowed Connoly to destroy our list even more with hairbrained recruiting strategies.

Secondly, Hart allowed Scwab to ride rough shot over him. Hart let Schwab go on an all expenses paid study tour to Europe during the middle of the season (and then didnt make Scwab pay the money back when he jumped ship). Secondly, when Schwab announced his "retirement" he was allowed to remain at the club for months working an "extended leave notice". Schwab was effectively being paid to poison the water supply at the club.

Hart was responsible for that. He really should do the honourable thing and stand down.

Schwab is cunning, convincing con man who played the WA media, the WAFC, the sponsors, the AFL and Rick Hart like fools. When it got to hot in the kitchen, he bolted leaving everyone red faced. Only this man is a bigger fraudster than Schwab. http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,25453380-5016212,00.html

 

[Ripper]

Schwab is cunning, convincing con man who played the WA media, the WAFC, the sponsors, the AFL and Rick Hart like fools. When it got to hot in the kitchen, he bolted leaving everyone red faced. Only this man is a bigger fraudster than Schwab. http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,25453380-5016212,00.html

Don;t know what Swabbie did to upset you blokes.

Was it overseeing by far the most successful period in out history?
Was it saving the club from the $8B debt?
Did We enjoy being the worst team in the league instead of the 7th best from 2002 until 2006?

If so We are heading back down there quickly (currently 14th)

Facts are in 2001 We need to win games straight away to survive.
We had 10 new players (should have been 11 with fabian Francis) in 2002

We had 9 new players in 2003 (should have been 13 as we played with list 3 short because of dud like Metropolis & Toia were taking up SC space)

We then did a minor rebuild through he draft at the end of 2003 taking another 10 players.

We are going to look silly if Melbourne overtake us as they have 20 new players from the last two drafts , just 0ne less than us.

We have had many low points and many inexperienced teams over the years . but not once before have We even come close to a one goal game.

We have a new Admin& coaching staff that have been there a couple of sesons now and they will live or die on on their own merits.

 

[Billy Hunt]

Did you buy shares in Firepower as well?

 

[Alfonz]

Spin it all you want Ripper, but Schwab and Connolly f(*&^$ed this club big time and most people could see them doing it while they were doing it. Especially meddling in trading/drafting which was none of their business.

I don't buy any of the financial side of things. Guess what, people who are employed by the club to fix the finances should do just that. Anybody with half a business brain could have helped us off the field.

And anybody with half a football brain would have done better than CC, and this would have helped the financial side even more.

Saying it was our most succesful period is nothing to be proud of, because it was still mediocre by any club's standards. They didn't have much to beat and all those two a$$ bandits (and Hart) did was play a very major role in putting us in the position we are today.

 

[Chops_a_must]

Don;t know what Swabbie did to upset you blokes.

Was it overseeing by far the most successful period in out history?

Chops cut the abuse or you're getting a holiday which given your record may be permanent
.

 

[MadMac]

Spin it all you want Ripper, but Schwab and Connolly f(*&^$ed this club big time and most people could see them doing it while they were doing it. Especially meddling in trading/drafting which was none of their business.

I don't buy any of the financial side of things. Guess what, people who are employed by the club to fix the finances should do just that. Anybody with half a business brain could have helped us off the field.

And anybody with half a football brain would have done better than CC, and this would have helped the financial side even more.

Saying it was our most succesful period is nothing to be proud of, because it was still mediocre by any club's standards. They didn't have much to beat and all those two a$$ bandits (and Hart) did was play a very major role in putting us in the position we are today.

Second that.

 

[Ripper]

Spin it all you want Ripper, but Schwab and Connolly f(*&^$ed this club big time and most people could see them doing it while they were doing it. Especially meddling in trading/drafting which was none of their business.

I don't buy any of the financial side of things. Guess what, people who are employed by the club to fix the finances should do just that. Anybody with half a business brain could have helped us off the field.

And anybody with half a football brain would have done better than CC, and this would have helped the financial side even more.

Saying it was our most succesful period is nothing to be proud of, because it was still mediocre by any club's standards. They didn't have much to beat and all those two a$$ bandits (and Hart) did was play a very major role in putting us in the position we are today.

Rubbish , Harves has more quality players available from the CC era after 2 drafts (24 that have played in 2009)
http://finalsiren.com/Fixture.asp?TeamID=11&SeasonID=2009&Go=Go

than CC had from the Drum era after 2 drafts (21 played in 2003)
http://finalsiren.com/Fixture.asp?TeamID=11&SeasonID=2003&Go=Go

And an extra 2 spots.

It is all his now..






We won 14 games in 2003