Smorgan optimistic, rumblings continue

[NWTYRX]

Herald Sun article - 22/11

TALK to those on the outside looking in on Carlton and the picture remains unsettled, cloudy, threatening.

Talk to Carlton president Graham Smorgon and the view from the inside looking out is that the sun is starting to peep through.

Smorgon becomes more positive by the week, yet the rumblings persist.

Yes, he concedes, there's the fracture at the board table, yet, in relative terms, things are on the improve, he adds.

In his words: "We are actually in charge of things and we know what we're doing.

"We're doing it in consultation with the AFL, but we're doing it Carlton's way."

Smorgon gives the impression all will be well when the board situation is resolved, specifically, when Lauraine Diggins is removed, even if she continues to dig her stilettos in at the board table.

"Clearly, we have board issues," Smorgon told the Herald Sun yesterday. "We haven't hidden from that."

He said divisions at the table and the subsequent leaking of information had caused "enormous disruption".

Without apportioning blame, he said the problem would be eliminated by the scheduled departure of directors John Valmorbida and Bruce Mathieson at the December board meeting, and the inevitable removal of the stubborn Diggins, who has lost the confidence of her fellow directors.

Smorgon said the club finally had won control in what has been a prolonged financial battle, peace (albeit uneasy) had been restored to the football department, all major sponsorship opportunities ($50,000-plus) had been sold for 2007, and membership already was at 7250.

"Finally, our focus is to win games."

The president has updated members on a raft of issues in an extensive release mailed yesterday.

He said the Blues were budgeting for a $500,000 loss in 2007, expecting to break even in 2008.

Smorgon has addressed members on numerous topics including the revamped coaching panel, Barry Mitchell's role, relations with the AFL, the next captain, debt, and the long-term future.

Based on discussions with coach Denis Pagan and director Stephen Kernahan, he said: "We plan to be in finals contention in 2009 at least."

To the question -- "Is Carlton in a better on-field position now than three years ago?" -- Smorgon writes: "Yes, very much so. We now have a lot of exciting young talent with a core of young veterans such as (Lance) Whitnall and (Nick) Stevens and a Coleman medallist in Brendan Fevola.

"The club can now be confident that it has built the foundations for success in the not-too-distant future."

Smorgon said Anthony Koutoufides had ruled himself out of the captaincy which seems to have created a two-way battle between Whitnall and Stevens.

As for continued suggestions of a challenge to the board, he said: "I have not had anyone talk to me about a possible challenge to the current board.

"Obviously if anyone is seeking to be elected to the board, I would welcome the opportunity to discuss the matter with them."

Smorgon continues to work diligently towards peace at Princes Park, but the murmurings continue, too.

 

[roly]

Herald Sun article - 22/11

without really knowing whats going on internally it does seem that there is some people pulling in one direction and some pulling in another and maybe even some just sitting around pulling something else, for the club to go forward we need a united board but where and who is the problem? .
we might get people put there hand up and say we can do better but as a voting member how do i know this ,we have come a long way post jack and reduced alot of debt but could this have been done better? can someone do better? answer yes but have we got that someone ?have we got that someone who is going to put there hand up and not just there hand in there pocket that will only help solve short term problems we need to get away from that long term and have direction for years ahead.
any thoughts comrades?
cheers roly

 

[BlueBelle]

Question to those in the know - TheHeatleyStand and Blue Thunder..

How much of what Smorgon has said in the above article is true?

 

[The Grover]

I think the entire board needs to be replaced, with someone bringing in their own board members.

More negative ******** in todays papers, it just won't go away.

 

[Deej]

Question to those in the know - TheHeatleyStand

Hahahaaa

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Question to those in the know - TheHeatleyStand and Blue Thunder..

How much of what Smorgon has said in the above article is true?

You will be told it is all spin. Myself, I don't know.

 

[HBF]

You will be told it is all spin. Myself, I don't know.

But i'd still prefer to hear it from BT is he has any other info.

 

[Deej]

Damn gossip hounds want to hear every little detail - do you ever stop to think if it's a good thing that everyone knows everything? Sometimes transparency is not such a good thing you know. Would you like the club to publicly list all of it's sponsors, what they pay for the privilege, so that you can make your mind up as to whether they've undersold their packages? the only people that should know all this so-called 'inside' information is the people who are charged with running the club, and those who are competent possible replacements for those incumbents who aren't capable.
What good does all this bigfooty/general internet gossip do for the club?