R
Roylion
Guest
This is really concerning a debate that occured on this forum a few months ago, concerning whether Sydney and South Melbourne are the same club. I'm really just posting this for the likes of Blood-Stained Angel and Kevin Sooky, and not to re-ignite the debate. Kevin Sooky challenged those, such as myself and Blood-Stained Angel who believed that Sydney/South Melbourne were the same club to come up with some hard evidence, as he believed they were two seperate clubs like Fitzroy and the Brisbane Lions are.
Well here it is.
The Swans are launched at the Sydney Opera House on 22nd February 1982.
A report by commissioned by the South Melbourne Football Club in July 1982 stated that the "South Melbourne Football Club Ltd., currently playing out of Sydney, as the 'Sydney Swans' is on the verge of bankrutpcy, as a result of playing 11 games at the SCG." This quote is from the actual report which was sent to me by a friend who used to be involved with the old South Melbourne club and was involved with the 'Keep South at South' movement.
On the 14th May 1983, the then VFL agreed to subsidise the South Melbourne Football Club to the tune of $900,000. Because of this the VFL wanted to make sure the club was run according to their wishes and six VFL administrators were in addition to the eight man board. On that date also the legal entity that was the "South Melbourne Football Club Ltd", changed its name to the "Sydney Swans Ltd." A new company was NOT formed, the existing company merely changed it's name. It was also a year and half after they had moved to Sydney.
On 31st July 1985, the "Sydney Swans Ltd." was sold to Geoffrey Edelstein's consortium, "Powerplay"
On 7th May 1988, Powerplay sold "Sydney Swans Ltd." back to the VFL for $10.
On 12th December control of the "Sydney Swans Ltd." was given by the VFL to a new group of 16 businessmen led by a Peter Weinert.
They nearly pulled out in 1992 and as result of Carlton attempting to play some of their 'away' games, the other AFL clubs agreed to prop up the Swans by re-directing nearly 2 million dollars of their licence agreement into the club. The owners agreed to step back also and re-structure the club/company into a largely membership club as it was when the company was called the SMFC Ltd. That is the current situation.
While not wishing to re-ignite the debate, if anyone can provide extra information or hard evidence as to why South Melb/Sydney may not the same club, then please do so here.
There appears to be no doubt that both legally as well as in outwards trappings (colurs, emblem etc) the Sydney Swans are definitely a continuation of South Melbourne... and that Kevin Sooky and others who believe that is not the case, appear to be wrong.
Well here it is.
The Swans are launched at the Sydney Opera House on 22nd February 1982.
A report by commissioned by the South Melbourne Football Club in July 1982 stated that the "South Melbourne Football Club Ltd., currently playing out of Sydney, as the 'Sydney Swans' is on the verge of bankrutpcy, as a result of playing 11 games at the SCG." This quote is from the actual report which was sent to me by a friend who used to be involved with the old South Melbourne club and was involved with the 'Keep South at South' movement.
On the 14th May 1983, the then VFL agreed to subsidise the South Melbourne Football Club to the tune of $900,000. Because of this the VFL wanted to make sure the club was run according to their wishes and six VFL administrators were in addition to the eight man board. On that date also the legal entity that was the "South Melbourne Football Club Ltd", changed its name to the "Sydney Swans Ltd." A new company was NOT formed, the existing company merely changed it's name. It was also a year and half after they had moved to Sydney.
On 31st July 1985, the "Sydney Swans Ltd." was sold to Geoffrey Edelstein's consortium, "Powerplay"
On 7th May 1988, Powerplay sold "Sydney Swans Ltd." back to the VFL for $10.
On 12th December control of the "Sydney Swans Ltd." was given by the VFL to a new group of 16 businessmen led by a Peter Weinert.
They nearly pulled out in 1992 and as result of Carlton attempting to play some of their 'away' games, the other AFL clubs agreed to prop up the Swans by re-directing nearly 2 million dollars of their licence agreement into the club. The owners agreed to step back also and re-structure the club/company into a largely membership club as it was when the company was called the SMFC Ltd. That is the current situation.
While not wishing to re-ignite the debate, if anyone can provide extra information or hard evidence as to why South Melb/Sydney may not the same club, then please do so here.
There appears to be no doubt that both legally as well as in outwards trappings (colurs, emblem etc) the Sydney Swans are definitely a continuation of South Melbourne... and that Kevin Sooky and others who believe that is not the case, appear to be wrong.