- Feb 7, 2008
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Good News!
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25135627-19742,00.html
HERALDSUN.com.au
JOSEPH Gutnick is poised to return to Melbourne's inner sanctum after eight years in exile.
Demons president Jim Stynes has turned peace-maker, luring Gutnick back as a key member of a new match-day group.
Stynes has also extended the olive branch to Paul Gardner, who has also accepted an offer to join the Demons' President's Club.
Gutnick, who sank $2.4 million into the club in his time as president, departed after a bitter mid-season boardroom battle in 2001.
He failed to win re-election at the end of that season and has knocked back several invitations to return regularly.
But Gutnick was always a fan of Stynes as a player and has agreed to join forces with the former ruckman to help the struggling club.
There is a strong chance Gutnick and the man Stynes replaced, Gardner, will return at the President's Club function at Melbourne's Round 1 clash against North Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday, March 29.
"If they are in the country or state, it is a big possibility. Definitely," Stynes said yesterday. "After meeting with both, they are both happy to help the club."
The President's Club will be launched tonight, with a more casual atmosphere replacing the traditional sit-down match-day function.
Stynes indicated it was more complicated to get Gutnick back on board.
"Obviously for Joseph, probably a lot more water has gone under the bridge -- a lot of things have happened that I wasn't around for and I wouldn't particularly understand," Stynes said.
"With Paul, it is a lot easier. I understand.
"We've got a good working relationship now. We sat down recently and had a good chat. It was really positive."
Gardner stepped aside in June before Stynes swept to power in a bloodless coup.
Stynes has invited all past presidents back to the fold, urging them to put personal issues aside.
"If you grow up barracking for Melbourne and you've barracked for Melbourne all your life, you can't just go and find a new team," Stynes said.
"If you have a falling out with someone personally, it is important that it is not taken as a falling out with the club.
"We can't let personal agendas and personalities get in the way of letting people support the club they have fallen in love with."
The club will feature sit-down and stand-up options, with smart casual dress.
It will also have a creche, with guests offered the chance of leaving their children to be cared for in an adjoining room.
"One of the focuses of the new board was to make it an inclusive club rather than have too much exclusivity," Stynes said. "We didn't think the old-fashioned chairman's lunch was reflective of the membership base.
"We wanted to drop down the stuffiness of it and make it accessible to everyone."
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25135627-19742,00.html
HERALDSUN.com.au
JOSEPH Gutnick is poised to return to Melbourne's inner sanctum after eight years in exile.
Demons president Jim Stynes has turned peace-maker, luring Gutnick back as a key member of a new match-day group.
Stynes has also extended the olive branch to Paul Gardner, who has also accepted an offer to join the Demons' President's Club.
Gutnick, who sank $2.4 million into the club in his time as president, departed after a bitter mid-season boardroom battle in 2001.
He failed to win re-election at the end of that season and has knocked back several invitations to return regularly.
But Gutnick was always a fan of Stynes as a player and has agreed to join forces with the former ruckman to help the struggling club.
There is a strong chance Gutnick and the man Stynes replaced, Gardner, will return at the President's Club function at Melbourne's Round 1 clash against North Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday, March 29.
"If they are in the country or state, it is a big possibility. Definitely," Stynes said yesterday. "After meeting with both, they are both happy to help the club."
The President's Club will be launched tonight, with a more casual atmosphere replacing the traditional sit-down match-day function.
Stynes indicated it was more complicated to get Gutnick back on board.
"Obviously for Joseph, probably a lot more water has gone under the bridge -- a lot of things have happened that I wasn't around for and I wouldn't particularly understand," Stynes said.
"With Paul, it is a lot easier. I understand.
"We've got a good working relationship now. We sat down recently and had a good chat. It was really positive."
Gardner stepped aside in June before Stynes swept to power in a bloodless coup.
Stynes has invited all past presidents back to the fold, urging them to put personal issues aside.
"If you grow up barracking for Melbourne and you've barracked for Melbourne all your life, you can't just go and find a new team," Stynes said.
"If you have a falling out with someone personally, it is important that it is not taken as a falling out with the club.
"We can't let personal agendas and personalities get in the way of letting people support the club they have fallen in love with."
The club will feature sit-down and stand-up options, with smart casual dress.
It will also have a creche, with guests offered the chance of leaving their children to be cared for in an adjoining room.
"One of the focuses of the new board was to make it an inclusive club rather than have too much exclusivity," Stynes said. "We didn't think the old-fashioned chairman's lunch was reflective of the membership base.
"We wanted to drop down the stuffiness of it and make it accessible to everyone."
