Wrath
Club Legend
North Melbourne - North 2012 Player Sponsor
North Melbourne - North 2008 Player Sponsor
As a long time and committed North Supporter I've been following the goings on involving the club I love with great interest and angst l might add. There seems to me quite a bit of circumstantial evidence that enables me to come to a number of conclusions. Even if some are wrong, I'd still like some serious questions asked of some people involved -specifically Duff and a number of the shareholders.
Firstly a few things we know (Elaborated version of my initial post)
-The AFL is keen to expand the 'brand' to an ever widening potential audience throughout Australia. They've shown in the past they don't particulalry care for the rank and file supporter in Melbourne and are willing to sacrifice them at the alter in order to acheieve these goals.South Melbourne and Fitzroy supporters have already been sacrificed in this quest and can lay testimont to this. The AFL have expressed an intention to make the Gold Coast experiment work, and are willing to throw upwards of $200m at it.
-Southport are a committed buyer. They've expressed serious interest over a fairly lengthy period in getting one of the highly valuable 16 licences. We also know they are well cashed up (some say to the tune of $30million) and have a serious cash cow in their pokie club to support a likely financial struggle over its first few years in the competition.
-Recently the AFL has spoken to a number of our influential shareholders (the '8') with a view to potentially buying out their shares. Vlad stated his interest was all about giving the club back to the members, but that doesn't wash with me. MY assumption is the're doing this on behalf of the committed buyer, that being Southport. Potentially they could be acting as the broker to the deal and being the major beneficiary for it to happen, ie fulfill their blueprint for the future for QLD.
Meanwhile a few goings on within our club.
-Duff and the Board of that day decided it would be financially prudent for North to agree to 10 games over the next 3 years, receiving a fairly genourous $400,000/year "to help shore up our finances - to make us more viable financially for the future so as to stay in Melbourne"
-Our CEO resigns,taking up 'new opportunities' at Collingwood. Having dealt with Geoff in the past, the decision seemed very quick and reactive. One might suggest he didnt want any part of what may be going to occur over the coming months after getting wind of it.
-De Rauch (along with Ronnie J), seem to me the only one of the few major players in this 'game' committed to keeping the NMFC at our spiritual home. It seems he begins to smell a rat and attempts to buy out any more shares loosely avaiable for sale. Unsuccessfully l might add.
-De Rauch then builds a ticket of potential boardmembers that he can trust to challenge Duff. De Rauch holds approximately 35% of the voting rights to the election, but even a holding that large doesnt guarantee he gets on the board.
-There appears to be 3 camps. The De Rauch Camp, the "8" Dawson Camp and the Ansett Camp. Greg Miller, one of the shareholders allocated B shares by Mr Ansett during the float expressed to USC in the media that through a long standing loyalty to Ansett, he'll vote the way Ansett deems fit (or words to that effect). My assumption is that balance of power lies with Ansett and his posse.
-Considering Ansetts long time commitment to the NMFC and the size of his 'control' he remains astoundingly silent through months of media speculation. This morning was the first real sign he is willing to show his hand to some extent. Where he sits on it all is still a mystery. He goes on about protecting the club but doesnt really divulge too much of where he sits and what he thinks may or may not happen.
-The shareholders proceed to vote Duff and his ticket (some of them amongst 'the 8' who were at Mondays meeting with the AFL) back onto the board.
-Last Sunday Joeseph calls together a forum to discuss Norths intentions with about 400 concerned supporters. Duff is suprised at this and reluctantly attends. He speaks some vague placatory double speak about how North is committed to staying in Melbourne.
Goes on about how the AFL are wasting their time buying shares as it doesnt deliver them what they want. If this is true, then why do the AFL persist and make themselves available for such discussions. They are not in the business of throwing money away to line the pockets of shareholders without it coming at a price.
- Not 2 days later some of these same Duff ticket boardermembers, as shareholders, meet with the AFL to discuss selling their shares. De Rauch the major shareholder,and Joeseph (out spoken pro Arden St. advocates) are not invited. Meanwhile,Duff is indisposed ,playing golf and castigating a greensman.
My question to my fellow Shinboners and to the media who don't seem to me asking the right questions in my opinion are these
-How long has Duff known that some of Norths shareholders are willing to sell?
-Now that Duff knows there are sellers, what is he doing about it to ensure he acts within the mandate he inherintly assumed when he became chairman of the North Melbourne Football Club. He may be appointed by shareholders but his mandate comes from rank and file supporters.
-When did the AFL start sounding out these shareholders with view to purchasing? Who is the protagonist behind this?
-Why did our CEO resign for a lesser job at Collingwood-did he get wind of somnething?
-The big one for me- Why hasn't Mr Ansett who, if you do the numbers and consider that no one shareholder has more than 5% of the vote, not stated his position in regards to merger/sale/relocation when he seems to hold the balance of power in his hands. If he was aligned to De Rauch then De Rauch's ticket would have got up at the election. So is he aligned to the Dawson 8?
-Why has Southport recently sacked its long time highly successful CEO and AFL negotiator seemingly deemed "not suitable to deal with people from North and the AFL" ?
-Where do the Brayshaws sit on all of this. They have been remarkably quiet over the last few days.
My belief is if we the members can get some answers to some of these, to me, perplexing questions - maybe, just maybe we can do something about trying to stop the AFL moving our beloved club lock stock and smoking barrel to SE Queensland (as De rauch has suggested "as early as next year".)
l know alot of this has been done over and over, but its all there in one post. Be interested to see if anyone runs with it, ie Mr Barratt? We need answers, real answers, not motherhood statements or politically correct statements that feed the lemmings and keep them at bay.
Wrath
Firstly a few things we know (Elaborated version of my initial post)
-The AFL is keen to expand the 'brand' to an ever widening potential audience throughout Australia. They've shown in the past they don't particulalry care for the rank and file supporter in Melbourne and are willing to sacrifice them at the alter in order to acheieve these goals.South Melbourne and Fitzroy supporters have already been sacrificed in this quest and can lay testimont to this. The AFL have expressed an intention to make the Gold Coast experiment work, and are willing to throw upwards of $200m at it.
-Southport are a committed buyer. They've expressed serious interest over a fairly lengthy period in getting one of the highly valuable 16 licences. We also know they are well cashed up (some say to the tune of $30million) and have a serious cash cow in their pokie club to support a likely financial struggle over its first few years in the competition.
-Recently the AFL has spoken to a number of our influential shareholders (the '8') with a view to potentially buying out their shares. Vlad stated his interest was all about giving the club back to the members, but that doesn't wash with me. MY assumption is the're doing this on behalf of the committed buyer, that being Southport. Potentially they could be acting as the broker to the deal and being the major beneficiary for it to happen, ie fulfill their blueprint for the future for QLD.
Meanwhile a few goings on within our club.
-Duff and the Board of that day decided it would be financially prudent for North to agree to 10 games over the next 3 years, receiving a fairly genourous $400,000/year "to help shore up our finances - to make us more viable financially for the future so as to stay in Melbourne"
-Our CEO resigns,taking up 'new opportunities' at Collingwood. Having dealt with Geoff in the past, the decision seemed very quick and reactive. One might suggest he didnt want any part of what may be going to occur over the coming months after getting wind of it.
-De Rauch (along with Ronnie J), seem to me the only one of the few major players in this 'game' committed to keeping the NMFC at our spiritual home. It seems he begins to smell a rat and attempts to buy out any more shares loosely avaiable for sale. Unsuccessfully l might add.
-De Rauch then builds a ticket of potential boardmembers that he can trust to challenge Duff. De Rauch holds approximately 35% of the voting rights to the election, but even a holding that large doesnt guarantee he gets on the board.
-There appears to be 3 camps. The De Rauch Camp, the "8" Dawson Camp and the Ansett Camp. Greg Miller, one of the shareholders allocated B shares by Mr Ansett during the float expressed to USC in the media that through a long standing loyalty to Ansett, he'll vote the way Ansett deems fit (or words to that effect). My assumption is that balance of power lies with Ansett and his posse.
-Considering Ansetts long time commitment to the NMFC and the size of his 'control' he remains astoundingly silent through months of media speculation. This morning was the first real sign he is willing to show his hand to some extent. Where he sits on it all is still a mystery. He goes on about protecting the club but doesnt really divulge too much of where he sits and what he thinks may or may not happen.
-The shareholders proceed to vote Duff and his ticket (some of them amongst 'the 8' who were at Mondays meeting with the AFL) back onto the board.
-Last Sunday Joeseph calls together a forum to discuss Norths intentions with about 400 concerned supporters. Duff is suprised at this and reluctantly attends. He speaks some vague placatory double speak about how North is committed to staying in Melbourne.
Goes on about how the AFL are wasting their time buying shares as it doesnt deliver them what they want. If this is true, then why do the AFL persist and make themselves available for such discussions. They are not in the business of throwing money away to line the pockets of shareholders without it coming at a price.
- Not 2 days later some of these same Duff ticket boardermembers, as shareholders, meet with the AFL to discuss selling their shares. De Rauch the major shareholder,and Joeseph (out spoken pro Arden St. advocates) are not invited. Meanwhile,Duff is indisposed ,playing golf and castigating a greensman.
My question to my fellow Shinboners and to the media who don't seem to me asking the right questions in my opinion are these
-How long has Duff known that some of Norths shareholders are willing to sell?
-Now that Duff knows there are sellers, what is he doing about it to ensure he acts within the mandate he inherintly assumed when he became chairman of the North Melbourne Football Club. He may be appointed by shareholders but his mandate comes from rank and file supporters.
-When did the AFL start sounding out these shareholders with view to purchasing? Who is the protagonist behind this?
-Why did our CEO resign for a lesser job at Collingwood-did he get wind of somnething?
-The big one for me- Why hasn't Mr Ansett who, if you do the numbers and consider that no one shareholder has more than 5% of the vote, not stated his position in regards to merger/sale/relocation when he seems to hold the balance of power in his hands. If he was aligned to De Rauch then De Rauch's ticket would have got up at the election. So is he aligned to the Dawson 8?
-Why has Southport recently sacked its long time highly successful CEO and AFL negotiator seemingly deemed "not suitable to deal with people from North and the AFL" ?
-Where do the Brayshaws sit on all of this. They have been remarkably quiet over the last few days.
My belief is if we the members can get some answers to some of these, to me, perplexing questions - maybe, just maybe we can do something about trying to stop the AFL moving our beloved club lock stock and smoking barrel to SE Queensland (as De rauch has suggested "as early as next year".)
l know alot of this has been done over and over, but its all there in one post. Be interested to see if anyone runs with it, ie Mr Barratt? We need answers, real answers, not motherhood statements or politically correct statements that feed the lemmings and keep them at bay.
Wrath
