They should be the NY Yankees': Sydney Kings owner lashes Dragons
Andrew Webster
Chief Sports WriterSend via EmailLeave a comment
Sydney Kings owner Paul Smith has lashed St George Illawarra for rejecting his $12 million offer to buy a 50 per cent stake in the club, claiming he could have turned it into the “New York Yankees of Australian sport”.
Smith felt his company, Total Sports and Entertainment, was in the box seat late last year to buy out Illawarra’s 50 per cent stake in the joint venture — only to miss out to Bruce Gordon’s WIN Corporation, which had walked away from negotiations in April 2018.
Big year ahead ... For Ben Hunt and the Dragons.Credit:Getty
He had never spoken publicly about the failed Dragons bid until this column cornered him at a recent Kings game. Given some of the grave misgivings Dragons fans have about the running of their club right now, it’s timely.
“We know what we put up: about $11.5-12 million,” Smith said. “The problem is that everywhere we turned, people were questioning our motives. Honesty isn’t highly valued in rugby league, therefore integrity is a cheap thing to trade out.
“I realise now that, notwithstanding the troubles the club has had, it would’ve been a disaster with us because I would’ve been dealing in a straight-up manner. We would have butted heads with St George Leagues club, who would have treated us like we were beneficial but not important.
"We could have done a good job with the Dragons. It is one of the great sporting brands in Australia. It should be the New York Yankees of Australian sport. It should be up there with Collingwood. But it's not."
WIN Corporation has never revealed what it paid to take part-ownership of the club. The sum is rumoured to be $10 million, although some parties believe it is much less.
Money aside, it’s how the club has been run since Gordon’s son, Andrew, became chairman and the man he replaced, Brian Johnston, became chief executive, that has Red V fans most aggrieved.
Make no mistake: no club is under more pressure in 2020 than the Dragons. Coach Paul McGregor is fighting to save his job; the careers of Ben Hunt and Corey Norman are at a crossroads; the recruitment of veterans Trent Merrin and Issac Luke is puzzling; and all this on top of Origin forward Jack de Belin facing court in early February on rape charges.
Not buying the Dragons has meant Smith can focus on the Kings, who crashed to two losses last weekend but still lead the NBL with an 11-3 win-loss record.
Smith, who hails from the South Coast, remains a Dragons fan — but is wary of becoming involved again in rugby league.
“If you were going to find something that equates to the old Labor left of NSW, rugby league is where they live,” he said. “They are the greatest haters and they never forget. That’s the trouble with some sports. They carry these things in their backpacks forever and they never let it go.”
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/th...ngs-owner-lashes-dragons-20191212-p53jd4.html
Andrew Webster
Chief Sports WriterSend via EmailLeave a comment
Sydney Kings owner Paul Smith has lashed St George Illawarra for rejecting his $12 million offer to buy a 50 per cent stake in the club, claiming he could have turned it into the “New York Yankees of Australian sport”.
Smith felt his company, Total Sports and Entertainment, was in the box seat late last year to buy out Illawarra’s 50 per cent stake in the joint venture — only to miss out to Bruce Gordon’s WIN Corporation, which had walked away from negotiations in April 2018.
Big year ahead ... For Ben Hunt and the Dragons.Credit:Getty
He had never spoken publicly about the failed Dragons bid until this column cornered him at a recent Kings game. Given some of the grave misgivings Dragons fans have about the running of their club right now, it’s timely.
“We know what we put up: about $11.5-12 million,” Smith said. “The problem is that everywhere we turned, people were questioning our motives. Honesty isn’t highly valued in rugby league, therefore integrity is a cheap thing to trade out.
“I realise now that, notwithstanding the troubles the club has had, it would’ve been a disaster with us because I would’ve been dealing in a straight-up manner. We would have butted heads with St George Leagues club, who would have treated us like we were beneficial but not important.
"We could have done a good job with the Dragons. It is one of the great sporting brands in Australia. It should be the New York Yankees of Australian sport. It should be up there with Collingwood. But it's not."
WIN Corporation has never revealed what it paid to take part-ownership of the club. The sum is rumoured to be $10 million, although some parties believe it is much less.
Money aside, it’s how the club has been run since Gordon’s son, Andrew, became chairman and the man he replaced, Brian Johnston, became chief executive, that has Red V fans most aggrieved.
Make no mistake: no club is under more pressure in 2020 than the Dragons. Coach Paul McGregor is fighting to save his job; the careers of Ben Hunt and Corey Norman are at a crossroads; the recruitment of veterans Trent Merrin and Issac Luke is puzzling; and all this on top of Origin forward Jack de Belin facing court in early February on rape charges.
Not buying the Dragons has meant Smith can focus on the Kings, who crashed to two losses last weekend but still lead the NBL with an 11-3 win-loss record.
Smith, who hails from the South Coast, remains a Dragons fan — but is wary of becoming involved again in rugby league.
“If you were going to find something that equates to the old Labor left of NSW, rugby league is where they live,” he said. “They are the greatest haters and they never forget. That’s the trouble with some sports. They carry these things in their backpacks forever and they never let it go.”
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/th...ngs-owner-lashes-dragons-20191212-p53jd4.html
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