I feel so cheated after putting over $2k into the Reds in the last couple of years.
To be honest with you - I think this is why I'm so frustrated as well. It's not the only reason, but it's one of the biggest reasons.
It's not the time I've placed into various ideas, or any of that, which bothers me. The time factor, and physical performance of various initiatives is something I'd do again. It's not a huge burden to my lifestyle to help them with "leg work" related aspects. It's the money side of it that has me furious. I have absolutely no confidence investing financial support into their future projects now, because, I have no idea where my money 'went' this time? - I'm sure the corporate world will be equally as hesitant.
As little as a month ago (as you know Jason), I spent $500 on the design of that supporters webpage?, plus another $100 registering the domain. If they were all aware of the weakened state of their bid, and the imminent demotion of the whole 'WA Reds' club / outfit, then I find their lack of disclosing this to me when I was in the planning stages of the recent $600 financial outlay, as one major insult. I do not accept that this was so "spontaneous" and "unexpected", and just can't believe nothing was said earlier. When you consider I probably have the capacity to save $30 per week (after bills, food, car repayments, rent, etc are paid); the $2500+ invested over the past 3 years becomes extremely debilitating to what I could have been doing with it now (such as paying-off the car, or living more comfortably).
Another $100 went into the "NRL Tipping Competition" they were/are running, though the "$100 weekly prizes" seemed to be completely abandoned, and I doubt - at this stage - they'll honour the 'winner' with anything either considering 95% of the participants are WA Reds players, or WARL administration employees; and since the inception of the competition, no communication has been given to any participants to suggest it's even been remembered (yet is still being advertised via the WA Reds webpage).
My situation is not exclusive. I'm not attempting to play one big "victim" story. I'm confident others have made various sacrifices for the sake of the WA Reds being rebuilt. Which is exactly why those of us who had, will be struggling to justify to ourselves (with adequate reasoning) why we should re-invest in this process for a third time? After all, the WARL are clearly still involved with trying to make a bid. I just don't see how they can "sell the idea" back to us again, and make out it's for the better.