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Arthurson leaves Manly behind
By Laine Clark
October 25, 2004
AFTER a 40-year involvement, Ken Arthurson today announced he would finally walk away from his beloved Manly Sea Eagles by retiring as leagues club chairman at the end of the month.
Arthurson, 75, provided a parting gift, unveiling the leagues club's plan to sell its nearby Brookvale property and create a 9,000 square metre, 140 apartment development that he hoped would create a "revenue stream" to counter the New South Wales poker machine tax.
"It's currently in a tender process. We have advertised in major newspapers throughout Australia for people to come and look at purchasing the site and secondly assisting in the development of the site with these units," said Manly executive director Paul Cummings who will takeover as leagues club chairman.
"We hope to obtain a substantial amount of money from the sale of the land, then the development of the property will bring in other income as we go forward."
Cummings said he hoped all tenders for the development - which is still subject to council approval - would be received by November 14 with Manly Leagues Club members to vote on the land's sale on November 15.
Arthurson said: "This has always been an idea of mine. It will enable us to ensure the future of the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Club, and it will certainly enhance the status of this area."
Arthurson expected other NRL clubs to follow Manly's lead.
We've never been afraid to show the way in these sorts of things and this is evident again that we are prepared to do so," he said.
"Other clubs certainly will have to be looking towards getting other revenue streams because this poker machine thing ... they'll be in plenty of trouble if they don't."
Arthurson burst onto the Manly scene as a player in the late 1940s, then became captain-coach, administrator and the club's first fulltime secretary by 1964.
His Midas touch as Manly's CEO and football manager during the "silvertail" years included the Sea Eagles' first premiership in 1972 along with titles in 1973, 1976 and 1978.
Arthurson became ARL boss in 1984 and retired from the post in 1987 at the end of the Super League war.
Arthurson was chairman of the Manly leagues club for 31 years and a Sea Eagles board member for 40 consecutive years.
"It was the last board meeting this morning that he will chair. It was emotional, he will always be the godfather of the Manly Sea Eagles without a doubt," said club stalwart Peter Peters.
Arthurson said Manly would always have a place in his heart despite relocating to the Gold Coast.
"I've always been a hands-on person and when I'm away like that it precludes me from really getting as involved as I would like to," he said.
"But I'd be less than honest if I didn't say I would always be a Manly man until the day I die."
AAP
By Laine Clark
October 25, 2004
AFTER a 40-year involvement, Ken Arthurson today announced he would finally walk away from his beloved Manly Sea Eagles by retiring as leagues club chairman at the end of the month.
Arthurson, 75, provided a parting gift, unveiling the leagues club's plan to sell its nearby Brookvale property and create a 9,000 square metre, 140 apartment development that he hoped would create a "revenue stream" to counter the New South Wales poker machine tax.
"It's currently in a tender process. We have advertised in major newspapers throughout Australia for people to come and look at purchasing the site and secondly assisting in the development of the site with these units," said Manly executive director Paul Cummings who will takeover as leagues club chairman.
"We hope to obtain a substantial amount of money from the sale of the land, then the development of the property will bring in other income as we go forward."
Cummings said he hoped all tenders for the development - which is still subject to council approval - would be received by November 14 with Manly Leagues Club members to vote on the land's sale on November 15.
Arthurson said: "This has always been an idea of mine. It will enable us to ensure the future of the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Club, and it will certainly enhance the status of this area."
Arthurson expected other NRL clubs to follow Manly's lead.
We've never been afraid to show the way in these sorts of things and this is evident again that we are prepared to do so," he said.
"Other clubs certainly will have to be looking towards getting other revenue streams because this poker machine thing ... they'll be in plenty of trouble if they don't."
Arthurson burst onto the Manly scene as a player in the late 1940s, then became captain-coach, administrator and the club's first fulltime secretary by 1964.
His Midas touch as Manly's CEO and football manager during the "silvertail" years included the Sea Eagles' first premiership in 1972 along with titles in 1973, 1976 and 1978.
Arthurson became ARL boss in 1984 and retired from the post in 1987 at the end of the Super League war.
Arthurson was chairman of the Manly leagues club for 31 years and a Sea Eagles board member for 40 consecutive years.
"It was the last board meeting this morning that he will chair. It was emotional, he will always be the godfather of the Manly Sea Eagles without a doubt," said club stalwart Peter Peters.
Arthurson said Manly would always have a place in his heart despite relocating to the Gold Coast.
"I've always been a hands-on person and when I'm away like that it precludes me from really getting as involved as I would like to," he said.
"But I'd be less than honest if I didn't say I would always be a Manly man until the day I die."
AAP
