Danny Robinson Gets His Wish - Saints Are Dead

[Saints Forever]

And that will never happen as WIN aren't interested. If they were de-merged, WIN would invest in the Steelers, as they rightfully should being a Wollongong based business.

Bermuda based actually

 

[Saints Forever]

This.

As stand alone clubs Illawarra and St George are unviable.

I was a staunch Illawarra supporter. There was a deep sense of loss when we lost our stand alone team, but in no way would I want the partnership to dissolve now. I've been a supporter of the dragons for 18 seasons now - longer than the steelers existed- and I'm rusted on.

Many of my friends and family are in the same boat, and I've not heard one person advocate the overthrow of the joint venture to stand alone. The Illawarra only want this JV to work and be successful. This may be the opportunity to make that happen. Our management certainly cannot get any worse.

If Gordon comes on board and fulfils his financial obligations, the JV will finally be on solid ground.

Hopefully the Board of St.George will slowly get the overhaul it desperately needs.

WIN will look at decision making based on performance of admin, coaching staff and players on and off the field.

Unlike Russell Crowe who has conducted himself like a tool on occasions, I expect WIN will bring professionalism to the organisation.

Haleluja our prayers have been answered.

 

[Saints Forever]

First of all it will bring financial stability.

Secondly the likely removal of Mary and co from the coaching staff.

Thirdly, I expect the players will be expected to project a corporate image by dressing more formally.

Fourthly I expect the club will finally compete for players in the players market on equal terms. Would like to think Gordon will be able to access TPA's.

 

[Objective View]

This.

As stand alone clubs Illawarra and St George are unviable.

I was a staunch Illawarra supporter. There was a deep sense of loss when we lost our stand alone team, but in no way would I want the partnership to dissolve now. I've been a supporter of the dragons for 18 seasons now - longer than the steelers existed- and I'm rusted on.

Many of my friends and family are in the same boat, and I've not heard one person advocate the overthrow of the joint venture to stand alone. The Illawarra only want this JV to work and be successful. This may be the opportunity to make that happen. Our management certainly cannot get any worse.

Different story for us St George folk. Of course.

Straight Shooter

 

[Mr Red]

First of all it will bring financial stability.

Secondly the likely removal of Mary and co from the coaching staff.

What makes you think having the Illawarra part of the JV with increased say will result in the Illawarra's golden boy getting chopped as coach?

 

[SBD82]

Different story for us St George folk. Of course.

Straight Shooter

I'm afraid I don't understand your meaning? Seen anyone in here saying that now that Illawarra has some financial backing we should ditch the dragons?

 

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

Different story for us St George folk. Of course.

Straight Shooter

Speak for yourself. I was a born and bred St George supporter, but have totally supported the joint venture since it came into being. Even when St George was in its prime, we had plenty of players from the Wollongong district. I have never seen the joint venture as anything but a positive for the club.

 

[saints4me]

Speak for yourself. I was a born and bred St George supporter, but have totally supported the joint venture since it came into being. Even when St George was in its prime, we had plenty of players from the Wollongong district. I have never seen the joint venture as anything but a positive for the club.

+1

 

[Minh]

Speak for yourself. I was a born and bred St George supporter, but have totally supported the joint venture since it came into being. Even when St George was in its prime, we had plenty of players from the Wollongong district. I have never seen the joint venture as anything but a positive for the club.

Nicely put. I think there's a lot of ups to this move and so long as the name and logo are retained I'll be happy. I hope now we would be in a financial position to be competitive.

 

[Objective View]

Speak for yourself. I was a born and bred St George supporter, but have totally supported the joint venture since it came into being. Even when St George was in its prime, we had plenty of players from the Wollongong district. I have never seen the joint venture as anything but a positive for the club.

Positive? Three to four home grounds, poor management, poor staff, poor recruiting and broke.

I'm still waiting for the super club to materialise.

Straight Shooter

 

[SBD82]

Positive? Three to four home grounds, poor management, poor staff, poor recruiting and broke.

I'm still waiting for the super club to materialise.

Straight Shooter

You don't see how these changes may have a positive effect on some of those failures from the club?

 

[Saints Forever]

What makes you think having the Illawarra part of the JV with increased say will result in the Illawarra's golden boy getting chopped as coach?

Business of any type is results driven.

That can be measured in many ways.

Points scored.

Competition points won.

Bums on seats.

Losing regularly whilst rarely scoring points = less bums on seats.

That in turn means bye bye Mary.

 

[SaintPauli]

The St George Leagues club has been run into the ground.
Need to model ourselves like south juniors which has gym
Pool and first class entertainment etc. Perhaps WIN business
Skills and contacts can turn this around. We need fresh ideas
and MAKE STGEORGE ILLAWARRA GREAT AGAIN

 

[grouch]

Wow. So, the club has been run so horrendously bad that they've been forced to sell it off at a pawn shop. WIN is paying $10m, and $7m of it will be simply paying off all the debts run up by the current incompetent administration.

The incredible thing is that this dreadful turn of events - the fire sale of the joint venture with zero input by members and zero consultation with members of either/any club - may actually be the most positive thing to happen to the club since Bennett. There is still a lack of detail (outside of the long list of debts and loans and whatever else owing by Doust & co), but, from my perspective, I'm ready for any kind of change. The status quo is killing us, quite obviously

 

[Willow]

There is no quick fix and there is no sustainable future when you sell the farm.

If the article is correct, then this is part of the erosion that has been going on for some years. Of course the rot set in much earlier than this. The St George Leagues Club has been slowly going down since the late-1970s. They chipped away at the positive revenue streams that made the Club great, and turned it into a pokie palace. The clubhouse became a money tree, and essentially lost it's way... forgetting the reason why it was built in the first place.

Now, here in 2016 we are seeing the results.

The only tangible protest we've seen over the last 10 years was when the club's onfield performance had got beyond a joke. The club finally got off their collective arses and did something about this in 2009-2011.

The club repaid the fanbase support by reducing our member's voting rights at St George Leagues Club AGMs.

Then they went after our home games, moreso...

Selling home home games off to neutral venues and they wouldn't even advertise Jubilee in front of our own clubhouse.
And we protested.
But we were told we were overeacting, after all this was important for the club's future. Our concerns were dismissed and again, we were told that the Club is in good hands.

Indeed, there was a belief from within the administration, and those who supported the administration, that the Club had "got the balance right." Emporer's new clothes stuff.

Then I saw this article, with the claim that St George had sold off the casting vote. I can't say I'm all that surprised. It fits in with the pattern that goes back many years.

And those who think this will change anything on the St George side of the board, I doubt it. It's a business deal and there'll be those looking after their own patch. Plus imo no one can guarantee that the logo, colours and location are safe. We have seen a series of baffling decisions over the years that has got us into this position, we are no longer have a say in the running of the club we support.

 

[St Georgio]

The St George Leagues club has been run into the ground.
Need to model ourselves like south juniors which has gym
Pool and first class entertainment etc. Perhaps WIN business
Skills and contacts can turn this around. We need fresh ideas
and MAKE STGEORGE ILLAWARRA GREAT AGAIN

I agree implementing a sports facility and even building apartments on top of the leagues rent some sell some.

 

[Dorsai]

A lot of the $7m debt was run up supporting the Illawarra side of the venture,p. I will admit I have never been a supporter of the whole joint venture thing but I do love the dragons and will follow them regardless.

Concerns here need to be that games are not driven out of Kogarah in favour of Wollongong or more neutral venues.

I have said this previously when the whole win takeover was looming, do not expect much change from the bucket of dollars or expect much change in management or attitude. Doust would not have relinquished control without securing his "el presidente for life" badge. Our lack of rights within this current structure is The worst I have seen.

Also do not expect McGregor to go anytime soon with a shift in the power base. His ties to the Illawarra are strong.

The optimist in me wants to see something come of this. The realist knows better.

 

[Dragonslayer]

A lot of the $7m debt was run up supporting the Illawarra side of the venture,p. I will admit I have never been a supporter of the whole joint venture thing but I do love the dragons and will follow them regardless.

Concerns here need to be that games are not driven out of Kogarah in favour of Wollongong or more neutral venues.

I have said this previously when the whole win takeover was looming, do not expect much change from the bucket of dollars or expect much change in management or attitude. Doust would not have relinquished control without securing his "el presidente for life" badge. Our lack of rights within this current structure is The worst I have seen.

Also do not expect McGregor to go anytime soon with a shift in the power base. His ties to the Illawarra are strong.

The optimist in me wants to see something come of this. The realist knows better.

Yeah well said Dosai, great post!

 

[Pro Dragons]

So at the coal face does this mean after all these years we will finally get a recognised half back?
Will we actual get to sign some elite players instead of player managers obtaining offers from our club which they use to boost a player's worth on the open market.

 

[BankstownDragon]

The biggest question for me is, how long have we been bleeding for?