http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,18019929-23214,00.html
LEGENDARY South Sydney icons last night formed a united push to dump the controversial $3 million bid by Peter Holmes a Court and Russell Crowe to buy the Rabbitohs.
In a move spearheaded by Souths saviour George Piggins, a cast of red and green greats and life members have signed a petition demanding the football club board call an extraordinary general meeting.
The extreme move has the support of retired stars John Sattler, Bob McCarthy and Ron Coote and is designed to quash the Holmes a Court takeover bid before the board can even vote on it.
"We didn't march down George St to be taken over by two people who should be private sponsors - not the owners of South Sydney football club," Piggins said. "Sport belongs to the people. Our football club has always belonged to the members and in the eyes of all these players from the Rabbitohs' greatest era, this is not the best thing for South Sydney football club."
Having learned of the resistance by the Rabbitohs icons, Holmes a Court's legal team Middletons put the multi-million-dollar bid on hold yesterday.
Middletons lawyer partner David Morris said in light of a push by Piggins to topple the football club board, the privatisation proposal was on hold.
In a whirlwind day for the Rabbitohs, chairman Nicholas Pappas cancelled a South Sydney board meeting scheduled last night as plans were made for a meeting with Holmes a Court today.
"It's disappointing there's been uninformed and premature comment about the proposal from sections of our supporters and stakeholders who really have little grasp of the proposal," Pappas said. "The reason I say uninformed is because the proposal hasn't even been made public yet." Rabbitohs icons are leading a push for the club to remain in the hands of members, as it has since 1908, and return to Redfern Oval.
Souths legends Sattler, McCarthy and Coote last night said they were supporting Piggins, including a bid by former Souths Juniors boss Henry Morris to oust chairman Pappas.
"I'm simply supporting George. He's a great Souths stalwart and I signed [the petition] for him," Coote said.
McCarthy added: "I don't believe in two people owning the club. I am supporting George 100 per cent."
To call an extraordinary general meeting the Rabbitohs must give members three weeks' notice.
Souths' AGM meeting is due in March but with an extraordinary general meeting it may be delayed further.
Holmes a Court's legal team yesterday claimed Piggins' comments in the past 24 hours in relation to the leadership of the South Sydney board had forced their proposal onto hold.
Holmes a Court and Pappas will meet this morning before Holmes a Court holds another press conference.
The legends' loyalty to their mate and tradition is laudable but it would be worth something if they could detail how they were going to keep Souths afloat, let alone return them to the glory days, in the future without going down the takeover path.
Once again, emotion getting in the way of common sense.
LEGENDARY South Sydney icons last night formed a united push to dump the controversial $3 million bid by Peter Holmes a Court and Russell Crowe to buy the Rabbitohs.
In a move spearheaded by Souths saviour George Piggins, a cast of red and green greats and life members have signed a petition demanding the football club board call an extraordinary general meeting.
The extreme move has the support of retired stars John Sattler, Bob McCarthy and Ron Coote and is designed to quash the Holmes a Court takeover bid before the board can even vote on it.
"We didn't march down George St to be taken over by two people who should be private sponsors - not the owners of South Sydney football club," Piggins said. "Sport belongs to the people. Our football club has always belonged to the members and in the eyes of all these players from the Rabbitohs' greatest era, this is not the best thing for South Sydney football club."
Having learned of the resistance by the Rabbitohs icons, Holmes a Court's legal team Middletons put the multi-million-dollar bid on hold yesterday.
Middletons lawyer partner David Morris said in light of a push by Piggins to topple the football club board, the privatisation proposal was on hold.
In a whirlwind day for the Rabbitohs, chairman Nicholas Pappas cancelled a South Sydney board meeting scheduled last night as plans were made for a meeting with Holmes a Court today.
"It's disappointing there's been uninformed and premature comment about the proposal from sections of our supporters and stakeholders who really have little grasp of the proposal," Pappas said. "The reason I say uninformed is because the proposal hasn't even been made public yet." Rabbitohs icons are leading a push for the club to remain in the hands of members, as it has since 1908, and return to Redfern Oval.
Souths legends Sattler, McCarthy and Coote last night said they were supporting Piggins, including a bid by former Souths Juniors boss Henry Morris to oust chairman Pappas.
"I'm simply supporting George. He's a great Souths stalwart and I signed [the petition] for him," Coote said.
McCarthy added: "I don't believe in two people owning the club. I am supporting George 100 per cent."
To call an extraordinary general meeting the Rabbitohs must give members three weeks' notice.
Souths' AGM meeting is due in March but with an extraordinary general meeting it may be delayed further.
Holmes a Court's legal team yesterday claimed Piggins' comments in the past 24 hours in relation to the leadership of the South Sydney board had forced their proposal onto hold.
Holmes a Court and Pappas will meet this morning before Holmes a Court holds another press conference.
The legends' loyalty to their mate and tradition is laudable but it would be worth something if they could detail how they were going to keep Souths afloat, let alone return them to the glory days, in the future without going down the takeover path.
Once again, emotion getting in the way of common sense.
