imported_Outlaw
Juniors
- Messages
- 511
<span>Piggins' passion and vision remain</span>
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<span>Credit to: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
</span> <span>April 3rd '03
SOUTHS haven't won a game since last July but chairman George Piggins yesterday angrily hit back at suggestions his club is in strife. Piggins believes the media is too quick to point out Souths' deficiencies and says the club is in a solid financial position. But, as he tells DEAN RITCHIE, here, Piggins admits that ongoing criticism of him and his club hurts.</span>
Q: Do you think Souths are over-scrutinised in the media? A: Well over-scrutinised. I believe rugby league needs publicity. We appear a lot in the media, no risk. Souths sell papers. The number of reporters who ring myself and other people connected with the club is unbelievable. The more publicity we can get and the more sponsorship the better chances we are of performing. [/B]Q: You claim your quotes in our story â which stated you felt Souths had to win 10 matches this year â were taken out of context. Correct? A: I was talking about how many games Souths had to win â not about the financial side of the club. The finances in the club are quite good. We don't have a problem there. [/B]Q: What state are Souths in with the April 13 board elections looming? A: Very good financially. But on winning games, we're not travelling so good. We've lost three games. But I believe we've been competitive in each match. [/B]Q: Does the anti-George sentiment ever get you down? A: If you see some of the e-mails people have shown me that have said things about myself and my wife (Noelene), well yeah it can get you down. I've given this a lot of thought. Some people have come to me and said it's time to move on. I've listened to them and had a conversation with the board and we still think we're doing a pretty fair job. We'll put up our names again. [/B]Q: You haven't won a game since July last year. What do you say to the fans? A: The keen Souths fans realise we aren't playing bad football. We're on the verge of breaking through for a win. They should stick with us. It will happen. [/B]Q: Is all the amount of publicity damaging going into the elections? A: It's something you don't wish to happen. I think smart members will be able to come along to the meeting and vote for who they think is fit to run the club. That's democracy and I can cop that. [/B]Q: Are you the man to continue running Souths? A: That's up to the members. If you're asking if I still have the desire then yes I have. The members vote you in or out. Whatever they vote, I'll cop. There's still a few things I want achieved. [/B]Q: Were you happy with the way the team performed on Monday night against the Cowboys? A: I thought we were a little down on our game. But by the same token, I thought the Cowboys were well up on their game. They really put it to us. Without trying to get fined, the number of penalties which we incurred â presenting them with shots at goal â would put most sides out of the game. We had a lot of trouble with the number of penalties we gave away. [/B]Q: Should you have won the match, given your strong efforts over the first two rounds and given the Cowboys are traditionally on the bottom of the table? A: We've been at the bottom of the table for a long while too. I don't think you can take anything for granted. We saw Penrith come out and beat Easts. These things can happen in football. It's just who is on their game. [/B]Q: Let me clarify a point, how many wins did you budget for this year? A: We've been budgeting to win 10 games as far as the competition goes and get 20 points. But it has nothing to do with our finances. [/B]Q: Does the number of games you win have any bearing on the amount of money the club makes? A: Of course it does if we win them at home. But if you win away, you still get your two points, but you don't get any money. But (in the interview) we weren't talking about money â we were talking about games. [/B]Q: I thought coach Paul Langmack showed enormous courage by accepting blame for Monday night's defeat. A: The coach doesn't go on the field and play for them. In saying that, the preparation before a game sends them out in the frame of mind needed to win a game. If Langmack feels they were down in that area, he has to accept some of the blame. [/B]Q: So the players must shoulder some responsibility? A: Naturally. [/B]Q: And win more matches? A: As far as winning games, we'd like to be more competitive on the field. Everyone believes what we have put into place will allow us to do that. [/B]Q: Could you be accused of being paranoid towards News Limited? A: Not really. I don't think I was being paranoid about the story this morning. It was very damaging and as chairman felt I had the right of reply. [/B]Q: What about the push to return to Redfern Oval? A: We're working on a return. It's an issue with us. Maybe going there for matches against out-of-Sydney teams such as Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne and Auckland â games that don't bring crowds with them. And we would play the major games where we're going to get 20,000 at the Sydney Football Stadium. [/B]Q: When would you be looking at a return to Redfern. A: Probably 2004 and maybe 2005. [/B]Q: How are you going to get the State Government to outlay some cash for the ground's redevelopment? A: We've probably become a bit worried that we'll have to fund it ourselves. But we're hoping.
<span></span>
<span>Credit to: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
</span> <span>April 3rd '03
SOUTHS haven't won a game since last July but chairman George Piggins yesterday angrily hit back at suggestions his club is in strife. Piggins believes the media is too quick to point out Souths' deficiencies and says the club is in a solid financial position. But, as he tells DEAN RITCHIE, here, Piggins admits that ongoing criticism of him and his club hurts.</span>
Q: Do you think Souths are over-scrutinised in the media? A: Well over-scrutinised. I believe rugby league needs publicity. We appear a lot in the media, no risk. Souths sell papers. The number of reporters who ring myself and other people connected with the club is unbelievable. The more publicity we can get and the more sponsorship the better chances we are of performing. [/B]Q: You claim your quotes in our story â which stated you felt Souths had to win 10 matches this year â were taken out of context. Correct? A: I was talking about how many games Souths had to win â not about the financial side of the club. The finances in the club are quite good. We don't have a problem there. [/B]Q: What state are Souths in with the April 13 board elections looming? A: Very good financially. But on winning games, we're not travelling so good. We've lost three games. But I believe we've been competitive in each match. [/B]Q: Does the anti-George sentiment ever get you down? A: If you see some of the e-mails people have shown me that have said things about myself and my wife (Noelene), well yeah it can get you down. I've given this a lot of thought. Some people have come to me and said it's time to move on. I've listened to them and had a conversation with the board and we still think we're doing a pretty fair job. We'll put up our names again. [/B]Q: You haven't won a game since July last year. What do you say to the fans? A: The keen Souths fans realise we aren't playing bad football. We're on the verge of breaking through for a win. They should stick with us. It will happen. [/B]Q: Is all the amount of publicity damaging going into the elections? A: It's something you don't wish to happen. I think smart members will be able to come along to the meeting and vote for who they think is fit to run the club. That's democracy and I can cop that. [/B]Q: Are you the man to continue running Souths? A: That's up to the members. If you're asking if I still have the desire then yes I have. The members vote you in or out. Whatever they vote, I'll cop. There's still a few things I want achieved. [/B]Q: Were you happy with the way the team performed on Monday night against the Cowboys? A: I thought we were a little down on our game. But by the same token, I thought the Cowboys were well up on their game. They really put it to us. Without trying to get fined, the number of penalties which we incurred â presenting them with shots at goal â would put most sides out of the game. We had a lot of trouble with the number of penalties we gave away. [/B]Q: Should you have won the match, given your strong efforts over the first two rounds and given the Cowboys are traditionally on the bottom of the table? A: We've been at the bottom of the table for a long while too. I don't think you can take anything for granted. We saw Penrith come out and beat Easts. These things can happen in football. It's just who is on their game. [/B]Q: Let me clarify a point, how many wins did you budget for this year? A: We've been budgeting to win 10 games as far as the competition goes and get 20 points. But it has nothing to do with our finances. [/B]Q: Does the number of games you win have any bearing on the amount of money the club makes? A: Of course it does if we win them at home. But if you win away, you still get your two points, but you don't get any money. But (in the interview) we weren't talking about money â we were talking about games. [/B]Q: I thought coach Paul Langmack showed enormous courage by accepting blame for Monday night's defeat. A: The coach doesn't go on the field and play for them. In saying that, the preparation before a game sends them out in the frame of mind needed to win a game. If Langmack feels they were down in that area, he has to accept some of the blame. [/B]Q: So the players must shoulder some responsibility? A: Naturally. [/B]Q: And win more matches? A: As far as winning games, we'd like to be more competitive on the field. Everyone believes what we have put into place will allow us to do that. [/B]Q: Could you be accused of being paranoid towards News Limited? A: Not really. I don't think I was being paranoid about the story this morning. It was very damaging and as chairman felt I had the right of reply. [/B]Q: What about the push to return to Redfern Oval? A: We're working on a return. It's an issue with us. Maybe going there for matches against out-of-Sydney teams such as Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne and Auckland â games that don't bring crowds with them. And we would play the major games where we're going to get 20,000 at the Sydney Football Stadium. [/B]Q: When would you be looking at a return to Redfern. A: Probably 2004 and maybe 2005. [/B]Q: How are you going to get the State Government to outlay some cash for the ground's redevelopment? A: We've probably become a bit worried that we'll have to fund it ourselves. But we're hoping.
