BUDERUS
Juniors
- Messages
- 502
24 February, 2005
Dear Supporter,
No doubt you have been aware of incidents involving a number of our players in recent days.
In all likelihood, you have also seen the clubs response, which we believe has been in the best interests of the Game, our sponsors, members, the public at large and the Club.
We are extremely concerned about the image of our Club and have taken immediate action of which we hope you will approve. This action, whilst severe, was we believe, necessary due to the potential damage which this incident could have on the Club and its stakeholders.
We have worked extremely hard with our players to ensure best practice when it comes to awareness and education programs. The players involved in the incidents of last Sunday have breached our own Code of Conduct and the trust of our Club and our supporters.
Importantly the Knights have received widespread praise from many of our sponsors and supporters for the way in which this matter has been handled by our organisation. We have also been endorsed by the CEO of the NRL, David Gallop for the swift action and outcomes we have achieved in a very short space of time. Our board, by their actions, have displayed an unequivocal commitment to appropriate player behaviour.
We also believe that the honesty of the players who came to management and reported their misbehaviour before the issues became public was a very positive sign that the education process is commencing to work. This refreshing degree of honesty from the players placed club in a better position than it otherwise may have been.
As you would likely know, players have been fined and one has had his contract terminated. With the regard to the other matters mentioned in the media, I would urge you to judge our players as you have found them over time. We feel that despite the occurrences on Sunday night in Bathurst, the public and corporate world will accept that by our decisive action that our club will maintain its status.
Our commitment to community values is not rhetoric. It is the foundation upon which this club has been built and has been 18 years in the making. I know that our players will be working very hard to ensure that this foundation stays secure.
In the meantime we will continue to work hard to ensure we are best practice when it comes to awareness of others rights and education programmes for our players.
Equally the Newcastle Knights will commit themselves to delivering the best possible service to you as a Knights supporter.
Yours faithfully,
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS LIMITED
Ken Conway
Chief Executive Officer
Phone: (02) 4941 8200
Fax: (02) 4941 8210
Email: knights@newcastleknights.com.au
Visit: www.newcastleknights.com.au
