Our Newcastle Knights: Community ownership model for Hunter's NRL flagship

[macavity]

There is no other option on the table, so nothing lost in seeing if we can make this work.

 

[Caped Crusader]

I'd rather continue with NRL ownership than risk the genuine risk of failure that model comes with

 

[Spot On]

If someone could show where the $$$ needed to run the club annually and avoid racking up debts are going to come from I'll be all aboard. I have a feeling further shares will be sold time and time again until the 'community' has had a gutful.

Does anyone know of the plan to stay afloat after the first year or two that doesnt involve capital raising through more shares? Is there a link we can read?

 

[Caped Crusader]

Nope, there is no such link cause that part of the model has been conveniently left out of any article

 

[Noname36]

There is no other option on the table, so nothing lost in seeing if we can make this work.

Other than the inevitable accumulation of significant debt again you mean?

 

[macavity]

Other than the inevitable accumulation of significant debt again you mean?

It isn't getting off the ground without a bulletproof plan to avoid this.

What has been is not what will always be - you all seem unable to grasp this concept.

 

[Noname36]

It isn't getting off the ground without a bulletproof plan to avoid this.

What has been is not what will always be - you all seem unable to grasp this concept.

We're still waiting on that bulletproof plan on how we're going to generate enough income to compete in the current game every year.

Until we're actually given that I dont understand how anyone could be happy to just handover their hard earned $$$.

 

[Caped Crusader]

It isn't getting off the ground without a bulletproof plan to avoid this.

What has been is not what will always be - you all seem unable to grasp this concept.

Sorry mate but until we see something, anything that tells me this is going to be different, that there's a plan in place to keep funding going for the club into the future then all we have to go off is what has happened in the past

Most of us have run out of blind faith when it comes to this club.

 

[macavity]

Most of us have run out of blind faith when it comes to this club.

Absolutely.

The TV deal is a game changer though guys.

Keep in mind also - there is no guarantee of viability under ANY scenario. We have had our billionaire, that didn't work. The NRL isn't holding us forever. Even Wests - long the great hope - is no guarantee.

My semi-educated guess is that Wests and the "community" guys end up at the table. Wests don't want to pay for complete ownership (or necessarily take complete control), and the community model faces an uphill battle to secure the entirety of the required capital but has the opportunity to secure the license for a waived fee , so it could be a good fit. Just need the egos involved to allow it.

We don't need a front office clean out, etc - we need capital, infrastructure (both of which Wests would or already do provide) and community connection/goodwill (which a community ownership model provides).

Here is hoping it all works out.

 

[Spot On]

Absolutely.

The TV deal is a game changer though guys.

Keep in mind also - there is no guarantee of viability under ANY scenario. We have had our billionaire, that didn't work. The NRL isn't holding us forever. Even Wests - long the great hope - is no guarantee.

My semi-educated guess is that Wests and the "community" guys end up at the table. Wests don't want to pay for complete ownership (or necessarily take complete control), and the community model faces an uphill battle to secure the entirety of the required capital but has the opportunity to secure the license for a waived fee , so it could be a good fit. Just need the egos involved to allow it.

We don't need a front office clean out, etc - we need capital, infrastructure (both of which Wests would or already do provide) and community connection/goodwill (which a community ownership model provides).

Here is hoping it all works out.

This is the only way forward I can see for the club.

Can you clarify what you mean by the TV deal being a game changer?

 

[macavity]

The "central" funding is going way up and being tethered to the cap. There is only so much you can spend outside of player expenses and it is a marginal return over the "standard". Financial viability becomes a whole heap easier to attain for all clubs.

This is what I am trying to get you all to understand - once the new deal kicks in we won't need an owner to kick in millions every year.

 

[Caped Crusader]

From my understanding, the promised money to the clubs from the TV deal has effectively been taken off the table. Isnt that what sparked the no confidence in Grant vote from the CEOs?

 

[Burwood]

From my understanding, the promised money to the clubs from the TV deal has effectively been taken off the table. Isnt that what sparked the no confidence in Grant vote from the CEOs?

That matter was settled a few weeks ago, with all clubs getting their 130% like they wanted.

There is only so much you can spend outside of player expenses and it is a marginal return over the "standard".

You could argue that in the era of the salary cap, it is those marginal returns which allow clubs to be consistently there in September, compared to a standard club like Newcastle. An extra million or two each year goes a long way towards having a world class back office, coaching team and facilities.

 

[macavity]

You could argue that in the era of the salary cap, it is those marginal returns which allow clubs to be consistently there in September, compared to a standard club like Newcastle. An extra million or two each year goes a long way towards having a world class back office, coaching team and facilities.[/QUOTE]

I would argue you can't be a long way behind, but you don't need to be top of the spending tree. If that was the case Brisbane would win every year, and Manly for one example wouldn't have won squat this decade. As always, Talent and luck trump all - the extra spend only makes those things more likely to occur.

At any rate my point stands - there is no model that is taking us straight to the top. We tried that, remember....

 

[Spot On]

Those at the top of the spending tree at least get a shot at making a GF every year by qualifying to play finals footy.

We don't even do that. Don't look like it.

 

[macavity]

Those at the top of the spending tree at least get a shot at making a GF every year by qualifying to play finals footy.

We don't even do that. Don't look like it.

And my point is that there is no option on the table that will take us to the top straight away. There is no Russell Crowe for us, and there never will be.

We have to do it for ourselves and this is our chance to have a go at that.

Again I see a lot of nay saying but no alternatives.

 

[Spot On]

For me, the perfect fit would be as was outlined above - Wests and the Community model doing something together. I believe that will be the best outcome.

I dont think many in here are saying 'no' rather making a sensible decision based on mainly the fluffy idea of the Community Ownership model that has too many holes in it atm.

 

[Knight76]

There just isn't enough info on the proposal to lay down the hard earned. But having said that, nobody has handed over any green at the moment anyway as it is all expressions of interest. If this stage is met, I expect the next stage to reveal more of the plans.

Though I doubt we will ever see a detailed financial plan for the club from the group driving this.

 

[NK Arsenal]

For me, the perfect fit would be as was outlined above - Wests and the Community model doing something together. I believe that will be the best outcome.

I dont think many in here are saying 'no' rather making a sensible decision based on mainly the fluffy idea of the Community Ownership model that has too many holes in it atm.

I agree. Something similar to the bundesliga would be nice

From memory clubs over there have to have at least 51% community ownership and the rest can be by a sugar daddy

 

[Caped Crusader]

Honestly, what would Wests gain by buying into the Knights?