Time for decisive action

[Nuffy]

Right now we are likely at the lowest point this club has endured and swift decisive action is required if we are to salvage anything.

What happens between now and the end of the season will make zero difference to 2014, it's all over for this year but our actions and efforts between now and seasons end, on and off the field will have longer term ramifications to sponsors and supporters alike.

The members representatives need to either resign, hand back the HSG money (most are getting) and move tomorrow at 9am to reclaim the club. Frankly the delays have hindered not helped the situation. If there is legal action required, then the NRL should fund the separation.

At 10am there needs to be a meeting between the Knights, Wests and the NRL to get the next steps moving.

Any HSG employed staff such as Bennett could claim breach of contract.

Mids should resign or be sacked because as CEO, he has to accept responsibility and pay the price. Hire a first rate sports administrator, not an ex player with no business experience.

At 11am, Bennett should meet with the team and anyone who wants out is gone by 11.05. Those who are staying will be expected from now on to spill blood for the club.

At 12pm there needs to be a meeting with all major sponsors, I suspect that Hunter Ports is insolvent, I assure you that Westrac will not be re-signing as their mining business has collapsed and Aurizon is getting rid of 100's of employees so I doubt they will go around again so we need 3 more major sponsors ASAP, I'll bet not a minutes work has been done in this area and I wouldn't be surprised if their agreements are with HSG not the Knights.

If they have the will then it can be done, but turkeys don't vote for Christmas.

 

[Noname36]

Great post. Exactly spot on that the club needs to move fast. Have already made this worse by sitting on their hands and not promptly initiating the buy back fast when HSG missed the initial deadline.

I wish this would happen but we all know management will sit on their hands for as long as they can, not even making any deals or even plans for sponsorship post-HSG in the process.

 

[Burns]

Is there expected to be some kind of action tomorrow?

 

[The Showstopper]

There has to be a sponsor or a group of people out there who wants to put the wind up Tinkler. We will never be privately owned again I suspect and I doubt the NRL would allow it. If Tinkler takes this to court he will be in for the fight of his life. The question is how do we as fans let our voice be heard. the passion is gone for most. The betrayal over this is so deflating for many. We were told we would be the grandest club in the land and we have now become bigger joke than ever. Is there not anyone in this town capable of running a major sports license?

 

[Nuffy]

There has to be a sponsor or a group of people out there who wants to put the wind up Tinkler. We will never be privately owned again I suspect and I doubt the NRL would allow it. If Tinkler takes this to court he will be in for the fight of his life. The question is how do we as fans let our voice be heard. the passion is gone for most. The betrayal over this is so deflating for many. We were told we would be the grandest club in the land and we have now become bigger joke than ever. Is there not anyone in this town capable of running a major sports license?

I am sure there are hundreds available but there are only two within the club that seem capable.

Allan Mckeown and Nic Dan, although Dan more as a general counsel rather than CEO.

There needs to be a total clean out and a board of directors who know what they are doing and provide genuine oversight to the management of the club. Vested interests must be purged.

The issue is that the average member would prefer to see an ex player elected before someone with business experience.

 

[Jobdog]

I am sure there are hundreds available but there are only two within the club that seem capable.

Allan Mckeown and Nic Dan, although Dan more as a general counsel rather than CEO.

There needs to be a total clean out and a board of directors who know what they are doing and provide genuine oversight to the management of the club. Vested interests must be purged.

The issue is that the average member would prefer to see an ex player elected before someone with business experience.

This is the one thing that really pisses me off. We're the only club in the NRL who are constantly "in need of a total clean out".

How about this time we actually make sure we don't hire muppets to run the club.

 

[Burwood]

You'd think the NRL would place conditions on club licence holders that they must meet in order to retain the licence. If HSG are refusing to pay players and staff, the NRL should be able to step in and strip their licence.

Do to Tinkler exactly what he and the FFA did to Con Constantine. Let Tinkler go to the courts to try and wrestle back some control of the club, but at least we'll be free in the mean time to get on with business.

The only reason I can see for this to not have happened already is because I'm guessing the $10million is only available to the club as it currently stands, not some bastard offspring that will be created if the NRL and Members Club decide to go down that path.

As for Sponsorship, I thought that there was an article some time ago detailing how certain companies are already waiting in the wings ready to play their part. Although the current board wouldn't have done any future planning, I'm confident that the Members Club wouldn't have been sitting by idly for the last three or so months.

 

[Nuffy]

This is the one thing that really pisses me off. We're the only club in the NRL who are constantly "in need of a total clean out".

How about this time we actually make sure we don't hire muppets to run the club.

Cast your mind back to the last few member elections, the same jokers kept getting elected, ex players etc.

The real NRL directors were also a joke, they weren't even elected and can anyone remember a memorable contribution from them.

As much as I love the place, it's a boy's club and the average member will elect a former player over a business man every day of the week.

 

[undertaker]

How about this time we actually make sure we don't hire muppets to run the club.

THIS.

And regarding the employment of ex-players in crucial administrative positions, the mantra 'good player doesn't necessarily mean a great person to run a club' definitely holds true. 'Jobs for the boys' mentality really needs to be done away with if we are any chance of making major improvements in the short term. This is one of the main reasons why we have had continuing financial problems since our inception into the comp, which in return has - to an extent - affected our team performance.

 

[Noname36]

When Bennett was interviewed today he said that Midley and Chief were in the dark and didn't know what was going on any more than the players/coaches/fans do.

There's your answer. What kind of club has a chairman and a f**king CEO that doesn't know what's going on behind closed doors at their own club? That's the problem with figure head CEOs with no experience. Do you think a proper CEO would let this happen? Especially behind his back? I don't think so.

I'll always love Chief and Matt for what they did for us on the field, but if they're not qualified enough to be in the negotiations or hold the positions they do (especially Gidley) then they shouldn't be in them.

 

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

Cast your mind back to the last few member elections, the same jokers kept getting elected, ex players etc.

The real NRL directors were also a joke, they weren't even elected and can anyone remember a memorable contribution from them.

As much as I love the place, it's a boy's club and the average member will elect a former player over a business man every day of the week.

This is exactly right and its why democratic processes in sport is a terrible idea...

Im not saying get rid of it entirely but dont vote in the ENTIRE board. Divide it into sections (like the Tigers restructure); have the NRL chose a few directors, have maybe this Members Trust Club (or whatever its called) elect a few and have members vote in a few.

Dont give any one group more than 50% control and they will naturally develop checks and balances before any decisions can be made. It still wont be perfect, but it will force factions to consider different perspectives and come to agreements.

 

[The Showstopper]

I am not privy to the expectations from the NFL on franchises over there but my outsider looking in view is that the NFL commission clearly run the show and the private ownership comes with very serious consequences if you fail to meet the provisos. Correct me if I am wrong but several franchises have moved cities or even states for those reasons with the main one being financial and profitability targets being met. We have long been treated as the poor cousins and the breeding ground for tough highly skilled blue collar footballers.

We thought we had moved past that at a professional level but it appears we have just been trading water all along. We can still be a very competitive club with the right support from the NRL. It would be nice if they got a professional business analyst to look at where we need to cut costs without affecting our on field performances. I would be all for having a board of successful businessmen or women who don't have any need to use their position at the Knights to improve their circumstances. Just a group of people who can make decision and not be pushed around. The Knights have always been a club full of people with vested self interests.

No players on the board is my tip. None of them are up to doing the job required minus the emotion. Just cos you played for the club does not mean you know what is best for it.

 

[Joker's Wild]

Why cant ex players just be happy with the good old "Development officer" role instead of being plonked into critical jobs like CEO?. Just be happy visiting schools and taking pictures Mids and leave the running of professional sporting clubs to those suitably skilled and qualified

 

[The Showstopper]

You are right there Joker. The notion of the Knights needing a familiar face on the board or at the forefront of a campaign needs to be seriously addressed. I am not saying abandon it cos that is commercially handicapping us. just don't put them in positions they are not up to. The other clubs must sit there mouth wide open at how Midley got to CEO with zero corporate experience. We had Ken Edwards ready and then he and Tinkler fell out and that was the last we heard of it. I would imagine Edwards would not bend to Tinkler's aggression.

 

[cram]

You are right there Joker. The notion of the Knights needing a familiar face on the board or at the forefront of a campaign needs to be seriously addressed. I am not saying abandon it cos that is commercially handicapping us. just don't put them in positions they are not up to. The other clubs must sit there mouth wide open at how Midley got to CEO with zero corporate experience. We had Ken Edwards ready and then he and Tinkler fell out and that was the last we heard of it. I would imagine Edwards would not bend to Tinkler's aggression.

I don't disagree with your sentiments about ex-players being promoted above their level of competenence. Midley howevever, is merely a mouth piece/figure head for HSG and I was IMO put there just for those reasons. I doubt he is making any serious decisions about the running of the club, I would be very suprised if he is.

To use Tony Abbott political speak its the "faceless men" behind Midley who are pulling the strings.

 

[broncos2010]

I told you guys before success on the field starts from the boardroom and the way the club is run.

This is why the broncos have been on top for so long not because we have all of qld to pick from.

 

[The Showstopper]

I told you guys before success on the field starts from the boardroom and the way the club is run.

This is why the broncos have been on top for so long not because we have all of qld to pick from.

Firstly you don't tell people anything. You give an opinion. You seem to have the two confused. Secondly we already know this. It would be easy to just put you back in your place but that is far too easy. I think you are waiting for the day Wayne leaves and then you can say I told you so. If you actually read any of our posts here you would see that we all get how deep in shit this club is and has always been really.