Private word: Knights supporters group meet with Tinkler reps
BY ROBERT DILLON
22 Mar, 2011 04:00 AM
VOCAL Knights member Jim Thornton said he felt appeased after a meeting with the Tinkler Sports Group yesterday but would reserve judgment on whether to vote for or against privatisation.
Thornton was responsible for a series of full-page advertisements in the Newcastle Herald last week advising Knights members to consider the so-called Patrons Trust and status quo as an alternative to a Nathan Tinkler takeover at a historic privatisation ballot on March 31.
Thornton is the secretary of the Newcastle Knights Supporters Club, an organisation he estimates once contained 600 members but is now down to about 10.
He and supporters club colleagues Marilyn Edwards, David Turrell and Bill Gray were invited to meet yesterday with TSG executive chairman Ken Edwards and chief executive Troy Palmer.
Knights skipper Kurt Gidley and former players Steve Simpson and Bill Peden also attended.
Thornton said Edwards and Palmer had presented themselves very, very well and allayed at least some of his concerns.
I wouldnt say Im in favour but theyve convinced me on quite a few things that troubled me, put it that way, Thornton said.
Thornton said he felt it was important that somebody provided some opposition to Tinklers privatisation bid.
You cant let people just walk in and take over, he said. Theres pros and cons for both sides . . . but on paper it looks very attractive.
Once they put it on paper you can only hope, if theyre successful of course, they go through with everything they say.
Asked whether he would vote for or against Tinkler, Thornton was non-committal.
Like us all, Ive got until the 31st to think which way Im going to go, he said. We dont know whats going to come out in the next eight or nine days.
He did not expect the supporters club would run any more advertisements, which he said last week had been partially funded by the Patrons Trust a claim denied by Patrons Trust figurehead Andrew Poole.
As far as were concerned, theyre done, Thornton said.
The TSG has already met with the Once a Knights Old Boys group and Knights Nannas and plans to address the Carlson Club and Excalibur Club this week, before a members information night on March 28.
It went well, Edwards said of yesterdays meeting. We had a chance to listen to each of the issues they wanted to discuss and give them a good, honest view of what our proposal is really about, rather than what they had been it was about.
We think they received that information in a really positive manner.
Edwards said if Tinkler was to gain control of the Knights, the club would retain an advisory board of at least five people, all of whom, potentially, could be members.
He urged all members to make their vote count on March 31.
Its very important that members dont just assume its a fait accompli because its such a good deal, he said.
Our message to members is to make sure you vote, either by being at the meeting on March 31 or by proxy.
Be part of the vote and be a part of history.
Tinkler will need a 75 majority at the ballot to assume ownership of the club.
I am sure most people were like me and sick to death of hearing about it.
