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First Grade
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By Ray Chesterton
November 19, 2007 12:00am
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/stor...5006066,00.html
MANLY patriarch Ken Arthurson says state and federal politicians are ignoring the club's need for funds to improve Brookvale Oval and are prepared to let it become an eyesore.
He says politicians are quick to grasp every possible photo opportunity with Manly players when they are chasing votes - but their enthusiasm is opportunistic and self-serving.
"When the club needs help as it does now, they are nowhere to be found,'' he said.
Arthurson was the architect behind the widespread success that Manly achieved with the Leagues Club and in the premiership for three decades before retiring to the Gold Coast.
A much-revered figure at Manly, Arthurson is returning to Sydney on Wednesday for a 7pm public rally of supporters at Brookvale Oval. He said supporters should make their voices heard at the ballot box in Saturday's Federal election if government funding is not guaranteed.
"I don't see how there is any other choice,'' Arthurson said. "We're not getting any help the way things are.The club gets a hearing with local political representatives and they say they're sympathetic - but no money is ever forthcoming.''
Manly say the situation is so dire the club may have to relocate to the Central Coast because Brookvale Oval is the worst of the 19 grounds used in a rugby league season.
"Manly wants to stay at its traditional home at Brookvale but fate seems to be conspiring against them,'' Arthurson said. "Manly got no money for being loyal to the ARL in the Super League war.
"It cost Manly millions of dollars but there was none of the compensation for them that was paid to other clubs. Now there's no government money for renovations despite tens of millions being spent on the grounds of other clubs.''
Manly say that in the past decade NRL grounds received around $900 million in Government funding for renovations including Suncorp Stadium ($250 million), Bluetongue at Gosford ($34 million), Penrith ($15 million), Parramatta ($7.5 million) and Newcastle ($40million).
There was even $20 million to turn Souths' iconic home ground Redfern Oval into a boutique park.
November 19, 2007 12:00am
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/stor...5006066,00.html
MANLY patriarch Ken Arthurson says state and federal politicians are ignoring the club's need for funds to improve Brookvale Oval and are prepared to let it become an eyesore.
He says politicians are quick to grasp every possible photo opportunity with Manly players when they are chasing votes - but their enthusiasm is opportunistic and self-serving.
"When the club needs help as it does now, they are nowhere to be found,'' he said.
Arthurson was the architect behind the widespread success that Manly achieved with the Leagues Club and in the premiership for three decades before retiring to the Gold Coast.
A much-revered figure at Manly, Arthurson is returning to Sydney on Wednesday for a 7pm public rally of supporters at Brookvale Oval. He said supporters should make their voices heard at the ballot box in Saturday's Federal election if government funding is not guaranteed.
"I don't see how there is any other choice,'' Arthurson said. "We're not getting any help the way things are.The club gets a hearing with local political representatives and they say they're sympathetic - but no money is ever forthcoming.''
Manly say the situation is so dire the club may have to relocate to the Central Coast because Brookvale Oval is the worst of the 19 grounds used in a rugby league season.
"Manly wants to stay at its traditional home at Brookvale but fate seems to be conspiring against them,'' Arthurson said. "Manly got no money for being loyal to the ARL in the Super League war.
"It cost Manly millions of dollars but there was none of the compensation for them that was paid to other clubs. Now there's no government money for renovations despite tens of millions being spent on the grounds of other clubs.''
Manly say that in the past decade NRL grounds received around $900 million in Government funding for renovations including Suncorp Stadium ($250 million), Bluetongue at Gosford ($34 million), Penrith ($15 million), Parramatta ($7.5 million) and Newcastle ($40million).
There was even $20 million to turn Souths' iconic home ground Redfern Oval into a boutique park.
