What. The f**k.

[Timbo]

Raiders cast eye over relocation
By Steve Ricketts
May 27, 2008
CANBERRA'S future in the national capital is under scrutiny amid speculation the club could relocate to Logan City to become the third NRL team in South-East Queensland.

While Raiders chairman John McIntyre has hosed down relocation talk, he admitted the club was undertaking a complete review of operations, with NRL clubs in NSW and the ACT under pressure from hefty poker machine taxes and competition for the corporate dollar.

The Raiders have eight licensed clubs - five in the ACT, one in NSW and two in Queensland, at Logan City and Toowoomba.

Queensland Wizard Cup club Souths Logan is the Raiders' main affiliate, with players not required for NRL duty being sent back to the Magpies.

NRL CEO David Gallop has made it clear he believes southeast Queensland will be able to support a third team in the foreseeable future, whether it is a relocated club or a new side.
Brisbane league circles have been awash with rumours the Raiders, rather than one of the nine Sydney-based clubs, could make the move, particularly with the Souths Logan connection becoming so strong.

But McIntyre said there were no plans at this stage to relocate the Raiders, who sit only four points outside the top eight with average home crowds of 13,326.

"It's not even remotely on the radar," McIntyre said. "If we were going to relocate, Toowoomba might be a better proposition than Logan City, with the Titans and Broncos having that area pretty well covered.

"We are doing a complete review of our operations and we are confident we have a security blanket in place for at least the next five years because of the professional management of our licensed clubs."





http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/print/0,22451,23763921-23214,00.html

---------------

Probably just a stunt to try and get a better deal out of Canberra Stadium.

I'll string the Furner family and Hawkins up from the goalposts if there's even a whisper of truth.

 

[Chachi]

Raiders are here to stay: Furner
The Canberra Raiders would resist any future inducements to merge or relocate despite their ongoing financial troubles, chief executive Don Furner said yesterday.

While some Sydney-based NRL clubs are under threat because of the effects of NSW poker machine taxes on their supporting licensed clubs, Furner said yesterday the Raiders could remain viable in the ACT despite their own heavy losses.

His comments followed NRL chief executive David Gallop flagging $8million amalgamation packages for clubs to consider if their futures appeared bleak.

Furner began negotiations with the ACT Government and Canberra Stadium boss Neale Guthrie six weeks ago in a bid to secure a five-year contract extension with both.

The club's current deal which ensures a $100,000 annual grant from the Government and Canberra Stadium as its venue for all home games expires at the end of 2009.

Furner hoped confirmation the club would call Canberra Stadium home until the end of the 2014 NRL season would dismiss speculation of a potential shift from the nation's capital.

The Raiders boss revealed last week the club was losing more than $1million a year and that its five licensed clubs had suffered profit downturns of up to 12 per cent.

"Canberra is where we want to be, it's where the NRL wants us to be, it's where we will be," Furner said.
"A successful negotiation period and that will take months will have a major bearing on our future because if we get that, well it's a statement that we're here for at least another five years.
"Does it guarantee our financial safety? Absolutely not, we're not kidding ourselves there, we still need to pay the bills and if we're not making budget or not paying the bills, we'll have to make other cutbacks.
"But when we are able to say we can keep calling Canberra home, it's a great indication things are looking good for the club."

Businessman John Singleton has for years been trying to either create a new franchise or lure an existing one to the Central Coast.

And while the Raiders have played away games at Singleton's Bluetongue Stadium in Gosford in the past, Furner insisted there was no desire or suggestion his club would relocate north.

"It's not even on our radar, we're not entertaining the prospect," he said.
"We're the only inland team in the competition, we're effectively the country team and we like it.
"We're not going anywhere and when we renegotiate a deal hopefully with the Stadium and Government here, that will be even more clear."

A decrease of financial grants due to higher poker machine taxes has hurt all NRL clubs in the past 12 months.

The Raiders' licensed clubs group Queanbeyan Leagues Club, Gungahlin Raiders Club, the Mawson Club, the Braddon Club and the Weston Club have recorded a profit downturn of about 12 per cent in the past year.

But compared to some Sydney clubs, according to Furner, the Canberra club isn't in such a critical position.

It costs about $14million per year to run the Raiders.

"The licensed clubs industry as a whole is facing big challenges, which impacts on NRL clubs," Furner said.
"That said, our licensed clubs are our saviour at the moment.
"Financially, there are no guarantees, it's hard work to stay afloat and keep going and we more than ever need the fans to support us with their memberships."
The Raiders currently have about 3000 members. But the club will soon start a membership drive in a bid to increase that to up to 5000.

http://canberra.yourguide.com.au/ne...e/raiders-are-here-to-stay-furner/777258.aspx

Can't say much more than that really. Just a QLD paper adding 2 + 2 and coming up with 5. Total bollocks.

 

[Northcoast_Raider]

Hmmmm rather interesting, i imagine its just wispers in the wind tho. Yes South east QLD could support another team, but Canberra can too, and i really dont think the raiders will be one of the teams to relocate.

 

[Chachi]

BTW Tim Gavel interviewed John McIntyre on ABC radio here in Canberra. He basically reinforced the above story stating he has no idea where it's coming from and probably just a spinoff theory based on our connection with Souths Logan and the fact some Sydney clubs are under pressure.

Don Furner has also been on the radio saying it's a load of crap, but the club is seeking to increase it's membership base in the wake of the pokie tax drama.

 

[Timbo]

As long as they're furiously denying it.

I feel queasy just hearing us and relocation in the same sentence.

 

[Chachi]

From that CT article it sounds like our contract extension at Canberra Stadium until 2014 is basicallyalmost signed sealed and delivered.

Furner hoped confirmation the club would call Canberra Stadium home until the end of the 2014 NRL season would dismiss speculation of a potential shift from the nation's capital.

 

[Brimmer]

The only clubs that should be relocating should be sydney based ones. Moving canberra defeats the purpose of 'a truly national competition'. I'd take it with a pinch of salt. Fans in canberra though should vote with their feet.

 

[Bay56]

Ditto Brimmer ... 9 teams in the Sydney area is just stupid ... the AFL have 1, Union has 1 and Football have 1.

PS .. fauck I thought this was one more of those stories that I could hang my "I hate management" hat on.

 

[Raider_69]

Bollocks story, as been dismissed by the furners
wishful thinking for the sydney media's behalf

the raiders have been in canberra for nearly 30 years, and we'll be here for the next 30 and beyond

 

[Bay56]

Maybe the Furners have this relocation thing in plan but dont want to let the cat out of the bag lest we get a hold of it and start plummeting them into the dirt on this forum.

 

[matt]

Maybe the Furners have this relocation thing in plan but dont want to let the cat out of the bag lest we get a hold of it and start plummeting them into the dirt on this forum.

HMMMMM..:lol::sarcasm:

 

[Cryptic]

The only reason the NRL wants another team up here, which would most likely be Toowoomba (got to be some reason people want to go there) is because they actually are believing 60 minutes and thinking the AFL is taking over NSW so they are retreating to QLD... Plus the fear of a second QLD AFL team must have them throwing money (and teams aparantly) at the problem... I really can't see the Raiders making the move... The Rabbits or the Bulldogs may be a more likely one... They need to move someone to Perth and someone to Toowoomba I guess. Rockhampton would be better really, give central QLD a team instead.

 

[Timbo]

I think it's more a case of Toowoomba and Logan being comprable in size to a place like Wollongong or Gosford, but more people are moving north to Queensland than to either of those places.

With the rate that New South Welshman are migrating north, it's inevitable that there will be a few more teams in SE Qld.