Perhaps we will meet at some stage, and there will be no hard feelings, we just come at things from a different angle.
Delboy, there is no hard feelings. Most of what I write here is not as serious as it reads on a screen. You're so earnest about always bringing up the pokie tax, that I just can't resist getting the rise out of you about it, that's all.
Bart, the point that I am trying to make is to get some understanding of the depth of the financial problem that most clubs face, and the reason that they do.
Fair enough, and I think he more that the club admin and directors share with the members, the better their/our understanding of the situation becomes. We wouldn;'t have threads of ideas and debate about it (instead of about the footy, or the players girlfriends or whatever else) if people here didn't realise the depths of the situation the NRL and its clubs face.
My main point in reply has been that these laws passed long ago now, and everyone should focus on the future moving forwards rather than be stuck in blame for the past. Personally I don't think too much is achieved by acknowledging on here that the club "was put in" a difficult position - it's the position we find ourselves in, and going back over past events outside the club's control doesn't change that.
Your comment re Newtwon , has a hint of double standards, as they receive their funding via Souths juniors and their gambling revenue, who not having an NRL club to fund send the money into the junior clubs, Parramatta do both.
Valid point. I guess my mention of Newtown is that it now more represents what I was drawn to footy for in the first place... in terms of gameday, experience, fan relations, sense of community (not overshadowed by the other). Yes true it doesn't run an NRL team, but if I go and see a game there (or in England, Super League or the lower divisions) I guarantee I won't feel as hollow as I feel going into the leagues club that's more or less had the league (or anything other than pokies) squeezed out of our club in recent years.
The least they could do (or plan to do) is build a new little two storey "clubhouse" purely for football purposes - game day fundraising BBQs, after match functions, hire it out as a function space for 21sts etc, have supporter group meetings held there, have video replay screenings of away junior/Wenty games, have annual trivia nights with players - real grass roots community level stuff again (like the old days of the LC). Keeping the costs down, and have it make returns through hiring out to other parties. And having it give its biggest returns in a boost to the morale of the neglected supporter.
I write the occasional rants I write on this subject in the hope that someone reading who can change things, might read and realise that the club has passed the point of balance and do something - just little things - to put back into our club what they've lost in recent times.
Sorry for always picking you up on the pokie tax spiels... I know there is no big fix for th $6mil other than to trust the NRL to see the clubs/teams through, so I'm not looking for one from the Board or any challengers. What I am looking for instead of blaming taxes and bans are ideas and communication like the above, that make me feel like I want to be a member.
Never any hard feelings Delboy, hopefully none taken either.