Sponsor deals cut Tigers' toll
By Greg Denham
The Australian
July 28, 2004
RICHMOND president Clinton Casey yesterday received a timely boost to his chances of clinging to his job at Punt Road.
Casey seems certain to make good on a public promise he made to members last month that he would again deliver Victoria's Transport Accident Commission as one of the club's major sponsors.
Casey is under pressure from former board member Brendan Schwab, who has released a seven-member ticket to challenge the present board.
Contrary to media speculation that the TAC would withdraw its sponsorships with Richmond and Collingwood, a TAC source said the lucrative sponsorships would continue at both clubs.
The government body's 15-year association with the Tigers could be extended for another three years.
The Tigers deal for this year is worth about $650,000.
Collingwood's three-year deal, worth about $800,000 a season, is set to expire this year. The Magpies are expecting a similar sponsorship contract.
Casey also expects joint major sponsor Motorola to again be a partner with Richmond beyond this year.
As reported in The Australian in June, the Richmond president believes the club's ability to retain its major sponsors will lead to it returning to a profit situation, by as much as $500,000, at the end of 2006.
Ironically, Colin Radford, the TAC general manager of corporate affairs, is part of the rebel seven-member group.
Other factors that yesterday swung the pendulum of power back to the incumbent board against Schwab's alternate ticket announced on Monday, were the delicate position of football director Greg Miller and the commissioning of an independent business plan, which has the support of the AFL executive.
The highly respected Miller yesterday threatened to quit if the rebel board petitioned members for an extraordinary general meeting.
As well, it is believed he could be made redundant if the alternative board gains control.
"Whatever happens, the Richmond footy club cannot afford to lose Greg Miller," Casey said yesterday.
Schwab, vice-president of the Tigers for almost two years before his resignation in March, was scathing in his criticism of Casey for outsourcing the club's future three-year strategic business plan.
"It's ridiculous to outsource the development of a business plan," Schwab said. "It's a fundamental job of a board and a chief executive."
Richmond is using the same company - Crowe Lovett - which recently produced Melbourne's strategic three-year business plan that impressed the AFL Commission in negotiations for a slice of the competitive balance fund.
Schwab also called for an independent audit of club finances. At least one member of the alternate board said yesterday the rebels feared an even bigger blow-out of Richmond's budget.
After a trading loss last year of $1.2 million, Casey has forecast a loss this year of close to $2m.
"We've got to stop the bleeding and rebuild the business model," Schwab said. "We need to run the ship more prudently and rebuild the relationship between the footy club and our fan base."
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said yesterday he had no problem with the current Richmond board, describing it as being "upfront and transparent" with the league.
"Any club that suffers that sort of loss, you would be concerned about, but we haven't got any concerns about the long-term viability of the Richmond Football Club," Demetriou said.
Casey, who is due to meet Schwab and fellow rebel Peter Welsh today, said yesterday he was prepared to fight to retain his current board and remained steadfast that he would not step aside.
Casey remained adamant that there would not be a spill of the board.
"Unless they have something to offer, we'll be rejecting their demands to resign," Casey said.
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