Coburg Tigers' future under a cloud (The Age)

[one-eyed]

Future in balance as Tigers look for funds
By Ross Booth
The Age
August 14, 2005

The Coburg Tigers' future in the VFL next year is under a cloud with its president Dean Mighell writing to VFL chief executive Ken Gannon and the Victorian Sports and Recreation Minister Justin Madden to suggest he could not see a future for the club unless it could improve its financial position.

Mighell, also the Electrical Trades Union secretary, said that unlike some other VFL clubs, Coburg had no gaming machines to generate a significant revenue stream, but if granted exclusive use of the City Oval the Tigers could possibly generate enough revenue from activities such as AFL practice matches.

Mighell said he hoped that Moreland City Council would agree to move the Coburg Cricket Club from the City Oval to McDonald Reserve on Bell Street. It is understood that the council last week voted to retain the status quo, 8-2.

Football Victoria chief Ken Gannon said last night: "We are meeting with Dean Mighell on Monday."

http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2005/08/13/1123353542234.html

[mightytiges]

Phil Clearly gave Greg Miller a wrap on the tellie last week for his work wiith the alignment between Richmond and Coburg. It would be a shame if we had to start from scratch again. We wouldn't have much alternative either - Frankston, Noth Ballarat and Port Melbourne (splitting with the Roos after this year) IIRC will be the only non-aligned VFL clubs. I presume it would be too expensive and difficult to have our own VFL team although we'd have every home game at Punt Road Oval and at least 7 of them as curtain raisers.

[om21]

I would love to have our own team. I know its financially not viable but if North are contemplating it, I would hope we can as well.....

[Fishfinger]

Tasmania is another not aligned. To grow a supporter base there would be nice but I can't see how the logistics of an alignment with a team in a different state could work. I'm amazed the Essendon-Bendigo alignment seems to be going ok considering the distance apart.

I've heard whispers that a strong suburban club with their own gaming machines may upgrade their ground to VFL standard and form a new team. If this is the case, I wouldn't be surprised if North are in on the ground floor due to the close links with this club of one of its star players.

I hope Coburg can find a way to become more financially sound. I don't know if shafting the cricket club is the way to do it though.

[WilliamPowell]

A very mischeaveous report IMO. I was at the last Coburg home game and attended the Presidents lunch. Dean Mighell spoke about the state of Coburgs finances and yes he did say that compared to other clubs and the amount of revenue it able to raise it is behind a number of other clubs. However, he also pointed out that debt wise Coburg is over $150k better off than it was 3 years ago. there current debt is around $20-30K (I cannot remember the exact figure). The alliance with the RFC is a very strong one that thanks to Greg Miller and now Terry Wallace is working well.

The major hurdle Coburg faces is the inability of the Moreland Council to make a decision on future of Coburg City Oval - the footy club has been waiting 12 months for the council to make a decision. Move the Cricket Club and alot of Coburg's revenue concerns are erased. Keep the the Circket Club on the oval and they make things tough for Coburg. If this report is correct and the Council has again changed it's mind then it proves how stupid they are - they have a great facility in Coburg Oval that has a pool next to it a perfect place for AFL teams to train in the pre-season and I am not just talking about the RFC. Essendon, Melbourne and the Kanagaroos were some of the others wanting to use it. Foolish local government