Show the money
03 September 2004 Herald Sun
Mark Stevens and Jon Pierik
RICHMOND president Clinton Casey was accused yesterday of breaking several promises as tension between the warring factions at Punt Rd escalated.
Brendan Schwab is furious a key member of his ticket, Michael Humphris, has so far been refused access to financial information.
As part of the peace deal hatched in July, Casey agreed to allow Humphris to look at the club's books.
But Humphris and Schwab are still waiting and are questioning why it has taken so long.
"I haven't had a response yet . . . you have fears that it (the loss) is growing day by day," Humphris said last night.
"I'm here to help the club. We want to be of assistance.
"There have been delays. I'm not sure why. It is becoming increasingly frustrating."
Schwab has threatened to force an early election if the books aren't opened soon.
But Casey said last night the Tigers' treasurer and financial controller had been trying to contact Humphris.
"We're trying to set up a time for next week, but Michael has been unavailable," Casey said. "We're ready to go, but apparently he has been away."
Casey said the financial position would be given to Humphris in the presence of AFL officials.
"We want to ensure the correct perspective is portrayed with the results," he said.
Casey strongly denied reports the club's loss would blow out to $2.4-$2.6 million.
He said the amount reported did not take in AFL distribution or Jack Dyer Foundation money.
"Our result is unchanged. Once we balance everything off it will be $2-2.1 million, which we have been articulating for months. There will be no surprises."
Schwab said Casey had failed to negotiate his exit and a smooth transition to a new board of directors as well as provide the financial information.
Schwab said that if these conditions weren't met soon, he would look at forcing an election before December's AGM.
That meeting was originally slated for January before the two parties agreed on a change.
"Some six weeks have elapsed since that agreement was struck and we have yet to be provided access to that financial information," Schwab said.
"We hold a strong view that Clinton has been the worst-performing president in the history of the club.
"This decision about his own future is the immediate point in negotiations."
Schwab has a seven-man ticket to run against the Tigers' nine-man board.
"We have deliberately run with a ticket of seven so there is some scope for negotiations to a new board, so new candidates can come from the existing board or from outside both groups," Schwab said. "But should there not be satisfactory negotiations, then we will expand our group to the full complement of nine."
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,10653256%255E19742,00.html=====
Thanks for repeating that Brendan