This information session is for the members.
The reason I’m presenting is that I put this power point together, based on input from various members of the board.
Where required I will refer to other directors for more detailed comments.
The objective is to provide as much information as possible to you members about the options available to the Magpie Board. It will show what was, what wasn’t considered, and why.
The Magpies board and its representatives have met several times with all parties with the intention to resolve this issue. It has not been easy.
Our focus is with West’s Magpies then West Tigers and West Ashfield. Comments may be made about other parties but it is not our place to speak on behalf of them.
Details of Parties
West’s Ashfield Leagues – 7 directors
Western Suburbs District Rugby League Football Club Limited – 7
directors, 4 appointed by West Ashfield, 3 by the members.
Ashfield Appointees;
Chairman, Mick Liubinskas, Russel Smith, John Donnellan, Mike Bailey.
Members appointees; Paul Dillon, Bob Cairns and Dave Jago
Balmain Tigers
Western Suburbs League Club (Campbelltown) Ltd.
West Tigers, Joint Venture; Balmain 5 votes West Group 5 votes.
Wests group being; 1 Magpies Football Club, 1 West’s Campbelltown and 3 West’s Ashfield.
Facts v Emotion
Wests Ashfield Leagues Club (WAL)
• WAL contribute to West Tigers
• WAL contribute to the junior representative teams in the Macarthur district
• WAL are the major funder of the Magpies,
Over the life of the Magpies WAL has provided millions of dollars to the Magpies for football operations. (25 years in Campbelltown approx $25m). Without the support of Wests Ashfield leagues, the Magpies would not exist in its current form.
Wests Tigers
Wests Tigers support / sponsor the following areas of Rugby League
1. Sponsorship of juniors in the junior league
2. Sponsorship of juniors from St Greg’s
3. The Magpies board has outsourced the control of the Magpie Rep Juniors in the Macarthur
area, being Harold Mathews and SG Ball
4. Wests Tigers also support the cubs to development squads in the Macarthur region and
Balmain areas.
5. Close support / association with Kebra park
2011 and prior the Wests Tigers provided significant support and funding to the Magpies juniors and seniors.
Wests Magpies
Board structure is Four Directors appointed by WAL, Three appointed by the members.
Funding currently is primarily dependant on WAL
New sponsors were approached last year but for a number of reason did not come to fruition.
Game day attendances were disappointing, costs of game days exceeded any
income, ( except for the back to Lidcombe day). Crowd attendance directly impacts
prospective sponsors.
We have a board, and no other infrastructure. WAL paid for an Operations manager full time for six or so months (Daniel Watson Hayes). We have no other staff
We have a small and active group of volunteers ; being
John Harbon, Bluey Schafer, Dave McEwan, Val McEwan, Jeff Applitt, Charlie
Tuxford, Steve Reeves, Ed Topolski, Keith Toploski, Steve Hartis, Scott Morris, Keith
Hoare, Shaun Huthnance.
We again thanks these special people who provide extensive time and effort to the club. Without these people our club could not exist.
Alternatives
The following alternatives were discussed and were considered by the Magpies board.
1. West’s Magpies stand alone NSW Cup side
2. Joint Venture NSW Cup side – Wests Tigers
3. Have a year off , build and plan for the following year and future years.
4. Enter a Bundy Cup Team
Alternative 1
Stand alone Magpies NSW Cup side
The Magpies currently have minimal sponsors – apart from WAL Additional or new sponsors would be difficult to obtain in the current environment especially because of all the uncertainty.
We don’t have a Russel Crowe or Nathan Tinkler.
Money is hard to come by.
The ARL Commission has not provided us or considered stand alone NSW Cup sides to date, but there is talk of a restructured of all three grades.
WAL will continue to support the Magpies but have limited funding and they have many other business commitments.
Government regulations have impacted the availability of funds available.
WAL can’t the sustain the funding it currently does to the Magpies and the Wests Tigers.
Alternative 2
Joint Venture combined team called the West Tigers
A resolution was passed by the Magpies Board by a majority vote on xx/xx/2012 to pursue the
viability of this option.
8 none negotiable points were agreed up by the Magpies board if this alternative was to proceed;
Resolution Passed by a majority - WSDRLFC Ltd. supports recommendations of a single State Cup Team
M Liubinskas, Steve Lavers and Warren McDonnell formed a sub committee to provide and
gather information for the benefit of all parties
Western Suburbs District Rugby League Football Club Ltd (WSDRLFC Ltd.) supports the recommendations of the Joint Football Subcommittee;
the West’s Tigers enter a team in the State Cup Competition and thereafter which will be financially supported in part by WSDRLFC Ltd. subject to the following conditions;
1). Western Suburbs Magpies (WSM) recognised as the District Club of the Campbelltown Area
2). WSM will continue to participate (as the Magpies) in Junior Representatives, Harold Matthews and S.G. Ball and where appropriate other competitions
3). WSM retains all of its rights, including the ability to review the operation of a single State Cup (SC) team in future years.
4). West’s Tigers (WT) continues to work with WSM to ensure that appropriate pathways are met for the Junior Rugby League Players in the South West.
5). The 2013 combined SC playing strip would alternate between Balmain and West’s colours
6). West’s Juniors will continue IN PERPETUITY to be affiliated through WSDRLFC Ltd. as the pathway to WT
7). The name of the team is to be West’s Tigers, that is the joint venture name, and no other organisations or sponsors are to be recognised in the team name
8). An agreement regarding a single stream State Cup team must be in writing in an acceptable format with conditions listed as part of that agreement for a 12 month period
Alternatives 3.
Alternative 3. Have a year off , build and plan for the following year – this was dismissed and considered not feasible as re entry could not be guaranteed. The club would have to reapply for entry, and meet certain conditions.
Alternative 4.
Enter a Bundy Cup Team – this alternative has not been fully analysed, but could be an option in the future.
Emulation of a variation of the Newton model would allow this alternative to be considered feasible, but would take a year or two to set up. Funding is always an issue.
Wests Tigers Board
SUMMARY OF THE DECISIONS MADE BY THE WESTS TIGERS BOARD IN RELATION TO NSW CUP PARTICIPATION FROM 2013
The following motion was put to the 30 August Board meeting of Wests Tigers:
“That the Board of Wests Tigers endorse the concept of a single stream NSW Cup side to play under the name of Wests Tigers from 2013.”
The discussion that followed concluded with the following amended motion being put to the 6 September Board meeting of Wests Tigers:
“That the Board of Wests Tigers endorse the concept of a single stream NSW Cup side to play under the name of Wests Tigers from 2013 and to be subject to the six recommendations of the Wests Tigers Football Sub-Committee being:
1. The single stream NSW Cup team be named Wests Tigers.
2. The team is to be managed by Wests Tigers including the contracting of all players, coaches and support staff.
3. Home venues are to be equally distributed between Campbelltown and Leichhardt.
4. The team will play in Wests Tigers heritage style jerseys, alternating between the Wests and the Balmain
versions so as to provide an equal distribution of jersey allocation.
5. The primary training base will be Concord Oval.
6. All costs are to be budgeted for and managed by Wests Tigers.
This motion was carried with unanimous support.
The Wests Tigers Board also acknowledged their “in principle” agreement with the following items:
1. Western Suburbs Magpies and Balmain Tigers to be recognized as the District Clubs in their
respective areas.
2. Western Suburbs Magpies and Balmain Tigers will continue to participate in their respective
names in Junior Representative competitions, including Harold Matthews and SG Ball and other
competitions where appropriate.
3. Western Suburbs Magpies and Balmain Tigers retain all of their respective rights, including the
ability to enter and support teams in any competition other than those of the NRL in future years.
4. Wests Tigers will continue to work with the District Clubs to ensure that appropriate pathways
are met for Junior Rugby League players in their respective areas.
5. Wests Tigers will continue to support the perpetual affiliation of Western Suburbs Magpies and
Balmain Tigers with their respective Junior Leagues.
Challenges for the Future
Keep in mind nothing is set in stone and changes will occur
Produce a Business Plan required year by year for 3 years. This is very difficult due to the ever changing environment.
A change in coach ( Tim Sheens) could have a significant effect.
ARL Commission (ARL C) has to recognise the importance of the Macarthur district, and the volume of juniors at risk in this area.
All parties and ARL C needs to have an overall strategy to deal with AFL and Soccer.
West’s Campbelltown Leagues Club should be more involved as a part of the Rugby League community
West’s Magpies to rebuild relations with Wests Tigers and take advantage of economies of scale available to West’s Tigers.
The Business Plan to address;
Set up a Wests Magpies tour for Junior players in Macarthur area? To NZ, Fiji, England or USA.
Reconnect with the Macarthur region as district club, and also with the juniors and senior Macarthur clubs.
Reconnect or connect with Group 6
Look to establish a senior team - WSDRLFC in Campbelltown thru 2013 ,for season 2014 eg a Bundy Cup side
Follow up the ARLC on competition structures and grades. We should have at least one senior Wests Magpies team
Part of connecting with the Macarthur area would entail renting a shop front or office in the region as our office or utilise the WT office at Leumeah
Provide a range of merchandise that will appeal to a wide audience, to keep our brand active throughout outlets such as West Campbelltown, West Ashfield and West’s Tigers and the internet.
If it goes ahead as it looks like , support the combined one West’s Tigers State Cup Team.
Continue to support our junior Rep games, and endeavour to have them play before senior games
Conclusion
The conclusion should be an appeal to talk it up - not down, and get behind making next year work.
West’s Ashfield can’t support two stand alone teams being the West Tigers NRL and The West’s Magpies NSW Cup.
West’s Ashfield continue to support the Magpies.
Board meetings are held at Ashfield
General meetings are held at Ashfield
Numerous high quality functions have and will be held at Ashfield
West’s Ashfield agree with the view that all aspects of our football should be centred around the Macarthur region
West’s Ashfield and the Magpies football club both agree a major priority is to somehow get West’s Campbelltown more involved, after all its their community
All options still remain, nothing is set in stone and changes will occur in the future.
