A-League expansion

[wolves and victory man]

The South Coast bid looks in tatters & probably wont improve. At WIN stadium they dont need to redevelop the whole thing, only the western grandstand. The northern stand is only 5-6 years old and is in great shape, doesnt need anything done to it. The hill is fine but facilities are not very good on that side and doesnt the stadium have to be an all-seater for the AFC Champions league? The southern stand is a bit crusty but suitable enough for now. The Western grandstand needs to be replaced urgently as its ancient but the problem is there is a road directly behind it and there isnt much space there. Also they cant get funding off the government atm. I think if they were to replace it, they should put in a grandstand about the size of the Andrew Johns stand at EAS.

EAS has used the hills for ACL.

I agree if the Western Granstand was fixed they would/should base themselves there.

[jacobhalls]

All the South Coast bid need to do is convince the government that it is worth redeveloping that grandstand as it will generate heaps of jobs and bring more games to WIN Stadium if they got an A-League due to the redevelopment.

[dibo]

Egan, you're talking out of your arse about everything

fixed

[Egan]

You like the cheap shot don't you Dibo...

[Tancred]

All the South Coast bid need to do is convince the government that it is worth redeveloping that grandstand as it will generate heaps of jobs and bring more games to WIN Stadium if they got an A-League due to the redevelopment.

Is it really worth developing the current site? It's been years since I have been there but from my 1 visit I'm sure the ground is hemmed in on 3 sides with very little room to expand. Is it going to become another Hindmarsh with no room to grow?

[gyfox]

]

EAS has used the hills for ACL.

I agree if the Western Granstand was fixed they would/should base themselves there.

The AFC requires all seater venues but has an out clause that allows a team to submit a non conforming venue to their grounds committee for approval. Newcastle must have done this.

[wolves and victory man]

Is the Canberra bid f***ed now too because of this

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/ ... 62,00.html

Nursing homes nosedive in $23 million collapse



A WOMAN transferred $2.5 million from her aged care business to a soccer club in a misguided attempt to secure it a national A-League berth.

Millissa Fischer, major shareholder in three Victorian nursing homes, believed she owned Altona Magic Soccer Club, a mid-ranking Victorian Premier League side.

But while she dreamed of sporting success, her real business fell apart owing $23 million.

Administrators Brooke Bird are seeking legal advice over how to recover $2,458,070 lent to the Altona Magic, and $170,000 to Ms Fischer.

"I put funds into running the club and believed that I effectively owned it," Ms Fischer told administrators. "The nursing homes were losing money and to me it became more important than ever to push for an investment return from Altona Magic and I pushed to acquire an A-League franchise."

In reality, Ms Fischer is the club president and the team is owned by its members.

Documents seen by the Herald Sun show her company, Kendalle Pty Ltd, owes $10 million in accommodation bonds, $2.6 million in employee entitlements and $3.3 million in unpaid taxes.

It has an outstanding ANZ loan of $5.6 million and owes $600,000 to trade creditors.

The administrators said Ms Fischer could face prosecution by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission, the Australian Taxation Office and the State Revenue Office.

Kendalle ran three Melbourne homes: Dandenong's Grandview Gardens, Gracedale Manor in Ringwood, and Yarra West Aged Care in Yarraville. The Australian Nursing Federation said the company's poorly paid workers had been badly let down.

"They're really caring, wonderful people," ANF national secretary Ged Kearney said.

"For them to know money that could go to paying them better wages is going to a soccer club. It's just terrible."

Creditors will hear from the administrators on Thursday, who will advise that the business be liquidated.

Ms Fischer's partner Guiliano Massa is listed as company director. But the administrators allege Ms Fischer acted as "shadow/de facto director".

They found the company's books were in disarray and cash records disorganised.

Kendalle has been on the Department of Health and Ageing's radar after complaints over its payment of workers. But the extent of its problems came to light only after aged care assessors discovered residents at one of the homes had bedsores and unchanged colostomy bags.

The home was sanctioned for placing residents at risk.

Last month, Ms Fischer and Mr Massa failed to comply with a Department of Health and Ageing order to attend an "examination under oath" into the practices at their nursing homes.

Ms Fischer goes by several names, including Fischer-Massa and Melisa Vaseljovich.

At its peak the couple's fortune, built on investments in nursing homes and medical centres, was reputed to be $18 million.

Ms Fischer yesterday declined to comment on the allegations.

[beastjim]

Townsville has quite possibly dodged a bullet there. Does mean issues for the Canberra bid, however I would think she was just one of the investors not the investor. Problems but not the end of the road.

[Jeffles]

A high school business studies lesson would've taught her that she didn't own the joint.

[Dasher39]

Some tidbits of news...

■ A second Melbourne A-League team is expected to become a reality when the board of Football Federation Australia meets next week. The FFA is set to grant the competition's 11th licence to a consortium headed by businessman Peter Sidwell, and which now includes two former Melbourne Victory shareholders, Joe Mirabella and Michael Catalano. The new team, tentatively called Melbourne City, will enter the league next year.

- Link

Further Heart For Tassie Bid
Staff Writer
Apr 23 2009 00:44

TASMANIA'S A-League bid has added the group of experts who have helped almost deliver Melbourne's second team in the competition.

Melbourne Heart are widely expected to secure the 11th spot in the A-League and Tasmania is one of those groups hoping to be number 12.

But before Tassie lays all its cards (and cash) in front of Football Federation Australia, it wants a feasibility study carried out to leave no stone unturned and that process took another step forward today.

The Minister for Sport and Recreation, Michelle O'Byrne, today announced the successful consortium to undertake the feasibility study for Tasmania United Football Club to obtain an A-League licence.

Ms O'Byrne said that a consortium consisting of Stratcorp Consulting and Sporting Management Concepts had been selected.

"Tasmania is competing for an A-League licence as part the competition's expansion," said the minister..

"Stratcorp Consulting and SMC have had considerable experience with this type of consulting work, having prepared the successful bid documentation for the Melbourne Heart A-League licence, as well as working extensively with AFL, NRL and other A-League clubs.

"They are also highly experienced in sports business planning and sport infrastructure development," said the minister.

"The feasibility study will look at a wide range of issues including supporter base, potential stadium facilities and costs, administrative/training facilities, and potential revenue streams such as membership, gate revenue, sponsorship and merchandising,"

The State Government will contribute $40,000 to the cost of finalising the feasibility study.

"If the study shows a Tasmanian A-League team is feasible then the State Government will give consideration to assisting with a fully developed business case," Ms O'Byrne said.

A-League taskforce chairman, John McGirr said he believed Tasmania was in the mix for inclusion, but the feasibility needed to be assessed first by an experienced and well-credentialed company.

"Having an A-League team would undoubtedly bring social and economic benefits to the state and would help grow the world game in Tasmania."

Mr McGirr said the Melbourne-based Stratcorp Consulting/SMC consortium would provide the completed feasibility study in around six weeks.

Tasmania's rivals for a spot in the A-League include Western Sydney, Canberra and South Coast.

[Egan]

"If the study shows a Tasmanian A-League team is feasible then the State Government will give consideration to assisting with a fully developed business case," Ms O'Byrne said

Take that as commiting to a rectangular stadium if it feasible for Tasmania to have an A-League team.

[Chuq]

"If the study shows a Tasmanian A-League team is feasible then the State Government will give consideration to assisting with a fully developed business case," Ms O'Byrne said

Take that as commiting to a rectangular stadium if it feasible for Tasmania to have an A-League team.

I spotted TUFC chairman John McGirr when out watching the Bahrain game the other night, and had a chat:

** [Edit: Unfortunately I've been asked (by a different member of the bid team) to keep what was said confidential. Sorry guys ] **

John McGirr also made some comments, I won't go into details, basically saying FFA are likely to go to 14 teams in 2011-12 and TUFC has a very good chance!

Co-incidentally, this State Government press release was publised the next day:

http://www.media.tas.gov.au/release.php?id=26993

The Minister for Sport and Recreation, Michelle O’Byrne, today announced the State Government would provide more than $6 million for sport and recreation infrastructure in the 2009-10 financial year.

Ms O’Byrne said the package saw the State Government deliver on major projects that underpinned key sport and recreation venues and events, including:

$2 million for the Aurora Stadium and Invermay Park redevelopment.
$2 million for the installation of lights at Bellerive Oval.
[....]

[Dasher39]

Interesting news Chuq.

What's this Press Conference that is being held on Tuesday? Haven't they already launched their bid, so what is being announced?

[Chuq]

Interesting news Chuq.

What's this Press Conference that is being held on Tuesday? Haven't they already launched their bid, so what is being announced?

The consultants who TUFC hired to do the feasibility study had completed their report and had presented it to the Tas government the day before (9th June) so I would suggest it would be outcomes of that.

The feasibility study is mentioned in this article from a couple of months ago: http://www.tasmaniaunited.com.au/news/p ... confirmed/

[Chuq]

Just a quick post - but in relation to TUFC bid, I'm sure many of you will enjoy reading the following:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009 ... 620409.htm

http://www.tasmaniaunited.com.au/news/p ... -released/

Particularly this 70 page document:

http://www.development.tas.gov.au/__dat ... _Study.pdf