Apologies if this has been posted.
Mr Paul Grzanka
General Manager, Marketing and Consumer
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation,
Wakehurst Pkwy, North Narrabeen NSW 2101
11th August 2015
Dear Paul,
I write in reference to the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Limited (‘the Sea Eagles’) request for
the Manly-Warringah Rugby League Football Club Limited (‘the Football Club’), as holder of the
Preference Share, to consider the following as per the document “Match-Day Analysis
Summary”:
The consent of the MWRLFC to play less than 10 games at Brookvale Oval from
2016 onwards;
The alteration of the Constitutional requirement and Preference Share right to play
a minimum number of games at Brookvale Oval, and
Endorsement to pursue the best commercial and on-field outcomes with alternative
venues.
The Football Club Board has given very careful consideration to the request and on their behalf
I provide the following response.
The Football Club strongly supports the Sea Eagles pursuing the best commercial
arrangements possible for the existing two home game matches played at alternative venues.
Whilst not privy to the financial details, we understand there are several lucrative options
currently “on the table” for future years.
We are further advised that some of these options involve a multi-year lock in to achieve the
financial outcome.
We strongly support and encourage the Sea Eagles to pursue the two most profitable of these
options, subject to the usual considerations given to the impact on the team and their
performance.
The Football Club Board however does not support the request for an alteration to the
Preference Share right to play a minimum number of games at Brookvale Oval.
Such a request is unacceptable and will set a precedent to move the Sea Eagles away from
Brookvale Oval on an increasing basis.
We acknowledge the challenges and limitations of Brookvale Oval – it is certainly not a new
issue for the Football Club, nor, we assume, for the owners. That is why we have always
supported efforts by the Sea Eagles to seek government funding for its improvement.
We believe these efforts should continue.
Any signal we are reducing our commitment to the place that has been our home ground since
1947 will only serve to give government reasons not to provide support.
We would also be interested to hear how the Sea Eagles are planning to use the existing $10
million pledged by the Prime Minister towards Brookvale Oval and what actions resulted from
the joint Sea Eagles/NRL feasibility study.
We also recall the private owner’s announcement last year of their plans for the complete,
privately funded redevelopment of Brookvale Oval and would be interested in hearing progress
on that front.
Further, we do not give any weight to the argument that taking more games away will help the
Sea Eagles in their current negotiations with Warringah Council. The exorbitant fee to use the
ground is not imposed on a per match basis, but rather on a yearly basis. Based on their words
and actions to date, Council will still claim the upkeep and maintenance costs remain the same and therefore there is nothing to suggest they will reduce the charges for the Sea Eagles
playing fewer games.
The Football Club strongly supports the Sea Eagles’ efforts to challenge Warringah Council
publicly on their fees and charges which are totally out of step with the way other similarly
placed NRL Clubs are treated by their respective Councils.
Warringah Council’s lack of support for a long standing community organisation like the Sea
Eagles is reprehensible.
Finally, although the Football Club Board does not support the request to alter the Preference
Share and remove the minimum number of games at Brookvale Oval provision, there is
certainly provision for any eligible voting member of the Football Club to put forward such a
change to the Constitution and have the members vote.
This could be done by way of moving a Special Resolution at the Annual General Meeting in
accordance with the relevant sections of the Corporations Act (2001) which includes 5% of the
eligible voting members or 100 members to propose the resolution, and with appropriate
notice.
Yours sincerely
Bob Stevenson
Chairman
Manly-Warringah Rugby League Football Club
Mr Paul Grzanka
General Manager, Marketing and Consumer
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation,
Wakehurst Pkwy, North Narrabeen NSW 2101
11th August 2015
Dear Paul,
I write in reference to the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Limited (‘the Sea Eagles’) request for
the Manly-Warringah Rugby League Football Club Limited (‘the Football Club’), as holder of the
Preference Share, to consider the following as per the document “Match-Day Analysis
Summary”:
The consent of the MWRLFC to play less than 10 games at Brookvale Oval from
2016 onwards;
The alteration of the Constitutional requirement and Preference Share right to play
a minimum number of games at Brookvale Oval, and
Endorsement to pursue the best commercial and on-field outcomes with alternative
venues.
The Football Club Board has given very careful consideration to the request and on their behalf
I provide the following response.
The Football Club strongly supports the Sea Eagles pursuing the best commercial
arrangements possible for the existing two home game matches played at alternative venues.
Whilst not privy to the financial details, we understand there are several lucrative options
currently “on the table” for future years.
We are further advised that some of these options involve a multi-year lock in to achieve the
financial outcome.
We strongly support and encourage the Sea Eagles to pursue the two most profitable of these
options, subject to the usual considerations given to the impact on the team and their
performance.
The Football Club Board however does not support the request for an alteration to the
Preference Share right to play a minimum number of games at Brookvale Oval.
Such a request is unacceptable and will set a precedent to move the Sea Eagles away from
Brookvale Oval on an increasing basis.
We acknowledge the challenges and limitations of Brookvale Oval – it is certainly not a new
issue for the Football Club, nor, we assume, for the owners. That is why we have always
supported efforts by the Sea Eagles to seek government funding for its improvement.
We believe these efforts should continue.
Any signal we are reducing our commitment to the place that has been our home ground since
1947 will only serve to give government reasons not to provide support.
We would also be interested to hear how the Sea Eagles are planning to use the existing $10
million pledged by the Prime Minister towards Brookvale Oval and what actions resulted from
the joint Sea Eagles/NRL feasibility study.
We also recall the private owner’s announcement last year of their plans for the complete,
privately funded redevelopment of Brookvale Oval and would be interested in hearing progress
on that front.
Further, we do not give any weight to the argument that taking more games away will help the
Sea Eagles in their current negotiations with Warringah Council. The exorbitant fee to use the
ground is not imposed on a per match basis, but rather on a yearly basis. Based on their words
and actions to date, Council will still claim the upkeep and maintenance costs remain the same and therefore there is nothing to suggest they will reduce the charges for the Sea Eagles
playing fewer games.
The Football Club strongly supports the Sea Eagles’ efforts to challenge Warringah Council
publicly on their fees and charges which are totally out of step with the way other similarly
placed NRL Clubs are treated by their respective Councils.
Warringah Council’s lack of support for a long standing community organisation like the Sea
Eagles is reprehensible.
Finally, although the Football Club Board does not support the request to alter the Preference
Share and remove the minimum number of games at Brookvale Oval provision, there is
certainly provision for any eligible voting member of the Football Club to put forward such a
change to the Constitution and have the members vote.
This could be done by way of moving a Special Resolution at the Annual General Meeting in
accordance with the relevant sections of the Corporations Act (2001) which includes 5% of the
eligible voting members or 100 members to propose the resolution, and with appropriate
notice.
Yours sincerely
Bob Stevenson
Chairman
Manly-Warringah Rugby League Football Club
