Vid - I always respect your opinion, but would like to answer as below, with some facts you may NOT know about:-
I introduced Pat Wilson, Bob Reilly and co. to NAB'S senior Marketing and Sponsorship manager, with a view to become a major sponsor. Hence to say the sales pitch was not up to speed, and NAB decided on not proceeding, suggesting that their sales pitch was frankly, really poor. None of the board, nor club thanked me for providing them with an opportunity in this, and I was the one that had to actually submit a "powerful reason to buy" to Nab in the 1st place to get them there (which Mata & Wheel admitedly had a major hand in creating - so don't suggest they don't do tangible things to help the club either people).
Next thing you know, there was a transition in CEO, and Grant Mayer came into the chair. One of the 1st things he did, was to get on the phone personally to me, and to thank me for the opportunity, and being the man he is, asked that when The Rabbits sponsorship finish, would we be able to give Nab the opportunity to look at Sponsoring the Eagles once again. In fact, he asked if we could look at sponsoring the Eagles under 20's, as well as The Rabbits 1st grade side (he always had Manly's interests at heart).
I then started and created a petition, that ended up with almost 10,000 signatures on it for the upgrade of Brookvale Oval. This petition (after being bound, after looking professional, was given to the club - including Sibraa, Spray and co.). Once AGAIN, I received not one iota of thanks from the current board (although they were the one in receipt of it). Once AGAIN, Grant Mayer phoned, and thank me until the cows came home - asking if he could provide (from his OWN pocket) tickets etc for Wheel, me and the boys who participated.
Frankly, from my point of view, the board (as current), are selfish, rude, ignorant and lazy (with their own - including Max's) little agenda's spewing forth. It's not about what is best for the club, it's what about is best for these greedy swines - examples shown above.
Grant has asked me for coffee on a number of occassions. The board members, frankly wouldn't know or give a stuff about who I am.
And don't use the excuse that they are different entities. Don't be so naive as to think the club wouldn't get a tangible benefit from on upgrade of Brookvale Oval. They wouldn't benefit from a Major Sponsorship of a stable large corporate like Nab. That latter not so much, but if you think stability, ability to be able to offer more, potentially allowing the club to offer less - etc etc.
What I DO know, is that the board prior to Grant Mayer signed off on a number of games on The Central Coast, as they did not envision our potential success as it currently is, and they were worried that crowd numbers would be right down. What I do know, is that Grant told me himself about his frustration in this, as he wanted all home games, at home. He wanted the season ticket holders to get more bang for their buck. He wasn't happy at that decision making process.
There is another story I could tell, about what one of the board do when others in competition to their business, that would blow your socks off (I have told some of you privately) - and these are the people we are having to deal with? The blokes who hang around Benny Elia's? Not everything is as it seems on face value.
I'm sorry Vid mate. Because you have sat down with these people, and know them personally, shouldn't mean you should be star struck. They are inefficient, and there is always 2 sides to any story. Our club was floundering until,
1. Revenue was up by 30%
2. Merchandise sales tripled
3. Membership tripled
4. Season ticket holders increased
all under Grant Mayer.
Rumor has it Max is looking to get involved in The Sharks because of his ability to sink his fingers into the development involved there. In my point of view, that can't happen soon enough. And he can take his arrogant, non-thankful board members with him.
Note - this is not about me wanting thanks, it's about a board that doesn't know how to deal with the common public with courtesy, and make short handed decisions, that hurt the club in the long run (Central Coast as example).
For these reasons, and more Vid, I think I have a right to critique them. Also, if they are the actual League's club board - why is the League's club in so much trouble? They need an investor to come in and pay Bank Debt, or they become insolvent? These are the great mates you want making decisions about The Sea Eagles. Far out mate.
I could say more about Reilly, and his affiliation with a person who ran for council, but will leave that out of this.