Ryan
Journey Man
MANLY boss Grant Mayer has hit back at claims the Sea Eagles are turning their back on local juniors. John Thorpe, chairman of Valley United and head honcho of the Australian Hotels Association in NSW, is angry the club must pay an extra $3000 to field teams this season because $50,000 has been cut from the allocation to junior competitions.
"Manly think they can keep screwing the volunteer dads and mums," Thorpe told The Sun-Herald. "I don't think they're cultivating junior rugby league in the area. They never have. It's going belly up. We're in deep waters. Footy around here is going to be overcome by soccer and AFL. It's a calamity. You'd think they'd be putting more money into juniors, not less."
Mayer suggested Thorpe obtain more details before being too critical."Mr Thorpe should check his facts," Mayer said."It's between the leagues club and the juniors. We have no say in it. The money from the leagues club to our football club has also been cut - by $400,000. We're all in the same boat."
Source - League Headquarters.
"Manly think they can keep screwing the volunteer dads and mums," Thorpe told The Sun-Herald. "I don't think they're cultivating junior rugby league in the area. They never have. It's going belly up. We're in deep waters. Footy around here is going to be overcome by soccer and AFL. It's a calamity. You'd think they'd be putting more money into juniors, not less."
Mayer suggested Thorpe obtain more details before being too critical."Mr Thorpe should check his facts," Mayer said."It's between the leagues club and the juniors. We have no say in it. The money from the leagues club to our football club has also been cut - by $400,000. We're all in the same boat."
Source - League Headquarters.
