Interesting Max wants this bloke on board. I really shouldn't be saying this, but here goes, and I will leave some names out for obvious reasons.
A number of years ago, just after Max had bought into the Sea Eagles, another person, who had a MASSIVE passion for The Sea Eagles along with his brother, wanted to buy into our club...
(Think 50% of the way to Tinkler).
This bloke owned the whole Strathfield Car Radio enterprise at the time (as part of his Portfolio) and a number of telecommunications businesses (you will see a number of his businesses often advertised on the backs of boxers at huge bouts).
The guy was almost best friends with Des Hasler, and always had all the players around his place (once a week) for poker (apartment in the City, overlooking the harbour).
This guy was looking to get in on the long haul. He had mountains of cash (Delmege wasn't even a shadow of this guy - heck, he even paid his huge taxes that was applicable)...
Well, ego's are, what ego's are. Max Delmege basically told the guy to **** off. That's right, the bloke with the capital, and business wares to drive us (ALA Newcastle now) into one of the most elite clubs ever, who loved Manly more than anything in his life, was told to go and get stuffed, by "our savior", Max.
Absolutely GUTTED, and not knowing where to turn, the bloke just continued to being a Manly supporter, but never raised the situation, due to his love of the club.
3-4 years later, a representative (and very close friend) who currently worked at The Bulldogs organization, kept asking our die hard Manly man (one of Des Hasler's best mates), to come across, and invest in their product. This was met with plenty of push back (for obvious reasons).
Well, after numerous meetings, get together's, gathering's etc etc etc, this guy bregrudging decided to oblige, and started investing in their horrid brand (Bulldogs).
Next thing you know, players across the board were affordable. Ok, they really haven't done well on the field, but their corporate affairs have never been in questions.
Max's doing.
Well, what do you know? Des Hasler's position with "the board" is untenible. Max, O'Reilly, Sydney and his cronies push, demand, judge, threaten etc etc etc.
So Des receives a call from his good mate, and it goes along the lines of, "sometimes, the grass IS always greener and so on and so forth". Decisions are made.
People tend to believe Max is our saviour. We are in this current position, BECAUSE of this mans ego, especially when you consider his business activities were always heading south (according to the media), who claimed the man wasn't even paying his taxes.
Well, I don't see that as a saviour. I see that as loving the place to death, and riding on the coat-tails of the celebrity the brand gave him. All these issues would have been alleviated, if Max stood up all those years ago, and agreed that ego's aside, a Sea Eagles partnership with this gentleman of mine, would have put us in the sound financial position both on and off the park, another club is presently in due to Max's ego, for years to come.
Thanks.
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