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Football first for Saints rebels The group challenging for power at St Kilda has said it's extremely confident of success at an extraordinary general meeting expected to be held in November. The seven-member group, called 'St Kilda Footy First' includes former players Nathan Burke and Andrew Thompson who played the last of his 221 games for the club against Richmond last Saturday week, and is headed by the chairman of Gregory's Transport, Greg Westaway. A director on the Saints' existing board, John Gdanski, has switched camps, while leading Industrial Relations QC Mordy Bromberg, who played 34 games for the Saints in the late 70s and Olympic swimming champion Michael Klim have agreed to take up roles on the football sub-committee. At the group's launch at Telstra Dome on Tuesday morning it was announced that a notice would be lodged later in the day for an EGM on the 12th of November. "I think there's a groundswell in the members of the club that they are frustrated and disappointed and we would like to take that away for them," Westaway said. Westaway stressed that senior coach Ross Lyon has the group's "100 per cent support", that he believes club chief executive Archie Fraser is doing "a reasonably good job", and that the group's preference would be to retain its base at Moorabbin. But he said the top priority for his group, which formed early last month after several months of ferment, would be to boost spending on the club's football department. "We could put more money into the football department by using some of the profits that we are making," he said. "For example, instead of retiring all the debt, we would have retired some of it and put more into (the) football (department). This is about an investment in football, and it's football first." The Article Angus Morgan/Sportal/11Sept07 St Kilda Senior staff members West of Moorabbin believes that CEO Archie Fraser and other senior staff members would support a spill and have apparently found their positions becoming untenable under the current regime. It is believed that many senior staff members have seriously considered tendering their resignations due to the dysfunctional board and RB's autocratic style of running the club. Whether they believe the 'Footy First' is the ticket they prefer and/or whether any staff members have been in contact with any alternative ticket is not known. However it would be highly unlikely that AF and other senior staff members were unaware of the general outline of this ticket as it is an element of their positions to effectively communicate with the sponsors of the club and to keep abreast with what is going on. It is also still unclear whether another ticket or two will challenge the current board as speculated recently. It is with interest to note that Ross Levin is not on the 'Footy First' ticket as speculated in the press - it is believed that he has been disillusioned with current board organisation and RB's dictatorial style. WoM Ed. Luke Ball's Telstra deal riles Vodafone St Kilda holds Ball, Vodafone can kick free . . . St Kilda Football Club's naming-rights sponsorship deal with Vodafone is on the line this week, and the other clubs are ready to swoop. Leading the pack is Carlton Football Club, run by Visy Industries boss Richard Pratt. Pratt has apparently made Vodafone an offer as befits a billionaire - sponsor the Blues, and every mobile phone at Visy will be switched to Vodafone. Vodafone came on board with the Saints last year, joining Bill Express as co-sponsor of the club. But this week's discussions will be a venting of frustrations, rather than civilised negotiations. When Vodafone joined the Saints last year, it had no idea club co-captain Luke Ball had an existing deal with Telstra. Ball is one of Telstra's national sporting ambassadors, and this week appeared in a series of ads promoting Telstra's Next G mobile service. "During the footy season, I'm away with the team a lot for games and training," Ball says in the ad. "But with the new phone I'm currently trying out for Telstra on the Next G network, I'm always in range." Hardly the words Vodafone bosses wanted to read over breakfast, and that is exactly how it panned out. "This latest situation is hardly good for our relationship with St Kilda," said a Vodafone executive. "When we did the deal, there was no mention of his (Ball's) contract with Telstra, which was kept from us until after we had signed with the club. It's fair to say we've struggled with our relationship with the Saints this season, and this latest incident just caps it off." The Article Mark Hawthorne/TheAge/11Sept07 Challenge response from the club St Kilda Football Club Statement - The St Kilda Football Club this morning has become aware via a media conference that a rebel group is calling for a challenge to the existing board of the Club. At this stage the Club has received no formal notice to this or any other effect. The Club will seek contact with the rebel group to gather all the facts. No further comment will be made by the Club until all the facts and details have been provided by the rebel group. The Article saints.com.au/11Sept07 'FOOTY FIRST' Ticket update The 'spill' was announced at Telstra Dome on Tuesday morning - Representatives have been saying that although the club is financially healthy, with the team we have we should be more successful. They place the blame in Rod Butterss corner and believe that he has been too autocratic in his Presidency role. They believe that there should be more staff and money available to the football department. Nathan Burke said that the current staff at the club had a meeting recently and that when asked how things were going the answer was "We are just getting on". Andrew Thompson was interviewed on SEN and he said that he believes that the club needs to spend the money on the football department to improve fitness and do things better. He said that he believes that the ticket will undertake this in a very professional way. He said that John Beveridge shouldn't be driving around looking at players while other club fly their recruiters - He also said that players need to know that when they are injured the best medical support will be available to them to insure that they get back into the team as soon as is possible. Source: WoM Ed (info from SEN reports) St Kilda 'rebels' seek a change of guard . . . The Footy First ticket aims to replace six of the St Kilda board members with its candidates but have current director John Gdanski re-elected, after he defected to the challenger. If elected, the group will send a football sub-committee - comprising Burke, Thompson, former player Mordy Bromberg QC and Olympic swimmer Michael Klim - to meet with Lyon to determine what is needed to make the Saints' football department competitive. While the challengers insisted football results were their priority, they said some off-field issues needed addressing. They cited four coaches, five chief executives and four chief financial officers under Butterss' presidency as a sign of instability. Westaway said Butterss' feud with Thomas, whom he sacked last year and resulted in legal action, was also an unwelcome distraction. St Kilda must also decide whether to remain at their Moorabbin base, which is due for redevelopment. Westaway was "extremely" confident the group would gain support. "I think there's a groundswell in the members of the club that they are frustrated and they're disappointed and we would like to take that away for them," he said. St Kilda said it would seek talks with the rebels, but a club spokeswoman said Butterss would not comment on Tuesday. The Article AAP/RealFooty/11Sept07 St Kilda board challenged The St Kilda board is under challenge from a group aiming to prioritise the Saints' onfield ambitions in the AFL. The Group, called St Kilda Footy First, is being spearheaded by Gregory's Transport owner Greg Westaway and includes former Saints players Nathan Burke and Andrew Thompson. It will aim to oust the current board led by incumbent president Rod Butterss. Westaway's ticket claims the St Kilda board has put too much money towards reducing the club's debt and neglected the football department. It claims the Saints rank last in the league in football spending, last in staff numbers and second last in recruitment spending. The ticket claims not enough money has been spent addressing the injury problems that have plagued St Kilda in recent years. Westaway is confident St Kilda members will support his ticket as they were frustrated by the club's inability to have reached a grand final in recent years despite a talented playing list. St Kilda have a solitary premiership despite over 100 years of existence. St Kilda Footy First today lodged a notice to hold an extraordinary general meeting in early November, which called for the current board to be voted out. Current board member John Gdanski will seek re-election with the new ticket after defecting. The Article Daily Telegraph/11Sept07 Rebel group aims to 'invigorate the Saints' The St Kilda Football Club says it has had no formal notice of a planned takeover of its board despite a group calling itself 'St Kilda Footy First' announcing such plans at a media conference this morning. The group is led by transport boss Greg Westaway includes former Saints captain Nathan Burke and Melbourne businesswoman Dana Nelson. Burke says it is not possible to spend 20 years at a club without becoming passionate about it. "It becomes an extended family," Burke said. "To sit back and notice some obvious problems with that club and do nothing, to me is not displaying loyalty, so by doing this, I don't think I'm being disloyal in any way, shape or form." Mr Westaway says the group aims to invigorate the Saints. "It's time for St Kilda members to act right now for next year, to choose a team that puts football first," Mr Westaway said. "This is focused on the essential business of being a successful club, providing the right support and strategies to win games. This is a pivotal time in the club's history." The Article ABCSport/11Sept07 Saints greats waver on board challenge Recently retired St Kilda player Andrew Thompson was wavering last night whether to be part of a rebel challenge to the club's board. A new group - Footy First - will launch a seven-man ticket at a press conference at Telstra Dome this morning. The launch was scheduled for yesterday, but was changed until 10am today. Thompson was linked to the new group, headed by Gregorys Transport founder Greg Westaway, but is yet to commit after being questioned by some his former teammates and associates on the weekend. A St Kilda director - John Gdanski - will also been named on the rival ticket, which will challenge St Kilda president Rod Butterss and his board. It's expected that the Westaway group will call for a spill of all directors. Former St Kilda captain and triple best-and-fairest winner Nathan Burke will join Thompson, who retired just two weeks ago, on the ticket. Butterss said it was remarkable that current directors, who had been part of the club's decisions, had not had the "guts" to say they had problems. "You think they would have shared those concerns with someone," he said. Burke clearly indicated yesterday that his problem with St Kilda is the on-field performances. While he has been linked with the rebel group for weeks, he still refused to confirm yesterday whether he was on the ticket. "I have been involved with several discussions with actually a number of parties that are like minded," he told SEN yesterday. The Article Daryl Timms/HeraldSun/11Sept07 Key Saints come out swinging . . . Butterss, who remained defiant last night and was mustering his forces, said he still could not believe Thompson was a definite member of the challengers who will push for an extraordinary general meeting in order to spill the board . . . Asked his reaction should Thompson prove one of the challengers, Butterss said: "I would be shocked, absolutely shocked." The group, which has been planning its assault on Butterss for several months, has singled its intention to retain coach Ross Lyon but review several key positions, including that of football operations manager Ken Sheldon. A challenge to Butterss' seven-year regime has been inevitable since he launched his spectacular but ill-timed attack on his former close friend, sacked coach Grant Thomas, last June. A series of challenges have been mooted but this one has caused much angst among former club champions, notably Danny Frawley, St Kilda's longest-serving captain, who strongly criticised his close friend Burke on radio Triple M three days ago. Burke's decision to play a key role in a messy board challenge also has surprised another close friend, dual Brownlow medallist Robert Harvey. Frawley, however, is believed to have made peace with Burke and the challengers believe, if successful, they will have strong support from a formidable group of recent past players . . . During Butterss' seven years, the chief executive position has changed five times. The rival ticket is also keen to oust directors Glenn Casey, Mark Kellett and Ray King. Butterss, however, is working overtime to recruit new directors to fight the challenge. The Article Caroline Wilson/RealFooty/11Sept07 Vodafone won't play ball Vodafone Australia is on the verge of dumping its naming rights sponsorship of St Kilda, further increasing the pressure on embattled Saints president Rod Butterss. Carlton is looming as the frontrunner to win the Vodafone sponsorship, after billionaire president Richard Pratt made the company a "hard-to-refuse offer". Carlton will offer Vodafone complete access to players, behind-the scenes content from the football club, and Vodafone will be allowed to make a pitch for Visy Industries' entire mobile phone business. "You are absolutely on the money in regard to the Carlton offer," said a source at Vodafone. "But no deal has been signed yet." Last year, Vodafone signed a one-year deal with the Saints, with a further one-year option, but the telecommunications giant has signalled that it will not be involved with the club in 2008. "Carlton threw the kitchen sink at Justin Koschitzke, but we re-signed him," Butterss said. "That said, it's a massive offer to Vodafone. We'll be in there pitching." The other clubs asked by Vodafone to make a pitch were Melbourne, Hawthorn and Geelong. Bill Express, co-naming rights sponsor of the club for the 2007 season, decided not to renew its deal in July this year. If Vodafone leaves, the Saints will be without a major naming rights sponsor for the 2008 season. The Article Mark Hawthorne/TheAge/11Sept07 Hudghton excited to play on To most football fans Max Hudghton is known as a strong defender capable of shutting power full forwards out of the game. However, to Saints supporters Hudghton is more than that; he is the soul of the Club's backline. Ever reliable, always committed and forever courageous, Hudghton's presence in the Saints' backline has forged the strong defensive unit that stands today . . . Although affected by injury in 2007, Hudghton still provided a vital contribution to the games he played this season. With determination, skill and belief there is no doubting the influence Hudghton will make to the St Kilda's chances of success in 2008. He believes he still has a significant amount of footy left in him and is looking forward to continuing his career with the Saints. The Article Vanesssa Gigliotti/saints.com.au/10Sept07 Koschitzke, Fisher re-signed as Saints . . . Fisher, 25, has emerged as a key member of the Saints' back-line in the past two seasons. In 2006, he finished third in the club's best and fairest and this year has been named in the 40-man squad vying for All-Australian selection. There had been speculation that Carlton had been interested in Koschitzke, who was also linked to the Blues when he last came out of contract, however the importance of the ruckman-forward to the Saints became even greater with last week's retirement of full-forward Fraser Gehrig. Koschitzke, who turns 25 later this month, will play his 100th game for the Saints early next season. The key-position star has had to overcome a series of injuries in his time with the club - the most serious a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain early last year. This year he managed 19 games. The Article Karen Lyon/RealFooty/09Sept07 AFL club St Kilda board challenge is on A rival ticket for the St Kilda board will launch a challenge to the incumbent president of the AFL club, Rod Butterss on Tuesday. The ticket will be headed by trucking magnate Greg Westaway, the founder of Gregorys Transport. It is also expected to include former Saints 323-gamer Nathan Burke and midfielder Andrew Thompson, who retired after the Saints' last game of the current season. Two current board members, vice president Ross Levin and John Gdanski, are also believed to be supporting Westaway's challenge. Butterss took over the presidency in 2000. The Article AAP/SydneyMorningHerald/10Sept07 Ego is not enough to run a successful club . . . Greg Westaway is a successful businessman, who is reported to be gathering forces to take on Rod Butterss and his board at St Kilda. We have no idea why and neither does the AFL. St Kilda is a well run club, debt has been retired and each 12 months a profit of around $1m is recorded. This year the club's profit will reach an impressive $1.08m after the Saints budgeted for $870,000. Under Butterss the club has been to two preliminary finals while dogged by injury. The presumption that anyone can run a football club is almost specific to the AFL. It is not enough to drive a fine bottom line. It is essential to know the rhythm and lore of football. Some, like Smorgon, never learn it. It applies to chief executives, too, who come into club football simply unprepared for the scrutiny of supporters and the media. For this reason Westaway would be a great risk. The turnover of CEOs has slowed but five years ago it was laughable it was so high. Nathan Burke, a St Kilda champion, who was an assistant coach to Grant Thomas, said on Melbourne radio SEN yesterday that he was talking to several parties interested in taking on Butterss. He did not articulate his position very well. But he has apparently been moved to consider joining a rebel ticket because he thinks the football department could be better run. That is hardly a reason to destabilise a club that could well push deep into the finals next year. Football departments can be made better and should be but it doesn't need a coup to do that. Interestingly, on his retirement three years ago Burke said that the club had never been in better shape. He had a short stint coaching with Thomas but left unexpectedly. Sources said it was because of a falling out with Thomas but both men deny this. The Article Patrick Smith/TheAge/11Sept07 Westaway ticket launch Tuesday Morning According to Channel 10 news a challenge will be launched Tuesday morning at Telstra Dome. The 'Ticket' includes Greg Westaway (Gregory's Transport), Nathan Burke, Andrew Thompson, a current board member, a female candidate and a QC. The EGM (Extraordinary General Meeting) is expected to be called following next week's board meeting with the election to take place within 60 days from then. All the above information was from Rob Waters. The Post 'saintm' saintsational.com Burke concerned for Saints Former St Kilda veteran Nathan Burke says he is concerned about the direction the club is heading and is seriously considering joining a ticket to spill the current board. Speaking on SEN, Burke said he has held discussions with a number of parties interested in challenging the current St Kilda board. "There are some people who have some concerns about the direction of the club at the minute," Burke said. "I am sure they will come to light in the not so different future. I have been involved in several discussions with a number of parties. Which way I will actually go I can't tell you at this stage. I can tell you, I personally have some concerns of the way things are heading. It is a big decision and I must think about what is best for the St Kilda Football Club, and that will be the basis of any decision that I come to." Burke also responded to reports in today's Herald Sun that a challenge of the clubs' board would be launched today. "It's probably too early to preempt anything," he said. "I am pretty sure nothing will happen today . . . in due course something will happen." The Article Brad Klibansky/FootyHeads/10Sept07 Butterss in left dark on rival bid St Kilda president Rod Butterss said yesterday that he was bewildered that a rival group would today launch a challenge to the Saints board. The group, headed by Gregorys Transport founder Greg Westaway, will announce today that it will launch a rival ticket. The names of those on the ticket, which could include former players Nathan Burke and Andrew Thompson, will be revealed tomorrow. Burke has told friends he will be on the ticket, while the recently retired Thompson has also been approached. Butterss said he had tried to talk to Burke about the ticket but the former champion had not returned his calls. He said it was absurd that a group would launch a challenge without first contacting him to discuss the issue . . . Butterss said he would be staggered if Thompson, who retired after the home and away season, was part of the ticket. "If he was on the ticket, you could knock me over with a feather," he said. "He is one of the most decent and respected people I know and I'm sure that if he had concerns, he'd pick up the phone." Butterss said two St Kilda directors - Glen Casey and John Gdanski - faced re-election this year. The new group can force a spill of all board positions by gathering petition of members that demands a special annual general meeting. Butterss said he expected the Saints to remain at Moorabbin, despite facing some challenges from Kingston Council. The Article Daryl Timms/HeraldSun/10Sept07 Butterss pleas to warring parties to sit down and solve problems . . . Butterss made an impassioned plea for all the warring parties to sit down and solve the problems that he fears could destroy the club. Former St Kilda captain Danny Frawley said yesterday he had been contacted by another former club star, Nathan Burke, to consider joining a challenge to the board. Frawley said he had seen too much infighting in the 12 years he had been involved at St Kilda. "The last thing the club and its new, young coach, Ross Lyon, needs is to have all these people bickering," he said. Club supporters expect those behind the boardroom push will show their hands tomorrow or Tuesday and bring about an extraordinary meeting to overthrow the board. Butterss declined to comment on his feud with former coach Grant Thomas, saying he had said publicly mid-season the matter was over, and he was sticking to that. But he said the legal action by Thomas for a substantial sum of back pay had to be resolved in court. St Kilda's signing of Koschitzke and Fisher follow deals with Nick Dal Santo and Nick Riewoldt. Matt Maguire, Steven Baker and Xavier Clarke, however, still have not reached terms. Koschitzke's manager, Liam Pickering, said the No. 2 draft pick was always keen to stay. "(The players) are pretty tight, so I always was very confident he would sign with St Kilda," Pickering said. The Article Jon Ralph and Scot Palmer/HeraldSun/09Sept07 Butterss in left dark on rival bid St Kilda president Rod Butterss said yesterday that he was bewildered that a rival group would today launch a challenge to the Saints board. The group, headed by Gregorys Transport founder Greg Westaway, will announce today that it will launch a rival ticket. The names of those on the ticket, which could include former players Nathan Burke and Andrew Thompson, will be revealed tomorrow. Burke has told friends he will be on the ticket, while the recently retired Thompson has also been approached. Butterss said he had tried to talk to Burke about the ticket but the former champion had not returned his calls. He said it was absurd that a group would launch a challenge without first contacting him to discuss the issue . . . Butterss said he would be staggered if Thompson, who retired after the home and away season, was part of the ticket. "If he was on the ticket, you could knock me over with a feather," he said. "He is one of the most decent and respected people I know and I'm sure that if he had concerns, he'd pick up the phone." Butterss said two St Kilda directors - Glen Casey and John Gdanski - faced re-election this year. The new group can force a spill of all board positions by gathering petition of members that demands a special annual general meeting. Butterss said he expected the Saints to remain at Moorabbin, despite facing some challenges from Kingston Council. The Article Daryl Timms/HeraldSun/10Sept07 GO BACK TO PREVIOUS PAGE
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