Pretty amazing timing.  You got to hand it to him, he knew how to turn a quid.

If he really loved football he would have put a few million away for footballs future. But it was never about the football, it was always about frank. 

Big difference between a club membership only (or pet membership) and somebody who has paid hundreds for premium reserved seats or businesses who have paid for corporate boxes

People here had no ethical dilemmas in cancelling Kayo sports, and clubs have had no ethical dilemmas standing down staff or players

In an unprecedented situation like this there is no right or wrong answer. Some people don't want to pay for services they wont get (nor should they have to) where as others will continue to support businesses. Each to their own

If clubs want to be dicks about this and refuse to refund members who want their money back or make them go through 30 minutes phone calls like anybody who has had to cancel Fox then it just means less members when they start up next season

This was a general discussion about grassroots but for once, football dominates the story: 

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/apr/01/clubs-run-on-the-smell-of-an-oily-rag-face-tough-times-as-coronavirus-hits-community-sport?fbclid=IwAR08BHb5yF8rHE7KsPufxwZa2bQqFl4OdT1Ye8PPPmWWPDDhc-Q_sM_fxXA

I already wanted a refund on my membership before the season was cancelled

This guy right here lol

I could say the same, but I'm happy for Victory to keep the rest of the season's membership payments as I feel I'm a member of this club and I want it to survive.

I can totally understand that there are other people with tighter funds and kids to feed so they're not in my position but that's fine too.

Ha Ha to both of you. If playing shit football was grounds for a membership refund I wouldn’t have paid membership for a few years now 😂

I feel like CFG could refund city membership since they have the money to survive 

I suspect most clubs might offer some sort of credit on next season's memberships as the default option, with people having to ring the club if they want a refund:

>Keeps our money now when it's needed most
>Fulfill's legal obligation about 'returning' money for games not provided
>Provides an incentive for people to sign up next season as members still

I personally won't be cancelling my membership as of this moment in time, but who knows what will happen in the future.

Found this article interesting

https://www.msn.com/en-au/sport/rugby-league/nrl-brings-in-new-medical-expert-as-intent-grows-to-restart-season/ar-BB124CxE?li=AAgg0Zv

The NRL suspended the season on the advice of pandemic experts. The people who have been in the media looking at the top line numbers and entering exponential growth patterns into Excel spreadsheets. Even after 4 solid weeks of data showing that the majority of infections came directly from overseas, and the majority of the other infections can be definitively linked to an overseas infection - these people are still plugging data into their computer simulations and predicting our numbers to double each week instead of looking at what the data actually represents

Now with billions of dollars on the line the NRL have instead decided to consult an infectious disease expert and will look at ways to manage the season by playing conferences in bubbles. No reason the A League couldn't do the same thing (and we also have the advantage of being able to play midweek games)

If you cant analyse a football match by looking at the scores the morning after, you cant analyse a virus by looking at the total cases from one day to the next

I mean yeah, I won't be asking for a refund for one game that's for sure. I'm just disappointed because I was about to hand my membership to Verbeek before the end of last game but my sister told me I'd regret not going to the last game of the season aha

I think it's different for AFL/NRL members though as it's not just 1 game they are missing out on.

I'm not sure I'd happily give the United owners $500+ to watch no games. Especially since i don't even know who they are!!!

I think the refund thing is tough. When it comes to sport in Australia they give away free content for AFL and NRL to the public via FTA. So maybe people should ask for money back.

When it comes to gym or kids play centre or anything else that’s private it’s a little tougher. Yeah you can ask but those places will probably no longer exist. 

Any way personally in both cases I think they are sunk costs. 

“US buyers ready to pounce on Australian teams, says investment banker

The head of a major American investment bank has cashed-up clients ready to buy Australian franchises – and even entire sporting leagues – that may not otherwise survive the coronavirus shutdown.
...,,,,.
"We have clients who are very interested in Australia; not just purchasing a team, but an entire league," Kline told the Sun-Herald. "It’s a great market that we believe in. We feel like there will be not just heavy Australian investment back in the country, but heavy American investment back in the country.”
.....
Due to confidentiality arrangements, Kline did not want to disclose the identity of his clients or the properties they are targeting. However, the Sun-Herald understands the four football codes – NRL, AFL, A-League and rugby union – are on the radar. While some clients are content to purchase a single team, others have the means and desire to buy out an entire sporting code.”


https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/us-buyers-ready-to-pounce-on-australian-teams-says-investment-banker-20200404-p54h2f.html

Flashbacks to this-

Soccer's big money challenge: make the A-League attractive to investors FFA chairman Steven Lowy and his CEO David Gallop are under pressure to evolve the A-League. Getty Images The global drinks brand Red Bull has spent hundreds of millions of dollars promoting its brand via sport in recent years, including owning a Formula One racing team and several soccer clubs around the world. AFR Weekend also understands Red Bull is investigating buying or establishing a team in the A-League. That such a huge brand, headed by its Austrian co-founder and billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz, is interested in Australian soccer should be considered – at least in business circles – a considerable fillip for the local league, which is only 12 seasons old. But the A-League and Football Federation Australia, headed by chairman and Westfield co-chief executive Steven Lowy and his CEO David Gallop, have other issues that are to come to a head. And how they deal with them will either see the investment flood in or dry up. The A-League had a tumultuous first decade when it soared higher than the sport ever has at times in terms of crowd numbers and general interest, but also saw the clubs' private owners lose more than $200 million combined – an astronomical amount. Those owners have had enough and want FFA board representation or at least more say, including an ownership stake potentially, in the A-league. FFA want to stay in charge of the sport and have a say in how the league is run. Yet Lowy, who took over from his father Frank in the role in November 2015, and the FFA, admit change is needed. They want more clubs in the 10-team competition (more teams mean more matches and better opportunities for emerging players). But as it is, the sport can't afford to expand unless things change. "What the FFA has to do is come up with a structure that attracts more capital," Lowy tells AFR Weekend. "The model we had worked a certain time. We have to remember that after FFA was restructured in 2003 and 2004 – we achieved a lot of great things. Now is the time for the next phase." That includes offering an olive branch to clubs, with Lowy saying he foresees a model where the league operates as a sort of joint venture with the clubs in common ownership. "We understand the need for a separate A-League, where there is some ownership for clubs but with close links to the FFA. I am looking at this as a businessman. I would really like them to have that opportunity to make money on having that asset, to sell their shares if they want and for owners of expansion teams to buy in. We can raise capital that way. But we need owners who are in the sport for the long term." Yet FFA does not want to give total control to the clubs, fearful the situation unfolds as it did in England where the Premier League teams are the richest in the world but the national team struggles and little money drips down to the grassroots. Lowy says he has heard the criticism FFA has taken too long to be convinced to cede power but claims he has, as a businessman, been considering options since being appointed a little over a year ago. He also points out many board members, such as BT Funds Management boss Crispin Murray and Commonwealth Bank institutional banking head, Kelly Bayer Rosmarin, are relatively new to their roles. "We need to get this right. So we have to take some time, it will take many months. We will, like any corporation, bring in advice [from a yet to be named advisory firm]. We will consult deeply with the clubs, we will talk to stakeholders." Professional Footballers' Association CEO John Didulica, who has worked at the FFA and at Melbourne City previously, says whatever decision are made need to be with the aspiration of making Australian soccer competitive on a global basis. "If you do that, then I think the decisions you make will be easier. We need to be aspirational and not just shrink back to only worrying about what happens here. The flow of money through world football is massive, and people are interested in investing here. The potential is there, just look at the record crowd numbers, TV numbers and participation. But we need to have a proper discussion about what the industry looks like to make it attractive." Options abound as to the method FFA could use to raise more capital. It could, as seems likely, devolve some ownership and responsibility to the clubs, who could then raise fresh equity to invest in the league and also charge licence fees to any new clubs that join via expansion – though there are concerns the existing clubs may not want new teams operating in cities or territories where they are currently located. FFA is also considering the option of selling a stake in the league to a private equity investor, in a similar manner to the V8Supercars motor racing circuit. Private equity firm Archer Capital bought a 60 per cent stake in the circuit for $180 million in 2011, with the racing teams' owners holding the remaining stake. Another option could see a media company like News Corp, which used to own half of the National Rugby League when FFA chief executive David Gallop was running that sport, emerge as an option. News owns Fox Sports, which telecasts the A-League and recently agreed to a new record six-year $346 million deal. Other investors from overseas have been sniffing around the league, and potentially a company like Red Bull could be convinced to invest. Red Bull for now is said to be looking for a new team to start from scratch, rather than buy an established name and risk alienating a fan base. Lowy says all options will be considered. "Yes, time is of the essence. But we have to get things right. We are thinking very deeply about this." Whether that is enough to satisfy clubs urgently calling for change and more control is another thing. Soccer is, after all, a game that can look deceptively simple to play but often proves devilishly difficult to master.http://www.afr.com/business/sport/soccers-big-money-challenge-make-the-aleague-attractive-to-investors-20170301-guo7bs

I think selling the league isn’t all fantasy.

Steven Lowy presented the idea.

it was even agreed upon and put in by FFA

“In the interests of ensuring the whole of the Australian game benefits from the commercial re-focus of the Professional Leagues, a number of recommendations have been agreed upon, including:
 • There will be an annual contribution from League revenues to FFA including for National Team programs and grassroots initiatives. This contribution will be equal to 1.125 times the amount that will be distributed by the League to any individual Club in the same year. The minimum contribution will be A$4.5m per year in the first instance and indexed linked to CPI thereafter;
• The Leagues be relieved of the licence payment obligation for the next four seasons in order that investment in the long-term sustainability and growth of the League is maximised. In effect, this recommendation will see FFA re-invest its licence fee in the Australian professional game in order to help ensure longer-term sustainable returns;
 • Once adopted, the recommendations will precipitate the injection by the Clubs of significant capital in the Leagues to enhance the on-field product and bolster their commercial and marketing appeal.

 For the benefit of the National Teams and grassroots programs, the NLWG has identified a number of ongoing funding opportunities that the Leagues will provide, including:
 • FFA will receive 10% yields from the sale of new Club licenses and on the net profits from any sale of existing licenses.
• FFA will receive a funding allocation annually equivalent to 10% of the value of transfers of Australian domestic players internationally.
• FFA will retain a 20%, non-diluting and non-voting, ‘carry’ equity share in the League. Importantly, if a portion of the Leagues are ever sold in order to generate investment funds for further growth of the League then 20% of those proceeds would be allocated to FFA for investment in accordance with FFA’s objects.”

https://www.footballvictoria.com.au/news/new-leagues-working-group-nlwg-reaches-principle-agreement-recommendations-a-new-era-football

If there are Americans willing to pay $300 million for a single MLS license, then clearly there'd be Americans willing to pay half that to buy the whole A-League outright.
The key question is:  what does buying the whole league actually mean?
If people feel right now that there is a disconnect between the elite tier and the grassroots, what will that disconnect look like if the league is completely owned by one person or one entity?

I’m amazed people think American ownership would be a good thing. 

Yeah it sounds like "globalization" ....it doesn't work.
You need a variety of owners with varying styles and methods . It makes life more interesting and is healthy for competition.
We are retreating to "nation states" in life because it has been shown people are tribal and they know how to look after themselves better than one large entity can .
Clubs  an their supporters need to be tribal too ...it is the very essence of football worldwide .
If there were some rich American owners that may be a good thing but I dislike the whole league being owned by one entity.

haha.....yeah, i'm sure the globe will stop trading with each other and we will go back to 1930 where everything worked.

Without knowing the mls too well it seems like the owners embrace the supporter experience and game days outperform what Australia dishes up.

You don't hear too many fans v owner issues going on except #savethecrew a little while ago

Why would we want anyone like that?

It's all academic, he left years ago.
There's no doubt that at the time Lowy snr had more clout than anyone else in Australia, and it benefitted the professional level of the game enormously.
It might be a very long time before we see those sorts of resources flowing back into the professional tier of the game again.
He erred in handing the reigns to his son, and for that he should be rightly admonished.
As for the governance reforms of 18 months ago, it will amount to a big fat zero, that much is already clear.

nrl - which could probably deal with this the easiest because it's basically a tv sport now - floating relocation to an island or regional city to begin comp again.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/apr/03/nrl-and-players-open-to-island-proposal-to-get-season-back-underway

https://7news.com.au/sport/rugby-league/nrl-will-soon-finalise-bubble-test-plans-c-956597

"targeting a june 1 resumption"

26

Channel Nine rips into NRL

“Leigh Matthews wonders if footy fans are being played for fools. It comes after the NRL confidently flagged May 28 as a return date, despite the coronavirus pandemic shutting down most of Australia. And there’s talk the AFL is seriously considering a quarantine “hub” for clubs to get its own season going.
 “I’m beginning to think we’re being played as suckers, the public,” Lethal said on Sportsday. “I reckon the football competitions, both the AFL and NRL, are deliberately leaking stuff just to keep us talking about the sport.
 “They could not possibly have any idea when they’re going to play, because this has to be ticked off by the government, clearly, so they’ve got no idea, I wouldn’t have thought.” Lethal said he wasn’t convinced there’d be any footy any time soon.
 “The Prime Minister keeps saying the restrictions are likely to be in place for months, maybe six months, and our sports keep saying ‘but yeah, we think we might be playing in two months’ – I think it’s a very optimistic view being trotted out in the public,” he said.
https://www.3aw.com.au/leigh-matthews-wonders-if-footy-fans-are-being-played-as-suckers/

reminds me of how the FFA used to talk about promotion and relegation...

“While they were inside the NRL’s Moore Park headquarters talking up how to get the NRL back in motion, Channel Nine dropped their negotiating bombshell out the front.

The timing was so impeccable it was like it was orchestrated.

So what happens from here?

The card tricks start to get serious at the negotiating table.

Channel Nine clearly doesn’t want to spend as much.

They’ve already told share-holders they’ll save $130 million without the NRL being played this season.

The NRL were swift to call the drive-by out today, offering to fulfil the existing broadcast deal by completing a full 25-round season from May 28.

Where will it all end up?

Most likely NRL fans will end up with 13 more rounds of regular season football, a State of Origin series and then finals and a grand final.

It’s often said rugby league is as tough off the field as it is on it. Today was like an all-in brawl involving Steve Roach, Les Davidson, Steve Bowden and Mark Broadhurst. Brutal.”

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/hooper-the-nrl-will-sign-off-today-on-a-may-return-heres-exactly-how-its-going-to-work/news-story/85ca523eb52fd940efd295569e98161a

This reset might be just the thing to make rugby great again

Peter FitzSimons

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-union/this-reset-might-be-just-the-thing-to-make-rugby-great-again-20200408-p54icp.html

“Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust chairman Tony Shepherd has defended the spending of the organisation as it bids to ward off insolvency, saying coronavirus and its financial impact was "nothing we could have predicted".

It is a devastating turn of events for one of Sydney’s most prestigious and powerful institutions, which has a 13-year waitlist to join as a member and boasts as trustees broadcaster Alan Jones, Harvey Norman chief executive Katie Page and corporate heavyweight Shepherd.
 Sources told the Herald the situation was so bleak that there had even been difficulty paying suppliers but Shepherd said he had been assured they were being paid, insisting funds had not completely dried up.
.......

Asked whether the Trust would need a bailout from the state government to remain afloat, Shepherd was confident it wouldn't but that it would depend on how long sport remains suspended.

"We’ll make it but we don’t have money coming out of our ears, that’s for sure," he said.”

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/we-are-not-broke-scg-chair-goes-into-bat-as-coronavirus-hits-trust-20200407-p54hyg.html

“The chairman and chief executive of the Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust say the organisation is fighting to remain solvent after the shutdown of sport due to COVID-19, urging people to retain memberships but admitting the situation is so dire it is not in a position to offer refunds.”

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/desperate-situation-scg-trust-urges-members-not-to-walk-away-20200331-p54fq8.html

“West Australian police have cleared Fremantle captain Nat Fyfe of any wrongdoing after he was photographed surfing in Margaret River amid the state’s lockdown.

WA Police released a statement on Thursday night, saying Fyfe wouldn’t be fined as he didn’t breach social distancing requirements. It was deemed Fyfe had a “valid exemption” and was “compliant with directions regarding regional travel” after he was seen following a surf in the state’s southwest.”

The Dockers also confirmed Fyfe had an exemption note, which states he’s an approved essential WA traveller and has been acting in accordance with its guidelines.

A police review found Fyfe was at Gas Bay, south of Margaret River, for essential business. Police said he entered the region in order to provide transport services – he was picking up lime while working for his father’s trucking company – and was waiting for a truck to be loaded when he went surfing.”

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2020-nat-fyfe-surfing-in-margaret-river-western-australia-border-closures-fremantle-defends-captain-lake-grace/news-story/233d5ff589ba3d953827cf95aa28a15a

as far as alibis go, that one's a beauty