Balmain Tigers Face Voluntary Administration

Just a pity the council and who ever can not resolve this mess, at present their are no winners and it is highly likely that a Sydney icon could be wiped off the map. Football clubs are about local people who at grass roots to the top put so much into their club and to have this destroyed by a bureaucratic council and a greedy developer is so sad, and of course the biggest looser will be the local folks of the area who loved their club. Sorry for the waffle as I know its been said a million times, but like the Bali nine this has dragged on for years and the end is just around the corner
 
Events are moving quickly now 😢

PRESS RELEASE
March 26, 2015

**Balmain Tigers Surrender Lease of Leichhardt Oval**
It is with sadness and deep regret that Balmain Tigers have surrendered the long standing Lease of their beloved home ground; Leichhardt Oval.

The Club, whose members have already suffered great loss, due to the closing of their social home on Victoria Road, Rozelle in 2010 are no longer able to afford the $250,000 per year it costs to maintain the facility to a basic standard.

The surrender of the lease will not have any bearing on the future use of Leichhardt Oval for Wests Tigers NRL fixtures. Any future NRL use is now a matter for Wests Tigers and Leichhardt Council, Balmain Tigers will not have control over what the future holds in this regard.

The cost of maintaining the surface, ensuring compliance, and servicing utilities, was due to increase significantly after Leichhardt Council announced it was about to exercise its rights to demand that the ground be used and hired out as a multi-purpose site.

“A lot of money needs to be invested into the site before it becomes an acceptable multi-purpose venue,” said Club Chairman, Leslie Glen.

“The Club simply does not have the resources to do this and is certainly not in a position to invest in anything other than what it is chartered for, and that is Rugby League.”.

The Club welcomes the idea of a multi-purpose facility but cannot be expected to be responsible for it under this agreement.

Although a public facility, the maintenance costs for Leichhardt Oval have not been borne by Leichhardt Council. The ground has not been a drain on the public purse. Those costs (substantial as they are) were borne by the Club.

The funds for virtually all of the current infrastructure at the ground have been either provided directly by the Club or with funds sourced by the Club. The most recent Federal government funding for the function room in the grandstand was sourced by our Club. Prior to that, our Club directly invested $500,000 in Leichhardt Oval with funds borrowed from the State government.

The Club has worked hard to repay that loan, despite its recent financial difficulties. The asphalt tarmac for the carpark outside the ground (used extensively by the public attending the swimming pool) was financed with funds procured by the club.

Prior to handing the site back to Leichhardt Council on 1st April 2015, the Club will have spent in excess of $100,000 over the past three months alone bringing the surface up to World Class standard.

Whilst the Club’s financial position is critical, it has honoured its obligations and will deliver the site back to Council in a very respectable condition.

“We want to make sure our members and the community are not misled into believing that Leichhardt Council paid or assisted in any way with recent upgrades of the surface,” Dr Glen said.

“In fact, immense pressure by Leichhardt Council was brought to bear on the Club, to secure the oval as a venue for the football Asia Cup training ground even though the cost associated with the booking outweighed the income received from it.

“That pressure was destined to continue under Council’s resolution to use the site as a multi-purpose venue.”

The Club would like to take this opportunity to thank the many volunteers who contributed over the years assisting on game days and providing valuable help wherever needed. In particular groundsmen John Owens, Steve Lloyd and their team who, with a limited budget have prepared the surface to the best standard possible, a standard that has seen the Wallabies, Socceroos, the Asia Cup, Sydney FC and Everton FC choose the ground as a training facility over the past six years. These people are passionate Rugby League and Balmain Tigers supporters, who would do anything for the benefit of the Club. Money cannot buy the kind of support that these people bring to the community and the venue will not be the same without them.

Balmain Tigers will handover the keys on 1st April, but not before one last hurrah, this Saturday 28th March 2015, when the Balmain Tigers Junior Representative teams run onto the field unbeaten after six rounds.
 
I'm not a Balmain man , but I get this feeling that there is an agenda here from somewhere

Maybe I'm wrong , but too many things seem to be magically aligning

To my Balmain brothers and sisters out there , my heart goes out to you all . I totally understand your pain
 
@happy tiger said:
I'm not a Balmain man , but I get this feeling that there is an agenda here from somewhere

Maybe I'm wrong , but too many things seem to be magically aligning

To my Balmain brothers and sisters out there , my heart goes out to you all . I totally understand your pain

Thanks for your kind sentiments happy …
WESTS TIGERS till I die !
... Remember that Balmain Boys don't cry !

_Posted using RoarFEED 4.2.0_
 
@angry ant said:
Events are moving quickly now 😢

PRESS RELEASE
March 26, 2015

**Balmain Tigers Surrender Lease of Leichhardt Oval**
It is with sadness and deep regret that Balmain Tigers have surrendered the long standing Lease of their beloved home ground; Leichhardt Oval.

The Club, whose members have already suffered great loss, due to the closing of their social home on Victoria Road, Rozelle in 2010 are no longer able to afford the $250,000 per year it costs to maintain the facility to a basic standard.

**The surrender of the lease will not have any bearing on the future use of Leichhardt Oval for Wests Tigers NRL fixtures. Any future NRL use is now a matter for Wests Tigers and Leichhardt Council, Balmain Tigers will not have control over what the future holds in this regard.**

That puts a fair bit of pressure on WT to come out and show their hand RE: Leichhardt now I guess. Really hope 2015 isn't the last year of the Tigers at Leichhardt
 
@happy tiger said:
I'm not a Balmain man , but I get this feeling that there is an agenda here from somewhere

Maybe I'm wrong , but too many things seem to be magically aligning

To my Balmain brothers and sisters out there , my heart goes out to you all . I totally understand your pain

Years of gross mismanagement and not engaging the right people to undertake the development buried them.

It is sad as they were a huge part of my childhood, but I cannot say that it is undeserved. Hopefully the Wests Tigers continue on and become a routinely successful club like Balmain once was.
 
@Cultured Bogan said:
@happy tiger said:
I'm not a Balmain man , but I get this feeling that there is an agenda here from somewhere

Maybe I'm wrong , but too many things seem to be magically aligning

To my Balmain brothers and sisters out there , my heart goes out to you all . I totally understand your pain

Years of gross mismanagement and not engaging the right people to undertake the development buried them.

It is sad as they were a huge part of my childhood, but I cannot say that it is undeserved. Hopefully the Wests Tigers continue on and become a routinely successful club like Balmain once was.

I still get this feeling that Harry T will jump up at the last moment , well I hope he does for Balmain's sake
 
@happy tiger said:
I'm not a Balmain man , but I get this feeling that there is an agenda here from somewhere

Maybe I'm wrong , but too many things seem to be magically aligning

To my Balmain brothers and sisters out there , my heart goes out to you all . I totally understand your pain

I said as much when they approached the NRL for the grant then again when they took it on.

Though odd as it seems, it comes across as an internally driven agenda… they rejected a more appealing and civil offer from Wests Group, only to take on a rigid almost suicidal option to borrow from the NRL. Hopefully they have an Ace up their sleeve to play, not only to survive, but prosper.

By merely surviving, they do the NRL team no favours as the contributions can only be matched by the other party, thus handcuffing Wests Group. Ultimately the goal is obviously for the Wests Tigers to stand alone and not need to dip into Balmains and Wests coffers, though until that day comes it is a reality that achieving the stand alone goal will require capital.
 
@angry ant said:
Events are moving quickly now 😢

PRESS RELEASE
March 26, 2015

**Balmain Tigers Surrender Lease of Leichhardt Oval**
It is with sadness and deep regret that Balmain Tigers have surrendered the long standing Lease of their beloved home ground; Leichhardt Oval.

The Club, whose members have already suffered great loss, due to the closing of their social home on Victoria Road, Rozelle in 2010 are no longer able to afford the $250,000 per year it costs to maintain the facility to a basic standard.

The surrender of the lease will not have any bearing on the future use of Leichhardt Oval for Wests Tigers NRL fixtures. Any future NRL use is now a matter for Wests Tigers and Leichhardt Council, Balmain Tigers will not have control over what the future holds in this regard.

The cost of maintaining the surface, ensuring compliance, and servicing utilities, was due to increase significantly after Leichhardt Council announced it was about to exercise its rights to demand that the ground be used and hired out as a multi-purpose site.

“A lot of money needs to be invested into the site before it becomes an acceptable multi-purpose venue,” said Club Chairman, Leslie Glen.

“The Club simply does not have the resources to do this and is certainly not in a position to invest in anything other than what it is chartered for, and that is Rugby League.”.

The Club welcomes the idea of a multi-purpose facility but cannot be expected to be responsible for it under this agreement.

Although a public facility, the maintenance costs for Leichhardt Oval have not been borne by Leichhardt Council. The ground has not been a drain on the public purse. Those costs (substantial as they are) were borne by the Club.

The funds for virtually all of the current infrastructure at the ground have been either provided directly by the Club or with funds sourced by the Club. The most recent Federal government funding for the function room in the grandstand was sourced by our Club. Prior to that, our Club directly invested $500,000 in Leichhardt Oval with funds borrowed from the State government.

The Club has worked hard to repay that loan, despite its recent financial difficulties. The asphalt tarmac for the carpark outside the ground (used extensively by the public attending the swimming pool) was financed with funds procured by the club.

Prior to handing the site back to Leichhardt Council on 1st April 2015, the Club will have spent in excess of $100,000 over the past three months alone bringing the surface up to World Class standard.

Whilst the Club’s financial position is critical, it has honoured its obligations and will deliver the site back to Council in a very respectable condition.

“We want to make sure our members and the community are not misled into believing that Leichhardt Council paid or assisted in any way with recent upgrades of the surface,” Dr Glen said.

“In fact, immense pressure by Leichhardt Council was brought to bear on the Club, to secure the oval as a venue for the football Asia Cup training ground even though the cost associated with the booking outweighed the income received from it.

“That pressure was destined to continue under Council’s resolution to use the site as a multi-purpose venue.”

The Club would like to take this opportunity to thank the many volunteers who contributed over the years assisting on game days and providing valuable help wherever needed. In particular groundsmen John Owens, Steve Lloyd and their team who, with a limited budget have prepared the surface to the best standard possible, a standard that has seen the Wallabies, Socceroos, the Asia Cup, Sydney FC and Everton FC choose the ground as a training facility over the past six years. These people are passionate Rugby League and Balmain Tigers supporters, who would do anything for the benefit of the Club. Money cannot buy the kind of support that these people bring to the community and the venue will not be the same without them.

Balmain Tigers will handover the keys on 1st April, but not before one last hurrah, this Saturday 28th March 2015, when the Balmain Tigers Junior Representative teams run onto the field unbeaten after six rounds.

Very very sad
As an old neighboring Magpie from Ashfield, after Lidcombe…LO was the local hangpout...especially once mid week footy began there...seeing Wests win the 77 amco cup, .being involved in balmain Jnrs for more than a decade...being involved in the stop the rot movement in a small way...LO has been our home, one of them for 15 years...still is but still sad too...history is reaching a final page for one chapter
 
What happened to that $2 million dollar fighting fund they were gonna raise? The time for legal action surely can't be very far off, if it in fact isn't here already.
 
@radiowave82 said:
What happened to that $2 million dollar fighting fund they were gonna raise? The time for legal action surely can't be very far off, if it in fact isn't here already.

They need a lot more than 2 million dollars i'm afraid.
 
@GNR4LIFE said:
@radiowave82 said:
What happened to that $2 million dollar fighting fund they were gonna raise? The time for legal action surely can't be very far off, if it in fact isn't here already.

They need a lot more than 2 million dollars i'm afraid.

Yeah I know that, I would have thought the $2 million would be used for legal costs.
 
Just heard a report on 2UE news there is no guarantee the rd 7 clash with canberra will go ahead at LO

$250,000 per year rent, will WTs need to find this now?

What do we pay to play at Cambo currently?

I think Mayer needs to clarify a few things pronto
 
@radiowave82 said:
@GNR4LIFE said:
@radiowave82 said:
What happened to that $2 million dollar fighting fund they were gonna raise? The time for legal action surely can't be very far off, if it in fact isn't here already.

They need a lot more than 2 million dollars i'm afraid.

Yeah I know that, I would have thought the $2 million would be used for legal costs.

It was an appeal to members of the public wasn't it? Unless they found a millionaire willing to throw some cash in, the fighting fund was an exercise in futility from the start.
 
http://tigers.org.au/index.php/balmain-tigers-surrender-lease-of-leichhardt-oval/

_Posted using RoarFEED 4.2.0_
 
End of an Era - something I didn't ever expect to see.

Leichhardt Council, over the 65 years I have been going to Leichhardt Oval, have insisted on proving to the Balmain Fans and over the last 15 years to the Wests Tigers fans that they are a bunch of losers.

They have been a millstone around the Clubs neck for years.

Thanks Leichhardt Council for nothing - hope you guys get wound up as well.
 
@innsaneink said:
Just heard a report on 2UE news there is no guarantee the rd 7 clash with canberra will go ahead at LO

$250,000 per year rent, will WTs need to find this now?

What do we pay to play at Cambo currently?

I think Mayer needs to clarify a few things pronto

20K per game Mayer quoted last year when the first Cambo game drew a smallish crowd…

250K a year to lease a suburban ground seems ridiculous to me...wonder what NSWRL pays the Leichhardt Council when they play games there or do they pay the Tigers..??
 
Let's not post stuff that is not factually correct. Balmain have NOT surrendered their Leichhardt lease (yet).

Here's the link …. http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8971329

**Story as follows:**

Wests Tigers chief executive Grant Mayer admits there's a _possibility_ (my emphasis) the joint venture might be forced to move from Leichhardt Oval after Balmain Tigers surrendered their lease on the venue.

The NRL club had an agreement with Balmain to host four fixtures a season at the venerable old ground.

However, the Leichhardt council has taken over the lease after the junior club said they couldn't afford the $250,000 a year demanded to make the ground a multipurpose venue.

Mayer said early indications from the council were there would be no fee increase, but said until he had confirmation in writing, there was no guarantee the round seven clash against Canberra would go ahead at the ground.

"I've been exceptionally clear to them that we are not in a position to pay one cent more than what we paid in 2014," Mayer told AAP.

"This late change is not our issue. To be fair to council, they have done a great job fixing a lot of things and done some work to put a lick of paint on the old girl.

"But from a pure commercial point, I am not committing to anything until I see a lease.

"But as soon as they see where we are coming from, I expect us to be there for the round seven game."

The Tigers host South Sydney at ANZ Stadium on Friday, and there are options to increase the number of games there during the season, as well as play more games at Campbelltown should the parties fail to reach an agreement.

But Mayer admits a decision to move away from the Tigers' spiritual home would be taken only as a last resort.

"It's not remotely a hope, not at all," he said.

"We have membership packages in the system and it would be a pretty big contingency to change things.

"But the reality is we're not in a position to be financially disadvantaged by a change in management rights.

"There are always options ... venues are always keen to host ... but we don't want to get to that stage.

"We want to give the council every chance to give us what we have asked for and that is to cut and paste the lease we had with Balmain last year."
 

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