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<big>Titanic bid for PNG to coast in</big>
by: Josh Massoud From: The Daily Telegraph November 16, 2011 12:00AMCASH strapped Gold Coast Titans have entered sell-off talks with the consortium backing Papua New Guinea’s NRL bid in a shock move that could see Port Moresby host top line matches. In a fierce battle against half a dozen rival candidates, the PNG bid is now prepared to buy into an existing club to better position itself for inclusion come 2015.
And given its reliance on NRL grant advances at various stages throughout the past two seasons, Gold Coast Titans shape as the perfect target. Titans boss and majority owner Michael Searle has discussed investment opportunities with a variety of parties over the past year in an effort to raise more cash. PNG entered the frame a few months ago, but it’s understood Searle is adamant about maintaining a controlling share of the franchise he conceived and built.
PNG bid boss Brad Tassell last night confirmed that the two parties had begun “preliminary talks”.
With solid government backing and the support of rich mining companies, the PNG bid has enough clout to alleviate the Titans’ financial woes. In return it would expect games to be transferred to raise its profile and dispel doubts about PNG’s capacity to participate full-time.
“There’s nothing concrete yet and at this time we’ve only had a few preliminary discussions,” Tassell said.
"Ownership in a current club is one of a range of options we’re investigating to push our bid for NRL inclusion.“The talks (with Gold Coast) have been ongoing for three or four months. There was an inquiry and some discussion and I’d also like to say we’re open to looking at other clubs as well.”
PNG Bid has already established a sponsorship and junior development link with Gold Coast’s neigbouring rivals, the Brisbane Broncos.
But its relationship with the Titans pre-dates that link, with Gold Coast chairman Michael Broughton and his wife Bev part of the original bid committee.
And in 2010 the PNG government announced plans for a new stadium to replicate Skilled Park.
Broughton, however, withdrew over conflict of interest concerns when Brisbane entered the scene last year.
Tassell does not believe the NRL will allow a club to be “completely relocated”.
“But there’s an option to relocate a certain number of games,” he said. “We need to prove our ability to host top-line matches.”
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wait, so the Titans aren’t financially viable?
Wasn’t this a condition of being granted the 16th license?
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Isn’t it amazing how every sporting franchise that has been set up on the Gold Coast seems to fall over or in this case is leaning over precariously
Watto in your opinion do you honestly think that the Sunshine Coast could support an NRL side ??
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When you look at it, crowds have been falling for titans, non-existent for gold coast united and now they have the suns up there as well. There are too many footballing options up there to support everything. Explains why they were trying to offload prince to save some cash. The writing was on the wall when their coveted academy of excellence failed to take off.
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No Happy… Its probably 10-15 years away. (just dont tell the RL powers up here that)
The Coast is in a precarious position. The football operations are still viable, unfortunately the powerbroker wont tip in anymore money and the Franchise has over-invested.
They simply need investors to get them past this speed bump!
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Cronulla should have been relocated to the GC I think, their colours and beach culture would have worked perfectly.
A privately owned GC franchise was always going to struggle, especially when on-field performances started to go south, the people of the GC love winners (fair weather fans).
Surely they will have a better 2012 though they have spent a few dollars on player talent.
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@Tiger Watto:
No Happy… Its probably 10-15 years away. (just dont tell the RL powers up here that)
The Coast is in a precarious position. The football operations are still viable, unfortunately the powerbroker wont tip in anymore money and the Franchise has over-invested.
They simply need investors to get them past this speed bump!
Searle is looking more and more a fool every day…
He certainly isn’t the astute businessman the Terrorgraph attempted to portray him as.
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I don’y know if this has any bearing but do you think because it is on the border that NSW supporters will not support them because they are a Qld Team especially when things start to go pear shaped as they just have in 2010
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Searlie probably isnt the smartest businessman… He has always been more of an ‘ideas man’, great salesman. Without his financial backers, non of the Titans wouldve got off the ground. I cant see them making many investments in the near future, and they will now focus on the Football Operational side of the business.
I wouldnt be suprised to see Scanlen & Livermore make a play for them either… But Seale will vito any moves by their consortium!
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A bad position for such an important franchise.
Titans need some on field success to get some $$$ in via sponsorship and Gate takings.
This why they have gone “All in” by paying overs in recruiting popular players for 2012.
The For Sale is just more Newspaper rubbish IMO.
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It was a stupid & ridiclous idea to think an NRL Franchise “could be viable” on THE GOLD COAST???
WTF were they thinking???
“EDITED BY MODS”
MOVE THEM TO PERTH!!! -
Bit harsh there west4ever.
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It was a stupid & ridiclous idea to think an NRL Franchise “could be viable” on THE GOLD COAST???
WTF were they thinking???
“EDITED BY MODS”
MOVE THEM TO PERTH!!!Where do you live? I have a feeling you shouldnt be throwing stones.
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Gold Coast Titans are fine long term, they do need to get a better stadium deal and perhaps a change of management and a cash injection in the short-medium term.
Searle is full of big ideas but little ability, and i aint of fan of him personally for trying to buy our premiership team.
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I think the Titans will get through, the honeymoon period is over but, we must remember they’re still a new franchise. They are still learning about their market. Every market is different and so every franchise and every business is run different accordingly. Once they work out what areas they are spending too much money in and what areas in their department they can cost cut (Basically SWOT analysis), things will turn.
The same can still be said about the A-League which began 18 months before the Titans did. It’s a new competition so mistakes will be made by the FFA and the clubs financially. We’ve seen clubs fold through through poor financial management and poor expansion by the FFA (Nth QLD Fury was never going to work), we’ve seen mistakes in man management by clubs in regards to players and managers, and we’ve seen poor marketing (Including the disastrous World Cup bid).
