Sea Eagles offered Olive Branch over Brookvale bill
October 28, 2015 4:35pm
Sarah SwainManly Daily
Warringhah Mayor Michael Regan and General Manager Rik Hart. Councillors voted to “make a ‘without prejudice’ offer ... in respect of the monies owed to council for the 2015 National Rugby League season.”
Warringah Council has offered an olive branch to the Manly Sea Eagles by giving the club a discounted deal if they pay the rent they owe for Brookvale Oval.
The saga over an outstanding bill of about $405,000 has continued despite the season ending weeks ago.
The club has only paid about $75,000, it is understood, for the entire season.
But now, after a meeting behind closed doors, councillors voted to put a deal on the table to try and get the row resolved. Councillors voted to “make a ‘without prejudice’ offer ... in respect of the monies owed to council for the 2015 National Rugby League season.”
It agreed to give the council’s general manager Rick Hart “the authority to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.”
Sea Eagles chief financial officer Neil Bare said the club had yet to hear from the council about the deal – but said he was aware it was being discussed.
“Obviously we are keen to resolve the matter and secure Brookvale moving forward,” he said.
Two weeks ago, the club terminated its licence for Brookvale, meaning it no longer has a lease to play games there.
However, the council said it would have rolled on had they not cancelled it. Now they will have to agree to a new one.
The club is refusing to pay up because it said the ground had not been maintained properly, something the council disputes.
The Sea Eagles have accused the council of “forcing them out” of Brookvale. Warringah Mayor Michael Regan hit back, saying it did not want to be a “scapegoat” over rumoured plans for the club to move to Gosford.
Manly Mayor Jean Hay has even waded in, accusing Warringah of “ripping off” the club.
Warringah Council said the club made $17.6 million last year including $3 million on the gate, while ratepayers stumped up just under $1 million paying for things such as electricity, security and pitch maintenance.
Next season’s fixtures remain up in the air while a resolution is thrashed out.
THE BALANCE SHEET
What the Sea Eagles paid:
$375k plus $1 per ticket (apx $30k) = $405,000
What Warringah Council paid:
Electricity and water $77,000
Cleaning and waste $89,348
Game day staff $38,269
Pitch (NRL standard) $170,208
Security $23,787
Maintenance $201,457
Upgrades $380,000
Total: $980,069
What the Sea Eagles made:
$17.6 million