deadlyeagle
Reserve Grader
http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2008/oct/04/manly-sea-eagles-may-abandon-sunshine-coast/
Sea Eagles may abandon Coast deal
12:00a.m. 4th October 2008
| By Jon Tuxworth
The Manly NRL club’s frustration at the continued delay of the proposed Stockland Park stadium has officially hit boiling point.
Manly CEO Grant Mayer admitted the club’s partnership with the Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles “may be over before one sod is turned†if the facility is not given the official green light within two years.
The NRL grand finalists entered an agreement with the Coast club late last year.
As part of the deal, the Coast’s Queensland Cup outfit, which set to debut in the competition next year, will act as Manly’s feeder club.
However, Mr Mayer revealed the partnership would be placed in jeopardy if the stadium’s construction continued to remain on the backburner.
“We’ve signed a two-year agreement with the Sunshine Coast on the basis the stadium will be available to play in for both trial matches and official games,†he said.
“In a situation where a date (for its construction) hasn’t been confirmed, our agreement with the Sunshine Coast may be over before one sod is turned.â€Â
When asked would the club review the partnership should the stadium be no closer to being built by the end of 2010, Mr Mayer said yes.
“No doubt. The stadium was one key component for entering into the partnership with the Sunshine Coast in the first place,†he said.
“At that stage, Brookvale would be being redeveloped and the need to take games away is high.
“If there’s no stadium (on the Coast), we may have to consider our total position, and we don’t want to do that.
“We love the support we receive up there from the people in general and the (Sunshine Coast) Sea Eagles.
“Our frustration is squarely aimed at the political landscape behind the scenes.â€Â
Manly had hoped to open the stadium with an official NRL fixture next season, but have been forced to abort those plans.
“We can take a maximum of two games a year away from Brookvale under our constitution,†Mr Mayer said.
“Where those two games go is totally at the discretion of myself and the owners.
“With the partnership at the Sunshine Coast it would have been smart to play them up there, whether it be one or two games.
“It’s a frustrating position to be in because we’re keen to come, you guys are keen to have us there, but the political delays have put a kybosh on the result.â€Â
Sunshine Coast CEO Brett Winkler said the club may already have missed out on significant funding.
“Manly clearly told the previous council at Caloundra (before the three main Coast councils amalgamated) of their intentions to build licensed facilities here,†he said.
“That money was set aside and now they’ve spent money elsewhere.
“We don’t know what’s going to happen now.â€Â
But Coast divisional councillor and Stockland Park board member Keryn Jones said the criteria to apply to the federal government for the money only arrived two weeks ago.
“I’m pretty annoyed that we are continually accused of not being supportive,†she said.
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Don't want to be the bearer of bad news but just letting people know what else is happening outside the hype of the grand final.
having said that its F&*(%$ AWESOME that we won
LONG LIVE MANLY!!!!!! 2008 GF PREMIERS!!!
Sea Eagles may abandon Coast deal
12:00a.m. 4th October 2008
| By Jon Tuxworth
The Manly NRL club’s frustration at the continued delay of the proposed Stockland Park stadium has officially hit boiling point.
Manly CEO Grant Mayer admitted the club’s partnership with the Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles “may be over before one sod is turned†if the facility is not given the official green light within two years.
The NRL grand finalists entered an agreement with the Coast club late last year.
As part of the deal, the Coast’s Queensland Cup outfit, which set to debut in the competition next year, will act as Manly’s feeder club.
However, Mr Mayer revealed the partnership would be placed in jeopardy if the stadium’s construction continued to remain on the backburner.
“We’ve signed a two-year agreement with the Sunshine Coast on the basis the stadium will be available to play in for both trial matches and official games,†he said.
“In a situation where a date (for its construction) hasn’t been confirmed, our agreement with the Sunshine Coast may be over before one sod is turned.â€Â
When asked would the club review the partnership should the stadium be no closer to being built by the end of 2010, Mr Mayer said yes.
“No doubt. The stadium was one key component for entering into the partnership with the Sunshine Coast in the first place,†he said.
“At that stage, Brookvale would be being redeveloped and the need to take games away is high.
“If there’s no stadium (on the Coast), we may have to consider our total position, and we don’t want to do that.
“We love the support we receive up there from the people in general and the (Sunshine Coast) Sea Eagles.
“Our frustration is squarely aimed at the political landscape behind the scenes.â€Â
Manly had hoped to open the stadium with an official NRL fixture next season, but have been forced to abort those plans.
“We can take a maximum of two games a year away from Brookvale under our constitution,†Mr Mayer said.
“Where those two games go is totally at the discretion of myself and the owners.
“With the partnership at the Sunshine Coast it would have been smart to play them up there, whether it be one or two games.
“It’s a frustrating position to be in because we’re keen to come, you guys are keen to have us there, but the political delays have put a kybosh on the result.â€Â
Sunshine Coast CEO Brett Winkler said the club may already have missed out on significant funding.
“Manly clearly told the previous council at Caloundra (before the three main Coast councils amalgamated) of their intentions to build licensed facilities here,†he said.
“That money was set aside and now they’ve spent money elsewhere.
“We don’t know what’s going to happen now.â€Â
But Coast divisional councillor and Stockland Park board member Keryn Jones said the criteria to apply to the federal government for the money only arrived two weeks ago.
“I’m pretty annoyed that we are continually accused of not being supportive,†she said.
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Don't want to be the bearer of bad news but just letting people know what else is happening outside the hype of the grand final.
having said that its F&*(%$ AWESOME that we won
LONG LIVE MANLY!!!!!! 2008 GF PREMIERS!!!