We might need to burn a lower case t in the front lawn of Zorba for "time to leave"
DEAL YET BE SET IN CONCRETE FOLLOWING GNOME JIBE
IT'S the light-hearted barb that could cost Manly $2.8 million.
We last week revealed a fresh outbreak of hostilities in the Sea Eagles' boardroom, thanks to newly-appointed director Peter "Zorba" Peters labelling co-owner Phil Sidney a "garden gnome".
While some might have been chuckling, major sponsor Kaspersky was not amused.
Sidney was instrumental in securing a three-year extension earlier this season, travelling to China with CEO David Perry to thrash out the deal with Kaspersky boss Harry Cheung.
Cheung and his representatives just happened to be in Sydney when the news broke last Friday, and immediately made their disgust known.
With the sponsorship extension yet to be signed off, they are now calling Peters to be brought to task before formalising the deal.
Cheung is hosting Manly officials and backers at a breakfast in Perth this morning, but the main course will arrive when Peters and Sidney go head-to-head at next week's board meeting.
* * *
Source
www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/melbourne-storm-centre-will-chambers-makes-remarkable-comeback/story-e6frexnr-1226436186967
Sponsor gives Manly ultimatum
MANLY'S main sponsor has threatened to pull out of a $2.8 million contract extension unless controversial board member Peter Peters steps down immediately.
The Herald understands that Harry Cheung, the managing director of Kaspersky Lab, has told Sea Eagles officials that the multinational antivirus software company will walk away from the premiers when its contract lapses at the end of the year if Peters remains a director.
Kaspersky has agreed to terms on a new three-year arrangement but is refusing to sign off until the matter is resolved. Kaspersky executives believe Peters has been a divisive force since joining the board in place of Rick Penn and are concerned about the negative publicity he has brought their company and the Manly brand. The final straw came last week when the former club spokesman made an offensive remark about Sea Eagles co-owner Phil Sidney during a podcast with sportal.com.au.
Other sponsors have complained about Peters since his return.
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Sea Eagles officials must decide whether Peters's presence is worth almost $1 million a year in lost sponsorship revenue. Despite the threat, the Penn-aligned powerbrokers who appointed Peters as a director are vacillating on the issue.
There are some sections within the boardroom who believe that Peters is trying to change the political landscape by unseating the football club directors.
The Penn faction recalled ''Zorba'' to the boardroom despite the fact directors unanimously voted to make his position as media manager redundant at the end of last season.
The tensions between the Penn and non-Penn aligned directors have escalated in recent months. The Penns are still refusing to sign off on a motion to install David Perry in the role of general manager on a three-year contract. However, they didn't have the numbers to block the move and it was passed 4-3 at the most recent board meeting.
Even seemingly innocuous proposals - such as the induction of life members or the naming of corporate facilities - have sparked conflict between the warring factions.
Board spokesman Sidney recently said he would buy out the Penns if it would restore harmony at Brookvale.
Source
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/sponsor-gives-manly-ultimatum-20120726-22v4w.html
DEAL YET BE SET IN CONCRETE FOLLOWING GNOME JIBE
IT'S the light-hearted barb that could cost Manly $2.8 million.
We last week revealed a fresh outbreak of hostilities in the Sea Eagles' boardroom, thanks to newly-appointed director Peter "Zorba" Peters labelling co-owner Phil Sidney a "garden gnome".
While some might have been chuckling, major sponsor Kaspersky was not amused.
Sidney was instrumental in securing a three-year extension earlier this season, travelling to China with CEO David Perry to thrash out the deal with Kaspersky boss Harry Cheung.
Cheung and his representatives just happened to be in Sydney when the news broke last Friday, and immediately made their disgust known.
With the sponsorship extension yet to be signed off, they are now calling Peters to be brought to task before formalising the deal.
Cheung is hosting Manly officials and backers at a breakfast in Perth this morning, but the main course will arrive when Peters and Sidney go head-to-head at next week's board meeting.
* * *
Source
www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/melbourne-storm-centre-will-chambers-makes-remarkable-comeback/story-e6frexnr-1226436186967
Sponsor gives Manly ultimatum
MANLY'S main sponsor has threatened to pull out of a $2.8 million contract extension unless controversial board member Peter Peters steps down immediately.
The Herald understands that Harry Cheung, the managing director of Kaspersky Lab, has told Sea Eagles officials that the multinational antivirus software company will walk away from the premiers when its contract lapses at the end of the year if Peters remains a director.
Kaspersky has agreed to terms on a new three-year arrangement but is refusing to sign off until the matter is resolved. Kaspersky executives believe Peters has been a divisive force since joining the board in place of Rick Penn and are concerned about the negative publicity he has brought their company and the Manly brand. The final straw came last week when the former club spokesman made an offensive remark about Sea Eagles co-owner Phil Sidney during a podcast with sportal.com.au.
Other sponsors have complained about Peters since his return.
Advertisement
Sea Eagles officials must decide whether Peters's presence is worth almost $1 million a year in lost sponsorship revenue. Despite the threat, the Penn-aligned powerbrokers who appointed Peters as a director are vacillating on the issue.
There are some sections within the boardroom who believe that Peters is trying to change the political landscape by unseating the football club directors.
The Penn faction recalled ''Zorba'' to the boardroom despite the fact directors unanimously voted to make his position as media manager redundant at the end of last season.
The tensions between the Penn and non-Penn aligned directors have escalated in recent months. The Penns are still refusing to sign off on a motion to install David Perry in the role of general manager on a three-year contract. However, they didn't have the numbers to block the move and it was passed 4-3 at the most recent board meeting.
Even seemingly innocuous proposals - such as the induction of life members or the naming of corporate facilities - have sparked conflict between the warring factions.
Board spokesman Sidney recently said he would buy out the Penns if it would restore harmony at Brookvale.
Source
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/sponsor-gives-manly-ultimatum-20120726-22v4w.html
