Cove could return home as council considers reversing decision to give Cobras the boot
A football club kicked out of its home amid sexual harassment claims could be let back in as early as next week - but a veteran councillor wants the report detailing the allegations to be made public.
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A council decision to boot a southern football club out of its home amid sexual harassment allegations could be reversed next week.
But there are still calls to release a confidential report which resulted in Marion Council kicking Cove Football Club out of its Oval Rd base.
Marion councillor Matthew Shilling is planning to ask fellow elected members to reverse their decision to evict the Cobras at a proposed special meeting next Tuesday night.
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Cr Shilling said the football club had committed to work with the council to address bad behaviour.
A two-month independent investigation with reports that were made confidentially to the council found Cove had a “culture of inappropriate and intimidating behaviour”.
But the council was still refusing to lift the confidentiality of the report and the club said it still did not know the exact nature of the allegations.
Veteran councillor Bruce Hull said on Wednesday the confidentiality of the report should be lifted so the club could properly respond.
“There needs to be sunlight on this because what happens behind closed doors (is) people feel like they are free to speculate,” Cr Hull said.
“I think the whole lot should be out in the open and I’ll seek to have it released.”
But Marion Mayor Kris Hanna said the only reason details had not been made public was to protect those who gave their evidence confidentially.
“The club president has been provided with numerous specific examples of the behaviour outlined in the findings of the independent investigation,” Mr Hanna said.
Cobras club president Tony Kernahan appeared before a council at a meeting on Tuesday night to request a formal independent review of the decision to terminate the club’s lease.
He was “over the moon” with the possible lifeline and hoped all councillors would support Mr Shilling.
“It’s fantastic news and we are hoping now that we can work closely with the Marion Council to make sure there’s no repeat of this,” Kernahan said.
“We are looking to build a bright future for all our players, committee and members to enjoy the club moving forward.
“We know it’s a small step in a long journey ahead for the club to ensure it meets all expectations of all users of The Cove Sports and Community Club.”
Two netball clubs, a cricket club, BMX club and a soccer club also share the sports hub.
The independent investigation found other clubs had stopped using the clubrooms “because they feel unwelcome or unsafe”.
Kernahan appeared before a council at a meeting on Tuesday night to request a formal independent review of the decision to terminate the club’s lease.
Cove Cricket Club backed the football club and president Brett Kinnear said on Wednesday he would welcome the players back to the hub.
“I hope it (the decision) gets turned around,” Kinnear said.
“As I’ve said before, we’ve had no issue with the footy club.”
Cove BMX Club did not wish to comment on the issue.
But a statement on its Facebook page last month said the BMX club had enjoyed “a strong, supportive and respectful sporting and working relationship with all the sporting clubs … including the Cove Cobras Football Club”.
“News of recent allegations … have also come as a complete shock to our club and we wish to ensure that it is understood that these actions have in no way been initiated or driven by any disharmony between the Cove BMX Club and the Cove Cobras,” the statement continued.
The Advertiser has contacted the two netball clubs and soccer club for comment.
Meanwhile, Adelaide Footy League club Kilburn – which faced being booted from its home ground after struggling with debt – was given a lifeline.
Port Adelaide Enfield Council agreed at a meeting on Tuesday night to extend the club’s lease at its Blair Athol base for 12 months.