Lease extension for Kilburn Football Club, with plan to repay debt to council
The embattled Kilburn Football and Cricket Club – which faced being booted from its home ground by Port Adelaide Enfield Council – has been given a 12-month extension on its lease.
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One of Adelaide’s oldest football clubs – caught in major financial turmoil – has been given a lifeline after Port Adelaide Enfield Council voted to extend their lease for 12 months.
Councillors on Tuesday night rejected a recommendation from council staff to send the Kilburn Football and Cricket Club packing from its Blair Athol Reserve home ground over unpaid rates and rent.
The club would be subject to guidelines – yet to be determined by the council – that would dictate the repayment of their debt.
The club’s latest financial statements showed it owed Port Adelaide Enfield $24,958 in unpaid rent and rates.
The statements also said the club’s total debt had grown to $165,000 – including $68,236 owed to the ATO and $58,116 to energy provider AGL.
President Dale Agius on Tuesday night told councillors his club had negotiated a total payment of $15,000 to AGL and the ATO was willing to waive fines if it paid its owed tax in full.
Cr Barbara Clayton, who led the push to renew the club’s lease, said the club had demonstrated it was trying to raise money and repay its debts.
“To deny them a lease at this point would not only be detrimental to the council and the community it represents, but all creditors owed money including a lady who is owed significant superannuation,” Cr Clayton said.
She said the club had “massive” support in the community.
Cr Paul Russell said the Chics were an “essential part of the community” and to deny its lease would be a “loss”.
In an effort to allay councillors’ fears about the club’s financial turmoil, the Chics’ interim football director, Danny Ryan, last month wrote a letter saying he intended to make a “hefty cut” to player payments.
That arrangement was set to involve some players being sent on the ground for free, while others would take reduced payments.
Deductions for game day sanctions and missed training sessions were also proposed.
A report on KPIs for the club’s debt repayment would be brought back to councillors by December.