Marion Council grants Cove Football Club conditional 12-month lease to stay at Hallett Cove base
A ruling on Cove Football Club’s usage of its Hallett Cove base has been announced, after Marion Council debated the matter in private on Tuesday evening. See the club president’s heartfelt plea.
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Marion Council has reversed a decision to boot Cove Football Club out of its Hallett Cove headquarters.
The council’s chief executive Adrian Skull told club president Tony Kernahan on Wednesday it had granted the Cobras a conditional 12-month lease to stay at its base.
The lease will come with conditions around improving the club’s culture following allegations of sexual harassment.
Elected members debated whether to overturn their decision to evict the Cobras from their Hallett Cove base at a special confidential meeting on Tuesday night.
Following the closed-doors discussion, Mayor Kris Hanna said the council’s chief executive Adrian Skull would meet with club president Tony Kernahan at 9.15am on Wednesday to inform him of the council’s decision and then it would be announced publicly.
“The council has discussed the matter and come to a decision,” Mr Hanna said.
“It is the personal information of the club and it would be wrong to share it with the general public before the club officially hears about it.”
Last month, the council decided to give the club the boot after a two-month independent investigation found Cove had a “culture of inappropriate and intimidating behaviour”.
Multiple complaints had been made to the council, which found that other clubs had stopped using the Cove Sports and Community Club because they felt unwelcome or unsafe.
Allegations included insulting sexist language directed at a female staff member and sexual harassment of female netball players.
The Cove Rd facility is also used by two netball clubs, a cricket club, BMX club and a soccer club.
More than 6000 people have signed a petition urging the council to reverse its decision.
Mr Kernahan told elected members at a meeting last week that he was sincerely sorry to anyone who had felt harassed, intimidated or threatened.
He said any members who behaved in a sexist manner had “to change or leave”.
“Conduct the kind that has been alleged is completely unacceptable,” Mr Kernahan said.
“It threatens the future of our beloved club and undermines the commitment of many of our committee members, players and officials and will not be tolerated.”
