Why Manly may be forced out of Brookvale Oval

MANLY could be forced out of Brookvale Oval if they don’t meet the requirements set by Warringah Council.

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THE message to Manly on Wednesday was loud and clear — feel free to leave Brookvale Oval, just don’t blame Warringah Council.

Relations between the Sea Eagles and their landlord have plunged to a new low, with both camps refusing to agree to terms over the hiring of Fortress Brookie.

With just seven weeks until the NRL season kicks off, Manly don’t have a plan B, and are determined to play their 70th season at their spiritual home ground on the northern beaches.

“We hope common sense prevails,’’ Sea Eagles boss Joe Kelly said on Wednesday night.

But unless Manly stump up the $375,000 required for rent by council — the same amount the club paid last season — they will be forced to find a new home.

Central Coast Stadium would be the most logical choice if Manly had to relocate, while ANZ Stadium and Allianz Stadium would also be options.

But Kelly stressed ‘’we’ve made no inquiries about other venues’’.

“We’re hellbent on finding an outcome to this impasse,’’ he said.

A Warringah Council spokesperson told The Daily Telegraph: “A larger stadium would no doubt be more profitable for the Sea Eagles, but the decision to leave Brookvale is for Sea Eagles management.

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“They should not blame Council or Warringah ratepayers for not wanting to subsidise them beyond the current amount.’’

It costs council $600,000 annually to maintain the ground and stadium up to NRL standards, which didn’t include depreciation or capital works.

The Sea Eagles are prepared to pay $220,000, which would include taking over the maintenance of the playing surface, as well as paying any matchday-related costs.

The NRL are ‘’monitoring the matter’’, but said it was between Manly and the council.

Brookvale Oval might be closed to Manly in 2016.

Kelly was scathing of council this week after the latest talks failed to progress.

“It’s very apparent Warringah Council give no consideration to the club’s community service and goodwill on the northern beaches, not to mention the positive effect of having an NRL team in their backyard,’’ Kelly said.

“We believe council are using the Sea Eagles as a cash cow for a venue that is open to the public for no less than 355 days per year.’’

Kelly told The Daily Telegraph yesterday the club would now launch a public campaign to ‘’fight for Fortress Brookvale’’, and hoped members, supporters, local businesses would ‘’articulate to council that the community is right behind Sea Eagles in their negotiations for a fair and reasonable hire fee for Brookvale Oval.’’

In a statement released by the club, Sea Eagles icon Ken Arthurson expressed bewilderment over the council’s position and the possibility of playing fixtures away from Brookvale.

“It would be a terrible blow for me personally because I have always felt Brookvale Oval was our ‘Fortress’. To have to move our games from there would be very hurtful,’’ Arthurson said.

“Each of the Councillors should come out and state what their thoughts and position is in relation to Brookvale Oval.

“I would have thought that the Mayor, Michael Regan, would have been one person totally behind the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.

“I can understand that the Council needs to recover some of the costs for ground maintenance but to put the playing future of the district’s premier sporting team at risk is incredibly shortsighted.

“If they (the Council) are going to adopt this attitude, I think that the local constituents will throw them out of office. It is absolutely crazy that they are not prepared to negotiate.

“The Club has bent over backwards in trying to reach an amicable agreement with them. I think what the Club has proposed is more than fair and reasonable.”

If a rental fee can’t be agreed upon, council is happy to lease Brookvale Oval to Manly at a casual rate, but that worked out to be $60,000 per game, or $600,000 for ten games.

Kelly said other professional sporting organisations were expected to pay less than $1000 to use Brookvale.