Shock private email: government warned sporting clubs face financial ruin under COVID rules

The State Government has been warned in an explosive email that Gold Coast rugby league clubs face financial ruin if games and training return under strict COVID-19 safety rules. Here’s why.

THE State Government is being warned Gold Coast rugby league clubs and other codes face financial ruin and losing a generation to community sport if strict COVID-19 safety rules are not adapted or made clearer.

An explosive email by Helensvale Hornets Rugby League Club president Wayne Court to the State Government warns 100-person crowd limits from July 10 are causing chaos for ­administrators and volunteers.

It predicts going ahead under rules as understood by clubs will result in “marathon” playing days, canteen revenue hits, virus liability fears, crowd control security fears and sponsor drops.

Sports Gold Coast chair Geoff Smith added COVID-19 restrictions impacts were a headache for soccer and rugby. Clubs fear fines trying to ensure parents stay in cars under 100-person limits at grounds and that equipment is cleaned.

Mr Smith said it was a hurdle to understand requirements in State Government fine print.

“Clubs are run by volunteers. It’s the straw that breaks the camel’s back. Governments federal and state don’t seem to understand that.”

Outside shot of the Helensvale Hornets club.

READ MORE

Battle lines drawn: ‘We can’t hide under blankets’

‘Killer call’ to impact thousands of Coast footballers

Coast league MVP’s brave admission: ‘I won’t play for free’:

Area councillor William Owen-Jones added: “Community sporting clubs are run by volunteers. To run even normal operations clubs need all revenues from membership, canteen, uniforms. There isn’t a magic pot of gold.”

The 100-person limit needed “recast and reconsidered”, given 500 people at sports fields would be less crowded than malls, or at schools where thousands of students were playing sport, he said.

“We run the risk of clubs closing and a generation lost to community sport,” he said.

Last night, Sport Minister Mick de Brenni said COVID-Safe plans since Mr Court’s email were developed for “all sports that are practical and sensible”. But administrators and volunteers seem in the dark. Parents across multiple codes say uncertainty surrounds return dates, feasibility and fees.

Mr Court said Stage 3 restrictions would only be successful if Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk adopted Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s social distancing model of 4sq m per person.

“The government’s response of ‘we are bringing community sport back’ is an off-the-cuff beat of their chests to look good. They’ve done nothing but give false hope to kids as no team sports can work under 100 guidelines,” he said.

In the email on kickstarting the football season at the end of July when the non-contact period had ended, Mr Court warned:

Helensvale Hornets oval.

* To accommodate all the games with a required hour break between moving on one playing group before bringing in the next group and cleaning everything required in between, matches would need to be played from 8am-9pm on a Saturday.

* The sport was already short on referees, and to work across those marathon hours was impossible without at least a 100 per cent increase in officials.

* The decision requiring parents to drop off their kids for training “opens us up to a whole lot of liability issues, especially with the 6s-12s”.

* Insurance coverage is a huge challenge with administrators unsure if volunteers are covered, and concerns about how clubs can survive if a player falls seriously ill and their family sues.

* Security is a concern with the majority of clubs being in open areas and public parks, and officials could not just stop parents and spectators from turning up and refusing to leave.

* The guidelines around cleaning were “intense” and would be the responsibility of volunteers to ensure this was adhered to which would be a huge ask.

* There are difficulties operating an attendance register when people refuse to give out names, and appointing a COVID-19 co-ordinator who might not be covered for any liabilities.

* Weather would have a bigger impact than normal, and losing a few weeks off an already shortened season could lead to parents wanting fee discounts, which destroys clubs financially.

Mr Court told The Bulletin the only viable way forward was for all clubs to cancel the season 2020 and roll over fees for 2021.

“Look at a possible six-week pre-season comp prior to regular comp next year as a bonus carrot to give more footy next year,” he said.

The Helensvale Hornets club on the Gold Coast.

Mr Court said if the season was shut down for a few weeks, or games washed out, parents would refuse to pay full fees. Sponsors were also “pulling back at the moment” and “we would find ourselves in a very large financial hole”.

“I have spoken to several of our parents and they have even suggested why don’t we just roll everyone’s fees over to next year and flag this year and start fresh, so the club remains strong moving forward,” Mr Court said.

“If you take our club for instance, we have paid out nearly $60,000 already this year in preparation to kick off in insurance, training gear, training equipment, uniforms and stock.

“The minute we kick a football this year that $60,000 is gone and we are up for the same again in February next year.”

BEST WHO NEVER MADE IT SERIES

■ Part 1: The U20s prop Titans could use right now

■ Part 2: Hard-partying Willie Mason clone ran like the wind

■ Part 3: NRL’s new era arrived too late for Tugun legend

■ Part 4: ‘He liked lawn bowls better’

Mr De Brenni said a Return to Play Advisory Group worked with clubs and players to develop COVID-Safe plans for codes to allow “flexibility beyond the road map limits”.

“A lot has changed in the past month. With the approved plans there is flexibility with current restrictions including with regards to the number of persons at a venue, albeit with strict hygiene and safety protocols.

“The Palaszczuk Government understands COVID-19 has impacted the financials of clubs, which is why we have released a $51.3 million Sport and Recreation Restart Plan to provide funding support for up to 7000 Queensland clubs.”

Area councillor William Owen-Jones — community sport survival is crucial. Picture: Jerad Williams.

MORE NEWS

Incredible statistic reveals scale of damage to Coast businesses

Outrage over plan to demolish famous Coast home

Island resort ‘nightmare’ worsens for owners

The fears come after the Bulletin revealed last week the 100-person limit would also hit reopening of club canteens and bars which are an essential source of income. The Queensland border block was also playing havoc with Tweed teams which play in Gold Coast hockey, football and netball competitions.

Cr Owen-Jones said he believed community sport could not return yet under the State Government restrictions.

“Community sporting clubs are run by volunteers. In order to run even normal operations clubs need all their revenues from membership, canteen, uniforms. There isn’t a magic pot of gold,” Cr Owen-Jones said.

The 100 person limit needed to be “recast and reconsidered”, particularly when up to 500 people around fields was less crowded than Bunnings or Westfield Helensvale, or at schools where most of the 2500 students were playing sport.

“The State has to reconsider the impact of their restrictions, or we run the real risk of clubs closing and a generation of young people being lost to community sport,” he said.