Caulfield president Darren Stait’s concern for Southern league clubs
A Melbourne football club president wants community sport to come back as soon as possible but he’s adamant spectators must be part of any return.
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A Southern league president fears for some clubs if suburban football resumes with no crowds.
Caulfield’s Darren Stait said it would be potentially ruinous to play games without spectators.
He said clubs relied on match-day takings to survive, and in their absence there would be no money to meet costs.
Stait said his club would survive but he’s worried about others.
“I fear a few of Southern league clubs wouldn’t be able to bounce back from it,’’ he told Leader.
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“It’s not just a matter of coming back for the sake of playing games. We’d have to return to almost normality. If we play without crowds we’re financially rooted.
“We’re fortunate that we’ve got a bit of a war chest of funds that we’ve squirrelled away in the last decade. We’d take a hit, but we’d be OK. But you put another layer of debt on some clubs and what would happen to them? Their sustainability comes into question. You wonder if they’d be able to pop out of the other side of it.’’
Stait said limits on social gatherings would curtail clubs’ lunches and after-match functions.
He is also concerned that sponsors affected by the coronavirus pandemic will be unwilling or unable to keep supporting clubs, and that players, coaches and umpires “will not be understanding of the financial plight of community clubs and not be prepared to suffer some of the pain’’.
In a letter to his members, Stait said he lived in hope that “decision-makers take a holistic view of the situation and seek counsel from some of their key stakeholders (ie their constituent clubs).’’
“I think I speak on behalf of many people in saying that we want community sport to resume as soon as possible as it is an important facet of societal living,’’ Stait said.
“This is why it is extremely important the decision-makers get it right so our competition and all other sporting competitions can resume as they were before COVID-19. Should they get it wrong, I fear for the survival of our club and other clubs.’’
A survey of Southern league clubs showed a “high majority’’ wanted to get on the ground this year.
It also indicated most believed:
● They could have a meaningful season if they played each other once and then contested finals.
● Two or three weeks of training would be enough before the first game.
● The health of people was more important than playing football.
All clubs told the league they would dig in to bounce back from the events of 2020.
Southern and the other metropolitan leagues will meet on May 12 to talk over a return to play.
They believe their ability to kick off will come down to the State Government’s social distancing and mass-gathering rules.
The league CEOs have met AFL Victoria to formulate a case for a return. Sport and Recreation Victoria will take it to the government.
If the Southern league does go ahead, clubs will have significantly reduced salary caps.
If nine games are played, Division 1 teams will have match payment ceilings of $37,500. Division 2 will have a cap of $27,500, Division 3 of $18,750 and Division 4 of $12,500.
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