SFNL: St Kilda City president Richard Houston speaks after the club calls for meeting
St Kilda City president Richard Houston says the club needs “more players that want to play for the jumper” as he addressed the large line at the exit door. Here’s what he said.
Southern
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St Kilda City president Richard Houston says the club is realistic of where it is at as it looks for a group of “players that want to play for the jumper”.
His comments come after the Saints called all committee members, players and supporters to the Peanut Farm on Tuesday night to discuss “the issues facing the football club”.
The request was made via the Saints’ social media on Monday afternoon.
“All committee, players and supporters are welcome to come to the club and discuss the issues facing the football club in an open forum for all to have their say,” the post read.
Houston says the meeting will take place to outline those who will be remaining committed to the club.
“We’re consolidating, seeing who is available and making sure we have a seconds team,” he says of the meeting.
“We will play the boys up in the ones and do the best we can, we had a bad week, we got belted by Port Colts.
“Without the quality of players that have left us, it’s a tough deal, but we will put people on the paddock.
“We have been very fortunate, the reserves are very bonded together, it’s been the ones that have been fragmented and that’s due to the culture of the club and the way its recruited over the past.”
As the Saints face the prospect of relegation, Houston says his main focus is changing the “culture of the club” before honing in on gaining younger players.
“We’re very realistic of where we’re at, we need to change the culture of the club, we need more players that want to play for the jumper,” he says.
“We will look at all the options at the end of the year and the playing list we’ve got; our priority at the moment is not a division 1 flag, it’s staying alive as a club.
“Whether that is Division 2, that will depend on the next eight games and how competitive we are. After that we will prioritise our juniors through our under-19s.
“If we can get a Division 2 side up next year that is competitive and we have an under-19s, then that would be our best course of action.”
Houston also suggested the Saints will not hold clearance requests from wantaway players.
SFNL Chief Executive Officer Lee Hartman says the league will assist the Saints after the internal meeting.
“We are awaiting them to have their meeting on Tuesday, we will support them,” he said.
While they plan to help the club, Hartman confirmed the league is unable to close the clearance window prematurely.
“Under the national transfer policy we can’t hold up transfers,” he said.
“We will see how the meeting plays out but they are confident they will get through year and then reassess.”
ST KILDA CITY COACH SIMON GOOSEY STEPS DOWN
St Kilda City has plunged further into turmoil after the sudden departure of senior coach Simon Goosey.
Goosey informed the Southern Division 1 club of his decision to step away on Saturday night after the Saints’ 23.15 (151) to 3.7 (25) loss to Port Melbourne Colts.
His exit has been surrounded by an avalanche of clearances.
Jayden Carter, Jack Gale and Max Holmes, all of whom played in Saturday’s loss, have all requested transfers to Division 2 club Murrumbeena.
And former AFL player Aaron Edwards, who tops the league goal kicking and also played on Saturday, has asked for a clearance back to former club Pines.
They follow the recent movements of Dane Swan, Luke Potts (both Pines) and Madison Andrews (Dromana) all to the Mornington Peninsula Football Netball League.
Goosey joined the Saints in February as an assistant to then coach and president Richard Houston before Houston relinquished his coaching role on the eve of the season.
St Kilda City, a preliminary finalist last season, sits in a relegation battle with Mordialloc, both having won just one of their 10 matches this season.
Simon Goosey and Richard Houston have both been contacted for comment.
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