Port Adelaide set to ditch troubled group GFG’s logo, order new guernseys

Port Adelaide will wear guernseys featuring the GFG Alliance logo in Friday’s pre-season match against Adelaide, despite the company going into administration.

Port Adelaide is in talks about getting new guernseys after conceding its partnership with GFG Alliance is likely over.

The Power has spoken to jumper manufacturer Macron about removing the troubled group’s logo from its apparel but it is not expected to happen before Friday’s pre-season match against Adelaide because of the short turnaround.

“Not if they’re in administration and we’re a creditor, it won’t be on the guernsey,” Koch said of GFG’s sponsorship.

“We’re trying to work through the logistics of it.”

Port Adelaide announced Sanjeev Gupta's GFG as new joint major sponsor back in 2019. Pictured: Port Adelaide’s David Koch and Sanjeev Gupta. Picture: Tom Huntley

Asked if the club would scrap its relationship with GFG and Sanjeev Gupta, Koch said:

“Let’s see how it all pans out.

“We’ve only just been informed of it over the last couple of hours.

“I would say it would be unlikely (to continue) ...but there’s a bit of a legal process to go through and I don’t think we’ll know anytime soon.

“There’s been speculation for a while so it didn’t come as a huge surprise.”

Koch hoped to receive the money from GFG, but said that the club had never been financially stronger, whereas years ago it would have been devastating for it.

He last spoke to Gupta during the finals and the club had been in touch with GFG as recently as Wednesday morning.

“It certainly puts a dent in things but we’ve future-proofed the club,” he said.

“Since this has been in the headlines a number of other sponsors have approached us to see if they can take the GFG spot.

“It’s not just about us, it’s about Whyalla, it’s about the state.

“There are a lot of small family businesses who are creditors and that’s who you feel for.”

Port Adelaide CEO Matthew Richardson at Alberton Oval. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Earlier this month Port Adelaide said the “current business challenges” of Sanjeev Gupta’s GFG were “impacting the club”, with chief executive officer Matthew Richardson saying GFG was being supported through a “complex situation”.

“Port Adelaide is in regular contact with GFG regarding their current business challenges, which are impacting the club, in addition to many of their other business partners,” Mr Richardson said.

It is understood GFG has failed to meet some sponsorship payments to Port, for which it is one of two “co-major partners”, but the amount is not known.

GFG was announced as a Port Adelaide joint major partner in 2019, when chairman David Koch said the club “could not be prouder of this partnership” with “an established global alliance” that had “invested significantly in Australia in recent times”.

Originally published as Port Adelaide set to ditch troubled group GFG’s logo, order new guernseys