StKilda Footy First

Q & A
Q	What are the exact details of the EGM?
A	Tuesday 23 October at Kingston Town Hall, 979-985 Nepean Hwy, Moorabbin at 7pm
Q	With the inference of drugs and alcohol at Board level, I feel you gave the current incumbents (and their allies in the media) something that could divert attention from the REAL issues. I have no doubt about your integrity but perhaps we can keep the debate confined to the issues of Footy First at St Kilda.
A	We agree that this issue overshadowed the real reasons Footy First is challenging. Greg Westaway has repeatedly stated that this was not a stunt. It was simply a reference to the type of policies we, as a board, will adopt to ensure St Kilda is the most professional club in the AFL and every chance and opportunity presented will be capitalised on to deliver members our second premiership.
Q	What will be the changes to the membership packages? To put it bluntly what’s in it for me?
A	We agree that changes needs to be made with regards to acknowledging our loyal and passionate members. Without locking into exactly what it will be, Footy First will seek input from the members. It is evident when you look around other AFL clubs that St Kilda is a long way behind membership incentives.
Q	Why does a group have to take over from a board that has delivered a gradual increase in profits? The current Board has been eating the future of the Football Club by not increasing the revenue and by not reinvesting in the football department. Here’s an example closer to home. If you do not spend adequate money in the upkeep of your house, your investment will crumble over time. While you can argue you saved more money over the year it will only cost you more in the long run. Profit for profit sake does not deliver premierships. Where is your plan?
A	Over the next month we will continue to answer members’ questions. To ask the team to deliver a detailed and meaningful plan now is not appropriate given we do not have access to the specifics of the current financial situation. Member’s confidence should lie in the team that has been presented on the Footy First ticket who, combined, has business, financial, legal and football expertise. To provide a properly prepared business plan takes time. What we will commit to is providing a business plan to the public by the start of season 2008, and posting it on saints.com.au just as Hawthorn and Geelong have openly communicated their business plans with their respective members. A business plan is not the same as an annual report. The annual report they talk of is a retrospective look at the 2006-07 season with no plan for the future.
Q	Why not show the AFL your business plan? Currently the existing board is making a profit. Can you prove to us members that your board will? The AFL signing off on your plan would be a step in the right direction.
A	The AFL does not exist to run clubs. It was the current Board’s suggestion for St Kilda Footy First to lodge a business plan. The St Kilda FC Board is elected by members; not the AFL. The current board shirked its responsibility to listen to its members when it attempted to hand over the decision to the AFL.
Q	What money or fundraising is Greg Westaway bringing to the club eg Richard Pratt at Carlton?
A	Greg Westaway has provided sponsorship to the club for over 20 years in varying capacities and will continue that financial support.
Q	Why call for an EGM and destablising the club rather than waiting for the Annual General Meeting to put your ticket up?
A	To wait for the AGM would destabilise the Club. Due to overwhelming support and a desire for change in leadership at the club it is a case of … why wait? The next AGM is six months away at a time when the players are preparing to head into season 2008.
Q	Where is the money coming from to fund all of these plans which involve additional and significant expenditure?
A	Footy First is confident it can raise the Club’s revenue from $21M, the lowest in the AFL, to at least the average of Victoria based clubs by the securing and maintaining sponsors and providing better service to members. In addition to these two traditional revenue streams, a properly resourced administration team along with the expertise on the Footy First ticket the Club will be in a better position to identify alternate revenue streams.
Q	How did you get access to the membership database?
A	Under the Australian Corporations Act, any current St Kilda Football Club member can access the membership database. This is the channel St Kilda Footy First utilised and therefore all activity relating to members’ details is aboveboard.
Q	What will Michael Klim bring to the Football Department?
A	Michael Klim is an elite athlete. He will bring diversity in high performance training to our Club in order to get the best possible results from our players who are themselves elite athletes. He is equipped with knowledge of the best possible technology available to measure player performance and manage injuries. Klim adds another dimension to a rounded group of footy specialists. Whether he has a weekly role or a guest role will be determined. We would welcome the Senior Coach as a permanent figure on that sub committee, if not a representative from the coaching department. As stated, we are also serious about recruitment and the List Manager of St Kilda will round out that group. Footy First want completely transparent lines between the business, board and football departments, therefore football representatives from the board, and a strong legal opinion in Mordy Bromberg QC will comprise the Footy First sub committee.