Counties Manukau rugby clubs chairmen were
invited to the Pukekohe Stadium recently to hear the latest of “10
strategies” which will help the union achieve its “$130, 000 profit”
for the current financial year .
The Ultimate Fan was launched, which will
give Counties rugby followers a five year pass to Steelers games The
tickets will be valid whether they are played at Pukekohe or at the
proposed Pacific Arena in Manukau City.
Chief executive, Peter Dunne, board
director, Matthew Newman and president, Max Carter told
representatives of five clubs and the supporters Club that the
package would cost $1,000. This would consist of a five year ticket
and preference for the one beside it if other functions are being
held. An Ultimate Fan jacket would be provided, and there would a
chance for the ticket buyer to win a Ford Fairmont car (providing
they also hit a hole in one at the Pukekohe Golf Course in
December).
Peter Dunne invited those present to take
some with them, or let him know if people are interested.
“I believe we will sell 30 to the clubs,”
he said.
In a contradictory statement, Matthew
Newman said CMRFU would achieve its goals with or without The
Ultimate Fan promotion.
Some members were left asking if this were
the case, why had they been asked to attend the meeting in the first
place?
Counties Manukau Rugby Union’s finances
came under scrutiny at a poorly attended meeting at the Pukekohe
Stadium recently.
Only five clubs attended to hear a sales
pitch on the The Ultimate Fan promotion.
Chief executive, Peter Dunne, admitted this
promotion will take place of the $3000 levy suggested in a letter
from the union to the club chairmen but rejected by the clubs.
In its struggle to stay in division one of
the NPC, CMRFU’s costs appear to be out of control. About $1 million
has been raised, a short term $100,000 loan has been taken out yet
the union still needs another $70,000 to show the New Zealand Rugby
Union’s criteria of having made a “$130,000 profit.”
Peter Dunne told his audience that the
Counties Manukau Rugby Union would still be in overdraft for another
$70, 000.
Clubs asked the union to tighten its belt.
Stories abounded of money being thrown at almost everyone who does
something for the CMRFU.
It was suggested that the team manager and
his assistant are paid exhorbitant salaries; the Steelers “go into
camp” in hotels before home games; payments in excess of $30,000 per
year are being paid to security firms for handling car parking,
something which was done by volunteers prior to the professional
era.
Bombay’s life member, Bill Marsh, told
chief executive, Peter Dunne and director, Matthew Newman, that if
they went back to asking the clubs for volunteers to assist on match
days, they could save the union thousands of dollars.
Pukekohe’s Peter Cleary accepted that
players were part of the professional market but felt the clubs could
play a greater role in taking the financial burden off the
union.
Pukekohe’s delegate, Mike Tod said club
support dropped away almost as soon as the union began employing the
security firm.
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