Jasper Jones wrote:
Whilst I think Mark's on a hiding to nothing in this job - if he puts himself in the position he has - he's gotta do better than this. Some of the answers give nothing to the supporters at a time when he should be giving plenty. Particularly to Jon Anderson, who has a lot of respect for the place and can frame a Q&A article as a positive PR exercise for the club.
We have gone from 13 to 10 and at this year’s AGM we will go to eight if the members vote accordingly.
Better question would have been why do you want to go to 8? Has anyone really got to the bottom of that?
JA:Is eight a number you prefer?
ML: Between eight and nine, but I think eight is a good number.
Well...the Chinese like it.
ML: You know, I actually never said $1.5 million. You said that. We will report closer to a $2 million loss.
Next statement should have been about equilisation monies payable. The club is deemed middle of the road...but if it's middle of the road - why is Carlton continuing to rely on handouts and financial guarantees from the AFL to stay in business?
ML: I won’t put numbers on it but we have a strategy to improve membership significantly over the next three to five years.
Internally, there's a number. But if you want to get to that number - you have to reach out to the lapsed members. Heads up - you stopped communicating to them. Keep in touch...it's pretty easy these days.
ML: Our debt is around $5.5 million. There is a lot of historical debt in that, which began when we built the Legends Stand. Our plan to grow Carlton includes revenue from outside of the normal football channels.
It'd wanna not be gambling. You're barely making $2.5 million profit off of 290 machines. It's a disaster.
ML: Richmond in the opening game and Collingwood on a Saturday afternoon at the MCG are must fixtures.
You're asking for the Pies on a Saturday arvo when it's a given? Why? Ask for the Hawks at the MCG instead.
JA: In recent weeks I have watched under-18 games at Ikon Park and I saw a good building for the players and a good playing surface, but it is surrounded by a very tired looking facility.
ML: We have appointed a consultant to start a master plan for Ikon Park. The ground is fantastic but the reality is the back of the house is falling down.
The appointment of the consultant happened 12 months ago. The master plan should have been done. It's a 3 month job. What's the hold up? Care to correct JA on the ground's condition? The ground is far from fantastic. It has required a major drainage overhaul for 2 years and the board nor the CEO can convince the AFL to pony up a single cent - even though they schedule games there. This is Negotiation 101 and you're flunking.
Why not sell the lease to the AFL? You're forking over hundreds of thousands in maintenance every year for what? Training? You've got 19 years remaining on something Melbourne City Council owns. It made sense in 1996 when that was negotiated, but now? Not so much. You could clear the debt in one foul swoop. The powers that be might even let you play a few games there once they've fixed it up. But don't fix up a white elephant that isn't yours.
Jasper goes bang !
