cimm1979 wrote:
WCE fans NEVER say anything about the club administration. They know who Trev Nisbett is and one or two may even be able to tell you who the chairman is but, in general, they have absolutely no interest in the running of the club. They think of membership as you would a gym membership. You get to use the facilities (watch a game) but that's it.
There's a reason for that. The Eagles have been owned in full by the West Australian Football Commission (WAFC) since 1989. Members are really season-ticket holders. So it's the WAFC and not the 'club membership ticket holders' which hold the core legal rights under those club's constitutions.
There's a good run-down by James Patterson (Carlton suppporter) - I'm sure James won't mind me quoting him.
Consider just some of the events that members of some clubs can influence at formal general meetings (illustrated by way of a hypothetical club):
* The president of the Northcote Football Club, a team based in the north of Melbourne, announces that the club intends to trade under a new business name, the "Northern Kings".If this were the Brisbane Lions, the move would require greater than 75% member approval. Members of the Sydney Swans, however, would not have an opportunity to review or approve.
* The CEO of the club announces a sponsorship deal with a recycling company, whereby the club changes its traditional blue and white striped jumper to play all "away" games wearing green.If this were Geelong, more than 75% of the members would first have to approve the new jumper before the directors could pursue that strategy. Members of, say, Melbourne would not be entitled to have a say in the decision.
* After a year of playing in the competition as the "Northern Kings", the club announces that it intends to move to the Northern Territory and play home games in Alice Springs - along with a $10 million ‘relocation assistance' grant from the AFL.If this were Essendon*, the members would first have to approve the decision. Members of
Carlton would not necessarily have an opportunity to review or approve that decision.
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So as Carlton members/supporters if you care about the Strategic direction of your club - we're a little bit disadvantaged as far as a 'say' goes from the start. And the current administration has amended the constitution to make it even harder. Yet if the club winds up you still have to fork over $50 to the creditors...they haven't taken that part out!
By the way - if you want to read the whole article....it's a really good read -
http://www.anzarut.com.au/newsletters/s ... teaser.pdf