Surely Mr Mathieson could cut the blues a piece of this pie and guarantee the clubs future.

http://www.theage.com.au/national/pokie ... -7g3y.html

This is why the Castello group have bought up big time (and paid well over the market value) as they knew of these changes. Unfortunately we were unable to be part of the deal for some reason

Yes Carlton would like some of that sum.

How about paying off our debt for a start? Then add value to our other non footy releted revenue streams to help secure our future.

Then Swanny can just build up the bank account. We trust he'll know what to do with the cash reserves.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

With the current world financial crisis the club must be a little worried especially now that money coming into football is drying up. With a debt of around 5 million or so, some must be concerned with how they will make in roads paying off the debt. It is a worry when a club like Essendon* (the richest of them all) is predicting hard times ahead for its own franchise.

The clubs debt is around 6mill, Greg Swann said at the agm that the debt was manageable and the club was hoping to lock in the interest rate on their loan at some stage when they felt that rates had fallen low enough. The loan to the afl hasnt been paid yet and i think they are paying it back at an interest rate of 6%. I would also like the debt to be lower, i think i am right in saying that Carlton has the largest debt of all the clubs.

Interest rates are low, getting new loans is hard, and generating cash flow is likely to be hard, really it is not the best time to pay up loans. Also given how far back we are coming from in terms of infrastructure both player support and facilities, the question with regards to free cash flow is more about what is the opportunity cost of paying the loan now ? With every $ provided by benefactors or generated by the club, you would ask if it is better served spending on infrastructure that would bring us the 17th, 18th, 19th premiership or paying the loan. As long as Swanny & co are developing a robust business model, I am not worried about the loans.

As for Essendon* they have very conservative business model and are run by a myopic lot. Clubs such as Hawthorn, Collingwood etc have leapfrogged Essendon* coming from a much lower cash base.

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Scott, things aren't as happy as they used to be down here at the unemployment office. Joblessness is no longer just for Philosophy majors - useful people are starting to feel the pinch.

Summed up pretty well M2C. I am sure the club could have chosen to have debt lower than current levels and it is nice that we have a choice. If you can pay off debt at a slower rate and also invest in your footy dept to try and get that extra 1% ahead of your rivals why not?

That might of sounded like a good plan before economies around went into recession. There is no doubt clubs will suffer heavy losses in corporate support in 2009. Lets say the club has budgeted for a 1.5 million profit in 2009, its more likely than not that profit could come in at 500k. That 500k may pay off the interest from the heavy loans we have. On top of that the club needs to raise several millions for its part in the princes park development and continue to invest in its football department.

Im glad we have invested heavily into our football department as i think the only way out of this mess is through success. Im just concerned that we may feel the pinch through the current tough times

Not wanting to make this into an accounting exercise for you Melvey which obviously is not a strength of yours. When a club announces a profit of 1.5 million or 500k the interest payments have already been deducted from that number.

How you can be so concerned about all this while knowing SFA about what is actually going on at the club is beyond me.

We all know the clubs in debt, but you can't seriously condemn the current board because you have feeling that it's financial planning will prove inept.

I appreciate your concerns mate but seriously unless you know the finer details of the clubs finances then you're wasting your time even thinking about it.

If GS says that things are going ok... then thats enough for me to get on with my life.

Chicken Little clearly highlights that he is out of his ground on just another topic!

Where have i condemned anyone?

To hear you now, to see you now i can look outside myself and I must examine my breath and look inside
Ooooooh

Well its is not my forte. I failed veggie maths in year 10!

and bombed out in business management in year 11 and was advised by my business man teacher (Miss Burke) that its best i choose another subject.... Funny that, i now run my own business so an up yours goes out to you Miss Bloke!!!!

I love those type of stories.

Stick it right up 'em.


Geez Melvey I really hope you are a true Blue...I prefer to believe that.

Don't disappoint me because...control...I'll just believe it, contrary to popular belief.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I'd admit myself into a physc ward for evaluation if i spent my time frolicking on this site as a non Carlton supporter. I do have a life and plenty of other interesting things going on in and around it other than just the Carlton football club. Like now, im about to head off to an opening of an exhibition with my lovely fiance (she coming along just for the free champaign and wine)

One word Melvey GOAN.

How is the gerbil farming industry in these tough times?

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"I had to eat"

Shazam! K is the shit man! Giddy up navy blue horse - neigh neigh neeeeiiiiiiiggggghhhhh!!!!!!!

Please stay on topic and not turn this into another gang up on Melvin.

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“It is a state of mind, a system of belief, a way of seeing the world, a deep faith that, because you are Carlton, you belong to something great.” - Mike Fitzpatrick articulating what Out of the Blue means.

I'll get back on topic. Bruce Mathieson has done an incredible amount for this club. While future history books might reference his stint on the board during one of our darkest chapters and his 'off the cuff' recommendation to 'hand in the keys' when he saw the financial mess the Elliot administration left us in - it should also note his efforts to find us sponsors during those dark times when no one (and I do mean no one) wanted to touch us with a barge pole. While he's no longer involved at the club directly, he still takes a keen interest in Carlton and no doubt will continue to do so.

One can go to all the AGM's, read the balance sheets and still not be any the wiser about how the club plans to clear the debt and the timelines involved in doing so. So as previously mentioned - there's not much point worrying about it - I don't exactly trust Greg Swann - but don't have any choice in the matter.