Holmes a Court, visiting Crowe on the set of his latest
movie in New Mexico, was in the mood for celebration after being informed the
football club’s plan to refurbish the leagues club had been approved by the
members.
He predicted the days of financial problems at the Rabbitohs
were a thing of the past.
Yesterday’s vote means Holmes a Court and Crowe have ensured
the leagues club remains at Redfern, adjacent to the soon-to-be revamped
Redfern Oval.
It also signals the end for long-time Souths patriarch and
privatisation opponent George Piggins, who said he would resign his position as
leagues club chairman next week.
Piggins had endorsed moving the leagues club, which was in
administration with significant debts, to nearby Alexandria.
Holmes a Court’s camp is expected to take control of the
leagues club board at the elections, which will be held early next month, and
then begin redevelopment of the club.
The plans include a $10million refinance and renovation,
featuring a Legends’ Walk on the entry level, as well as a health and fitness
centre to be operated by the football club.
They also include business facilities designed to ensure an
income stream for the football club. Holmes a Court had no hesitation rating
the leagues club decision alongside the vote in March, which resulted in he and
Crowe becoming 75 per cent owners of the Rabbitohs.
“It didn’t get as much attention as the last vote but
in a lot of ways it’s just as important,” Holmes a Court said.
“It means we have a home where we can come together.
The football club will have an asset. It’s hugely important.”
While Holmes a Court was drinking to his success, Piggins
signalled his 40-year association with the club was about to come to an end.
Piggins, who hasn’t attended a game since Holmes a Court and
Crowe assumed control of the football club, reacted with relief to yesterday’s
result.
“Hallelujah, I’m glad it’s over,” Piggins said.
“I’m going to do what most people do — watch the games
on TV. I won’t contest (the board elections). I will probably resign next week
just to get it out of my head.”
The proposal backed by Piggins and the board of the leagues
club received 25 per cent of the vote, while a third proposal submitted by
hotelier and plastic surgeon Jerry Schwartz received 5 per cent.
“What it says is if we do all the work, we can get
ourselves into a stable position,” Holmes a Court said.
“We still have to renovate the building, we still have
to do the work. Should we do that we will be able to get the football club back
in a stable position.”
The leagues club vote continued the sweeping changes under
the Holmes a Court-Crowe regime. Jason Taylor has taken over as head coach from
Shaun McRae while fresh faces Dean Widders, Jeremy Smith and Reece Simmonds
have arrived, soon to be joined by other recruits Nigel Vagana, Roy Asotasi and
David Kidwell.
Meanwhile, a push for certain clubs to play each other twice
in a season — particularly when it comes to derbies — was greeted with
caution at the annual chief executives conference in Sydney yesterday.
The issue will be discussed again at their next meeting in
2007, with clubs receptive to the idea as long as it does not disadvantage them
elsewhere in the draw.
The conference will today hear of the latest plans for a
national youth competition, almost a formality with a sponsor expected to be
announced in the new year.
The competition will involve all teams in the NRL and will
be the curtain-raiser to the first-grade match.
Other issues to be discussed today include amendments to the
salary cap, with increases to the second-tier cap and better provisions for
players injured on representative duty.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20843879-2722,00.html