SMH: Rabbitohs In Headlights

[Admin]

Rabbitohs in headlights


Andrew Webster
SMH 14/04/08

FORGET about the winless start on the field for a minute - morale among the admin staff at South Sydney has hit rock-bottom. After riding into the troubled foundation club on a white horse and promising to turn frowns upside down, millionaire co-owner Peter Holmes a Court's decision to slash the budget has many worried. "People are walking around with a look of fear and suspicion in their eyes," an insider assured us. "It's like a cancer." Staff are dismayed at the recent resignation of Simon Dirs, who headed Souths Cares but left because he felt the club's charity arm was becoming simply a public relations exercise. There's also bewilderment about the treatment of long-time employee Brandon Punter, whose position as chief operating officer was gradually phased out so he could take a new position with Holmes a Court's sports management company, the Passionate Group. On his last day, Punter was informed via email that the offer had been withdrawn. "There is a financial reality the club [which recorded a $4 million loss last year] had to address," Punter told us. "The day of reckoning was always going to arrive." Holmes a Court denied morale was poor. As for Punter's departure, he said: "Sometimes in a new structure, good people don't fit. He didn't quite fit."

[Petercav1]

What in hell is going on,why doesnt HAC come out and explain ,he might own the club but we are the ones that love the club and are here for the long hall ,I as a member would like to know what is going on.

[The Perp]

There is a very disturbing story about Souths Cares that will eventually be told.

[BBKing777]

Hints perp, hints :)

I have a bad feeling PHaC has bitten more than he can chew.

[The Perp]

In September last year PHaC received from then government minister Joe Hockey a $2 million grant for Souths Cares.

The money was a grant for Souths Cares to provide assistance and help to Aboriginal youth, as well as designing programs to advantage them. The government set a target for Souths Cares to provide 200 new jobs for Aboriginal youth over three years.

He with the very big mouth, Shane Richardson, boasted in the press that Souths Cares would provide 1000 new jobs in that period. Good for him!

Since then, the football club has removed from its forum mention of the $2 million government grant. The obligations of Souths Cares (ie mentoring and helping Aboriginal youth and providing jobs) were also removed from view.

(Given that the football club had a barometer for new membership, should we have had a similar gauge for new jobs from Souths Cares? How many new jobs have been created?)

Souths Cares had three staff to commit to its charter. Now there's only one (David Peachley).

Recently, an Aboriginal welfare worker, who has dealt with the football club for many years, approached Souths Cares for help. He has many Aboriginal youth in his care who are at the crossroads. The welfare worker asked for Souths Cares to perform its charter for which it received over $2 million in grants.

The welfare worker was referred to PHaC.

PHaC advised that a payment of $50,000 would be required before a program would be implemented and Aboriginal players made available to meet with the troubled youth.

I don't know whether this request for money is in breach of rules for Souths Cares. No one seems to know what the rules are.

I don't know whether the $2 million grant has been used wisely. I don't know how it is being used.

Souths Cares manager Simon Dirs recently resigned from his job . He resigned because PHaC is using Souths Cares as a "public relations exercise".

:mad:

[The Perp]

Further, the Aboriginal welfare worker for many years received footballs and basketballs for free from the football club for use by disadvantaged kids. This practice stopped under PHaC.

[TheCleaner]

Well that's very interesting. One wonders though...what happened to the $2 million?

[BBKing777]

I wonder if he is using it as a deposite for his next home.:sniper2:

[The Perp]

Shane Richardson has sold his home at Coogee.

[ipagliaccio]

I don't know whether this request for money is in breach of rules for Souths Cares. No one seems to know what the rules are.

I don't know whether the $2 million grant has been used wisely. I don't know how it is being used.

Buongiorno,

Pagliaccio wonders if the club is continuing the time honoured tradition of Souths under the Faction, of ''robbing Peter to pay Paul''. :( Previously Peter was the football club and Paul was the Shitpile. :twoguns: Maybe now Paul is Souths Cares and the $2mil of taxpayers money.:twoconfused: Problem is that there will no doubt be more scrutiny surrounding use of federal government grants, compared to the ''scrutiny'' provided in the past by a handful of toothless, nuff nuff members who thought the football and leagues clubs were one and the same. :hammer:

ciao,
ipagliaccio