Wce/ece

[boris]

I heard a whisper last night at training that the West Coast Eagles have given notice to ECE that from 30/6/09 there will be no further funding/relationship?

Word is the WCE CEO has said enough is enough and due to global recession is pulling there funding.What happens to the Eagles now?do they go back to being Baulko?

[Oscar]

Boris and all R&W readers ?

Perhaps the following news release, sent on May 1st 2009 to all East Coast Eagles website subscribers by the Club?s Chairman Gus Seebeck, will be of interest.

Dear Members and Supporters,

Over the past 8 - 9 years the East Coast Eagles Football Club, through the generous support of several of our key partners, has employed a full-time General Manager. For a club of our size this has been an extremely fortunate situation. As you know, the role is currently filled by Anthony Dignan who has been with the Club for over two years.

You would also no doubt be aware that prevailing business conditions are more difficult than perhaps any other time in living memory and we at East Coast are not immune. Over the past week I have had the unfortunate task of communicating to the Club that the funding arrangements currently in place that enable us to support a full-time General Manager will no longer continue into the 2009/10 financial year. As a result the Club has been left with no choice other than to make the position redundant.

This outcome will clearly have a major impact on the day-to-day administration of our Club. The Board has been working hard over recent days to formulate a plan to ensure we're able to maintain our current levels of professionalism and to ensure the Club continues to operate in the manner to which we're all accustomed. When we finalise this plan we will be sure to communicate it thoroughly to all involved.

At this point Anthony will continue in the role up to June 30. Should this situation change at any time I will be sure to let you know.

It is also important to reiterate that despite the large gap that Anthony will leave, the Club remains in a sound financial position and continues to enjoy the full support of our sponsors and partners, including the West Coast Eagles. We have some significant revenue milestones to reach throughout the remainder of the year to ensure we remain on budget but I am very confident that with everyone's hard work and support we will continue to meet and exceed these targets. Now more than ever we need everyone's support, so if you're able to volunteer or know anyone who can please make this known around the Club.

I'm sure you will all join with me in sincerely thanking Anthony for his enormous contribution to the Club. We wish him and his family all the very best for the future. We will formally acknowledge Anthony at an appropriate time later in the year.

Should you have any questions or comments please do not hesitate to get in contact with me or any of the other Board Members.

Thank you again for your continued support.

Yours Faithfully
Gus Seebeck
Chairman


PS I guess that members and supporters of both the East Coast and St George Football Clubs will recognise this continued support when the West Coast management team are at Bruce Purser on Sunday afternoon next .

[Pace To Burn]

Will certainly leave a big hole for the club. I wouldnt think it will effect them too much as they have a large supporter base that could fill the void to a certain extent but im sure there will be some very busy bees over the next few months trying to prepare for Digs leaving

[Rafters]

Wow. Well written by Gus but it is sad for ECE and Sydney Footy with the impact of the GFC taking shape.

No matter how strong the volunteer support network is ... or how poor a GM was (not saying that about Anthony) ... I am certain that a fulltime GM has a value to a club that couldn't possibly be replaced 100%.

Oscar, in what areas of the club do you think that the club will diminish without a GM on board? I would expect that 2009 will be fine as everything should be in place but what about future years? Where do ye think that ye need to cut corners? Football department? Junior development? Marketing?

[Oscar]

Oscar, in what areas of the club do you think that the club will diminish without a GM on board? I would expect that 2009 will be fine as everything should be in place but what about future years? Where do ye think that ye need to cut corners? Football department? Junior development? Marketing?

Rafters, I placed that message from Gus on this Board to stop any further uninformed comment re ECE's relationship with West Coast. I did so as a responsible member of the Football Club.

Given that I have stepped down as President in 2007, and from the Board as a whole at the end of last year, it is not my position to make any fiscal comment about the Club as per your request.

However if I had to make an observation, I reckon you will find that they will be OK in all departments.

[Norris Lurker]

Boris, I think Oscar's answered your question. Oscar, thanks for your reply.

On that note, time for lockage before the peanut gallery make their presence felt.