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Larry Bird wrote: 58Shark this is why a proper debate on these forums is difficult. I think you will find our board works as hard if not harder than most. Bringing in well over a million a year in sponsorship and revenue. East Perth has also spent more than most on recruiting big name players. Our junior development spending I believe is top of the tree also, contrary to the myth. That is fact not just mouthing of or speculating about other clubs you don't know anything about.

OK, nice flowery diatribe Larry, but no answer to the question. If they worked so hard, made so much money, then where did it go? Why was your club going o be insolvent? Don't forget, other clubs are in the same boat.

Grump wrote:

58shark wrote: If EPEagles were going to go to the wall, where the hell was their board...you know, the ones that organize revenue raising? Do you really think that they are the only ones doing it hard? There are other teams that live almost hand to mouth, but haven't prostituted their club. They should have got off their collective arses and stopped relying on the Bronte handouts. To me, it is all about silverware to them...nothing else.

One board member, a previous sandover medal winner, did resign very early on when this was first mooted, that was his opinion. I see him every now and again in the terrace and he pays little or no attention to the club other than the colts.

I hold him and his opinion in high regard and hence my continued involvement in the colts.

Obviously a man of strong convictions. Hopefully for true supports such as yourself, jardine et al, there will be a reversal of this alignment and your club can return to the WAFL fold.

I'm sure every club board works very hard is the point, and to suggest East Perth's didn't is so wrong it's not funny. Several clubs trading insolvent is how other clubs do it. It cost more to run a WAFL club than what clubs generate except Subiaco something must give.

Larry Bird wrote: The truth is our finances where and still are in a far worse state than is sustainable. That is with people pouring in hundreds of thousands of their own money in ever year. No more to the story than that, it is not a desperate attempt to win at all costs. Winning means virtually nothing to even die hards like myself anymore it's to easy. I'm led to believe two clubs are worse off than us but this is only hear say. Myself I would have preferred to just close the doors and take up our place in WA history.

How did the finances get so bad?

Honest truth Bazza our revenues are at the top end of WAFL clubs. But under Micale our spending on the football department was huge Tony demanded professionalism that come with a price tag. Our spending on junior development was the highest ion the WAFL I was advised. A bit of internal miss management by a person no longer at the club also. Bear in mind the sums of money we are talking about. Fifty thousand here or there is the difference between break even or going further into debt. Creative accounting is going on at a few WAFL clubs including East Perth, the real situation of these clubs is a deal worse than is being represented.

Larry Bird wrote: Honest truth Bazza our revenues are at the top end of WAFL clubs. But under Micale our spending on the football department was huge Tony demanded professionalism that come with a price tag. Our spending on junior development was the highest ion the WAFL I was advised. A bit of internal miss management by a person no longer at the club also. Bear in mind the sums of money we are talking about. Fifty thousand here or there is the difference between break even or going further into debt. Creative accounting is going on at a few WAFL clubs including East Perth, the real situation of these clubs is a deal worse than is being represented.

Were the other sponsors (Those Apart from Bronte) happy with the deal they were receiving?

Fair dinkum you G7 clowns need to get over it. Just battle amongst yourselves for 2nd on the ladder and be done with it.

I'm not sure about that, many of our sponsors have links to AHG so I think they are more than happy. I wouldn't sponsor a WAFL team if I had a limited marketing budget other than considering it a donation really.

Bazza wrote:

Larry Bird wrote: The truth is our finances where and still are in a far worse state than is sustainable. That is with people pouring in hundreds of thousands of their own money in ever year. No more to the story than that, it is not a desperate attempt to win at all costs. Winning means virtually nothing to even die hards like myself anymore it's to easy. I'm led to believe two clubs are worse off than us but this is only hear say. Myself I would have preferred to just close the doors and take up our place in WA history.

How did the finances get so bad?

Like a lot of clubs and folk we lived beyond our means, not in player payments like some, but in how we maintained the sponsors, the supporters and other expenses.

Simply put the staff costs were the first thing to be reduced with the new CEO or whatever the title is,the handouts of clubs regalia stopped and other things such as this have meant that we now spend a more realistic level that matches the income.

As for sponsors many came due to the AHG banner and a need to be aligned with that brand (excuse the choice of term).

I would suggest now that we are living closer to our means as the EPFC, not sure abt the ert but would thing that is as well.

Spot on Grump spending to much in many areas. Also spending to much for on field success, we just had to accept that on field we would probably not make finals etc. Just be happy to make up the numbers but run the club and the brand with integrity. Thus we wind up in the situation we are in.