Thank god for Rod Butterss and Glen Casey

Oh When the Saints · Thu 01 Nov 2007 11:24am

Reading the papers this morning, I was struck by the financial position of the Kangaroos.

They have a similar revenue base to us, yet continue to lose money, have no business plan and rely on the AFL for three million dollars of funding each year.

When Rod and Glen walked into St Kilda in 2000, they had the financial expertise (particularly Casey) to restructure the club and make us the most profitable in the AFL.

The plight of the Roos really drives home what a good job Butterss and Casey did for St Kilda.

Off a lower revenue and membership base, and refusing AFL handouts, these two men turned St Kilda around. We were a basket case.

Financially, what they did for St Kilda was sensational. Averted a situation similar to what the Roos may now be going through.

Whatever we thought at the time of their departure, I think it's important that everyone recognises the good work these two did for our club through the tough times.

The Roos are crying out for similar expertise and leadership, and it is sorely missing.

Thank god for two St Kilda men who stepped forward and had the guts and brains to turn us around.

ausfatcat · Post: # 485005Post **ausfatcat** » Thu 01 Nov 2007 11:30am

here here, They did what was needed to be done at the time.

saintsRrising · Thu 01 Nov 2007 11:33am

Fully agree...which is why I posted this on the Roos yesterday..

saintsRrising wrote:If one puts one's Victorian bias aside it is a pretty obvious move.

*There are too many clubs in Victoria for a true National Competition. And not just in terms of money but in terms of teams being where the people are. The competition is clearly out of balance.

*In terms of where the people are....the Gold Coast and environs has a huge growth rate...including many moving there from down South. The whole zone is a super-city.

*Top of all this growth with a lot of young families moving to the area....and an AFL team will give momentum to more kids playing with local teams.

*The are has its own airpots......with new International Low Cost airlines such as Air Asia now flying there.

*Make no mistake in two decades there are going to be a huge number of people living in this area.

The AFL is quite rightly targetting it....

The AFL is obviously thinking strategically and long -term. Not just the next few years , but where the AFL wants to be in 20-50 years...as Australia's truly national and dominant code.

The AFL for now must supply 16 teams for the TV treasure chest of cash. But it does not have to be the current 16.

a number of clubs have only been saved from folding by this TV cash....and the AFL is nw I think going to start putting more strings on this extra funding.

For the roos it will probably bea case that the extra cash can stay but only if they head north. If not the funds will go to start up a new AFL ...Southport......with the Melbourne Clubs being left to survive of die.

Those bitter about RB should remember that he has for the time being put us in a position where this is not our fate...but it could be. Lets hope that FF pull their fingers out and build upon our improved position.For that matter ALL Saints fans need to pull their fingers out and start attending matches in higher numbers.....for this is the heart of the Roos problem.....simply way to few people go and watch them.

More teams will move....once the Roos are bedded down..in several years it would not surprise if the Western Bulldogs take up residence in Western Sydney but starting putting more bums on seats or it could be the Western Saints!!!!!...though that will be a harder nut to crack than the Gold Coast Region.

Saint Mik · Post: # 485030Post **Saint Mik** » Thu 01 Nov 2007 12:09pm

YEP and thats why Dimwit liked him and was backing him up i suppose, all the books balanced its just a pity the onfield books didnt do the same

Done a great job RB and its sad to see him go IMO and not hepled from the current people but thats the way it goes.

Hope all his good work returns a flag for our club in the near future.

Enrico_Misso · Thu 01 Nov 2007 12:28pm

Have to admit I am still mystified at our Board change.

I believe they did a fantastic job securing our financial future which was correctly their first goal.
And I believe they then deserved a chance to extend that competent management to chase on-field success.

The pressure is on Westaway to deliver.

Oh When the Saints · Thu 01 Nov 2007 12:31pm

Enrico Misso wrote:I believe they did a fantastic job securing our financial future which was correctly their first goal.

That's what this thread is about ... IMO whatever you thought of the changeover, it's important to acknowledge RB and GC for what they did.

evertonfc · Post: # 485072Post **evertonfc** » Thu 01 Nov 2007 1:06pm

They did what needed to be done at the time.

The recent change, as most can easily agree on, also came at the right time.

Good result all round.

Post: # 485076Post **n1ck** » Thu 01 Nov 2007 1:10pm

evertonfc wrote:They did what needed to be done at the time.

The recent change, as most can easily agree on, also came at the right time.

Good result all round.

Agreed. I dont think ive seen anyone on here say that RB and Casey didnt do what was needed at the time.

I hope that Westaway and Co. can get the ball rolling again as it had seemed to stagnate in the last 18-24 months.

Duggie · Post: # 485084Post **Duggie** » Thu 01 Nov 2007 1:22pm

Both guys can justifiably lay equal claim to any success we have in the near future, and conversely deny any part of failure to perform

stinger · Post: # 485085Post **stinger** » Thu 01 Nov 2007 1:22pm

n1ck wrote:
Agreed. I dont think ive seen anyone on here say that RB and Casey didnt do what was needed at the time.

yep....but now i'm thanking god they are gone.....move on pple.....

riccardo · Post: # 485090Post **riccardo** » Thu 01 Nov 2007 1:28pm

No problem they did the job required at the time they were needed.

BUT Butterss particularly hung on far too long after his time was clearly up and fresh faces were needed. This is why I am "bitter" to him, if you want to call it that.

You need to know when to quit, Rowdy Roddy wouldn't walk away with dignity. Kinda like the little warmonger in the tracksuit, actually.

st.byron · Post: # 485092Post **st.byron** » Thu 01 Nov 2007 1:33pm

They were the right people to guide us to the position we're in now and am grateful for their work in that. They also needed to move on and am happy that they have.

Oh When the Saints · Thu 01 Nov 2007 1:38pm

All I'm saying is don't underestimate what they did for us at the time.

It was a tough job, and thank god we had them.

stinger · Post: # 485109Post **stinger** » Thu 01 Nov 2007 1:47pm

Oh When the Saints wrote:All I'm saying is don't underestimate what they did for us at the time.

It was a tough job, and thank god we had them.

i don't think i do......but they stuffed up all the same...hence the reason that thommo and burkie joined the push to get rid of them....my view is that economic rationalists should be burned at the stake......no place for them in a successful football club...especially when they are spending what little money there is on expensive red wine at president luncheons and not on exercise bikes........

ausfatcat · Post: # 485128Post **ausfatcat** » Thu 01 Nov 2007 2:09pm

stinger wrote:
Oh When the Saints wrote:All I'm saying is don't underestimate what they did for us at the time.

It was a tough job, and thank god we had them.

i don't think i do......but they stuffed up all the same...hence the reason that thommo and burkie joined the push to get rid of them....my view is that economic rationalists should be burned at the stake......no place for them in a successful football club...especially when they are spending what little money there is on expensive red wine at president luncheons and not on exercise bikes........

The last two or three years yes, but we did need them to do what they did when they first came in, and we also needed to get rid of them this year.

Oh When the Saints · Thu 01 Nov 2007 2:12pm

stinger wrote:
my view is that economic rationalists should be burned at the stake......no place for them in a successful football club...

Tell that to the Kangaroos.

saintsRrising · Thu 01 Nov 2007 2:49pm

RB was right for his time....

We are now just hoping that FF is right for their time.

We needed RB when we did because we needed to right an ailing ship that was sinking fast.

We now need a crew to grow us.....to add speed and cargo and build a bigger and better St Kilda. This is what FF have promised along with engendering greater feel of beinga membership based club again.......and what they need to deliver on.

We also need more fans to actually attend games.....for make no mistake.....if and when the Kangaroos goes.....the next clubs to feel the nudge from the AFL will be thos with the worst attendances in Melbourne.

TimeToShineFellas · Thu 01 Nov 2007 2:50pm

n1ck wrote:I hope that Westaway and Co. can get the ball rolling again as it had seemed to stagnate in the last 18-24 months.

Well all I can say is that they bloody better!

bobmurray · Post: # 485318Post **bobmurray** » Thu 01 Nov 2007 9:08pm

Maybe North can appoint Butters as their President and he can drag Casey along with him and then let's see if they can repair that rabble,let's see if they can get the Roos off the AFL's dole queue.......

Maybe even get them some members........

jill · Post: # 485323Post **jill** » Thu 01 Nov 2007 9:21pm

And lets not forget that us members have the ultimate say in our club, unlike the Roos. Am grateful to RB &Casey for what they did and am also grateful for the mighty job Andrew Plympton did to save the club - but we must move forward when the time comes.
GO SAINTERS 2008

saintspremiers · Thu 01 Nov 2007 9:40pm

Oh When the Saints wrote:
stinger wrote:
my view is that economic rationalists should be burned at the stake......no place for them in a successful football club...
Tell that to the Kangaroos.

North Melbourne (cut this "Kangaroos" clap trap perleeese!!) is a basket case.....for this BIG reason - they have F*** all supporters!

They've never had many fans, totally different to us - we have a massive latent supporter base who in the main are too lazy and not passionate enough to buy memberships....but as we well know, combination of good marketing and onfield performance can see our membership close to 35K.....North would be popping Benny's disco bikkies if they hit 25K!

joffaboy · Post: # 485331Post **joffaboy** » Thu 01 Nov 2007 9:46pm

Everyone loves RB now he has been knifed in the back.

How are all those extra revenue streams coming along Mr Westaway?

How are all those sponsors coming along?

Will the total sponsors exceed the sponsor $'s we had in 2007?

Lets all cross our fingers and toes that we haven't p!ssed all the great work of RB and his admin up against the wall.

Selhurst Saint · Fri 02 Nov 2007 10:44am

Kangaroos? There but for the grace of god go I.

RB has brought a financial stability to our club that we have never had in our 134 history, and all thanks to him. I feel the old board has been treated rather harshly in the eyes of most supporters. It was probably time for the change but we shouldn't forget the enormous legacy left by RB.

Like Nick said at the B&F. You guys (the new board) have talked the talk and now you have to deliver. Of course I bloody hope they succeed.