TonyK
CibbuanoRoos of no concern: Demetriou
June 2nd 2008 06:48
THE future of the Kangaroos is looking stronger by the day with the club today unveiling plans for its new $15 million headquarters to be built at its traditional Arden Street home.
The plan, which includes long overdue new facilities for the players as well as a 'Learning and Life Centre' to be used by Melbourne's multicultural community, is set to provide the foundation for the Kangaroos to remain a Melbourne-based club in the AFL for the long-term.
The Kangaroos, who have set a new membership record of more than 30,000, not only have the support of the AFL but also the Victorian State Government, which has tipped in nearly $6 million in funding to the $15 million project.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said on Monday that Roos' future in the competition as a Melbourne-based club was no longer of concern to the AFL.
"I don't think they are a concern for us," Demetriou said..
"We are concerned about all our clubs from time to time but this football club (the Kangaroos) from the time it announced it wanted to stay in Melbourne has kicked many, many goals."
"To get 30,000 members is an incredible achievement given we never thought we would see the day the North Melbourne football club would have that level of membership."
Demetriou said the credit for the Roos' revival - after the club knocked back the chance to relocate to the Gold Coast last December - lay with president James Brayshaw and chief executive Eugene Arocca.
"They (the Kangaroos) have done an outstanding job from the moment James Brayshaw came on board and then basically went after a new CEO in Eugene Arocca, who has got great credentials and we have already seen the transformation they have had (on the club)."
North Melbourne coach Dean Laidley said the soon-to-be-built new headquarters would not only make the club stronger off the field but also on the field.
"Obviously those steps that have been taken over the last few months, you can see the amount of work that has gone in to lay the foundations to give us a real strong foothold with our sponsors, supporters and now our local community (in Melbourne)," he said.
"We are playing for keeps and credit should go to James and Eugene for that."
"This (new headquarters) is not for one or two years, this is for the next 100 years."
"And it (the improved facilities) has got to help (on-field performance) at the end of the day."
"It will help us attract new players (from other clubs) but more importantly it helps you develop your own players."
The plan, which includes long overdue new facilities for the players as well as a 'Learning and Life Centre' to be used by Melbourne's multicultural community, is set to provide the foundation for the Kangaroos to remain a Melbourne-based club in the AFL for the long-term.
The Kangaroos, who have set a new membership record of more than 30,000, not only have the support of the AFL but also the Victorian State Government, which has tipped in nearly $6 million in funding to the $15 million project.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said on Monday that Roos' future in the competition as a Melbourne-based club was no longer of concern to the AFL.
"I don't think they are a concern for us," Demetriou said..
"We are concerned about all our clubs from time to time but this football club (the Kangaroos) from the time it announced it wanted to stay in Melbourne has kicked many, many goals."
"To get 30,000 members is an incredible achievement given we never thought we would see the day the North Melbourne football club would have that level of membership."
Demetriou said the credit for the Roos' revival - after the club knocked back the chance to relocate to the Gold Coast last December - lay with president James Brayshaw and chief executive Eugene Arocca.
"They (the Kangaroos) have done an outstanding job from the moment James Brayshaw came on board and then basically went after a new CEO in Eugene Arocca, who has got great credentials and we have already seen the transformation they have had (on the club)."
North Melbourne coach Dean Laidley said the soon-to-be-built new headquarters would not only make the club stronger off the field but also on the field.
"Obviously those steps that have been taken over the last few months, you can see the amount of work that has gone in to lay the foundations to give us a real strong foothold with our sponsors, supporters and now our local community (in Melbourne)," he said.
"We are playing for keeps and credit should go to James and Eugene for that."
"This (new headquarters) is not for one or two years, this is for the next 100 years."
"And it (the improved facilities) has got to help (on-field performance) at the end of the day."
"It will help us attract new players (from other clubs) but more importantly it helps you develop your own players."
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