Force cut their losses and take Firepower failure on the chin

[James]

You're 100% wrong James.

Giteau's contract doesn't run out next year, it only opens the opportunity to get out of the contract, if anything the contract rolls on for another two years....shame on you.

Does it? I must have missed a trick or two.

[Em-Forcer]

Sponsorship isn't a one-way deal; they're not doing the sports team (or whoever) a favour - the sponsor is essentially paying for advertising (though I do salute the invaluable support these companies give by choosing to buy their advertising in this manner). So as far as I'm concerned there is no reason at all why the Force administration shouldn't look into the state of any sponsor's business.
But whilst there might be a contract in place for however many years are involved in a deal, there must always be a risk that circumstances change. Just like if a player wants out of a contract, there should be a penalty to pay, or legal action could be taken. But as someone above pointed out, maybe the legal route would cost more than might be gained. Sometimes, as the article says, it's just time to cut your losses.

[jargan83]

theres an article/news review in todays Sunday Times titled "Out of Power: How it all went wrong for Tim Johnston and Firepower" on page 45

[BLR]

Does it? I must have missed a trick or two.

The media seems to conveniently forget the fact Giteaus contract has a rollover clause.

[Swee_82]

Link here to the transcript of the interview on Offsiders this morning that had the expletives out early today:

The following quote popped up about 30 seconds into the interview with JO'N, when discussing the crowd in Melbourne last night and how to build the game there:

JACQUELIN MAGNAY, SYDNEY MORNING HERALD: There are some troubles over in the Western Force, financial troubles with Firepower now withdrawing their sponsorship of not only the club but some of their players. Do you fear for the future of the club in Western Australia, and if that club did go under, that franchise, would you be looking at relocating it to Melbourne?

For what it's worth, O'Neill poured cold water on that arguement pretty quickly. Also put the kybosh on people taking about Gits leaving before next season, even with the Firepower drama.

[BLR]

If you need proof that SMH has a problem with us then there is your proof, entirely inappropriate for the situation....

[slomo]

if the ARU were serious about growing the game in melbourne, wouldn't they of given them the bledisloe game instead of Hong Kong........

[Burgs]

Stop talking logic slomo...

[jargan83]

Locis at ARU headquarters??? surely not

[.X.]

I think the failure of Firepower not only as a sponsor but as an entity as a whole has shown the problems that are in some respects unique to Australia.

Only in Australia are there 4 football codes plus cricket, and basketball and motorsport etc etc etc all vying for the sponsors dollars on a national level.

Other countries have some sports listed above, but not all of them.

The ARU's attempted expansion in to Asia is one of necessity and recognition that Rugby Union in Asia is growing at a very rapid rate. Necessity because of all the untapped sponsorship dollars that are to an extent drying up locally.

There are only so many dollars in Australia for company's to give. Only so many demands that corporate sponsors can make of the teams that they support.

As costs continue to rise, so to will the demands sponsors make of teams and individuals. Whilst Matt Gitteau may have been in receipt of 3rd party sponsorship deals, you have to wonder how many games of golf he had to play with Tim Johnston to earn it.

[Darren]

Firepower going bust is likely to prove that sponsorship dollars are not drying up. It would seem that ET and TS are ready to step in to fill the void and if not them, I'm sure there would be others.

Firepower's failure is nothing more than a company going belly up. High flying companies with sports ties have done it before, and will no doubt do it again.

[James]

Whilst Matt Gitteau may have been in receipt of 3rd party sponsorship deals, you have to wonder how many games of golf he had to play with Tim Johnston to earn it.

So many so that I read an article in the SMH that Giteau was leaving the Force to play golf for the Canberra Purple Cobras.

[tragic]

After that insightful and innocent question from Magnay, would anyone like to extend her an invitation to JBs or the Bowlo? I'd certainly like to see her there.

[BLR]

Here's the story she wrote it in:

Numbers game will bar code - rugbyheaven.com.au

Apparently now O'Neill is predicting the Force will be in for very trying times...throw in a few quote to get thier point across, and there we have it, a successful article..

[Burgs]

To save everyone trudging across, here's the Force related part:

"Meanwhile, O'Neill predicted financial pain for the Western Force, caused by the withdrawal of sponsor Firepower, leaving the club and some of the players "taking a haircut". He said: "With the benefit of hindsight, Firepower was illusionary."

O'Neill said if the players, Matt Giteau, Drew Shepherd, Ryan Cross and Cameron Shepherd, were reasonable about the cuts they would have to make (from their former Firepower third-party contracts), the Force would be financially viable. O'Neill said the players could not renegotiate their Force contracts on the basis that the third-party deals were unfulfilled because they had to honour their playing contracts.

"The Western Force are doing all they can to make up the leeway. Matt Giteau can't just pack up and go off to the Brumbies," O'Neill said.

The players are owed between $100,000 and $500,000 for the third-party deals, which haven't been paid since December. As well, the Force are owed several hundred thousand dollars for unpaid sleeve sponsorship."

Does that show get re-aired on ABC 1?
Would love to hear him and what emphasis he actually put on it.