BLK has gone into Receivership

[jargan83]

A LEADING Australian apparel company that supplies kit to the Gold Coast Titans, the Brisbane Lions, Gold Coast Suns and a host of other sporting clubs has gone into administration.

The Gold Coast company’s financial plight will have widespread ramifications across the entire Australian sporting landscape.

An extract from the ASIC database reveals World Rugby Specialists, the parent company of BLK Sports who supply training and playing gear to the Lions, Suns, Titans and Queensland Reds, has been placed under external administration.

The Titans are in limbo as they sweat on the arrival of their playing strip for 2017.

Titans chief executive Graham Annesley said the NRL-controlled club is exploring contingency plans after already placing an order with BLK for next season’s kit.

“I have been made aware of the situation regarding BLK,” he said.

“We are currently dealing with the NRL through their own merchandise division to determine our next steps.
The Gold Coast Titans are concerned their 2017 strip may not turn up. Picture: Regi Varghese

“As far as we know, our jerseys for next season are being shipped. The NRL are going to help us co-ordinate what we do with our apparel and merchandise.

“All our gear for next year has been ordered (with BLK).

“Most of it is a contra arrangement so it’s not so much that we are out of pocket. It’s just whether our gear turns up or not.

“If we get the gear, we could get through next season. The most important thing is to get the gear.”

According to BLK’s website, they sponsor the Adelaide Crows, GWS Giants and Richmond Tigers.

It is understood they have recently reached an agreement with St Kilda also.

A Suns spokesman said they did not know yet if there would be apparel supplied for next season.

The AFL will be involved in negotiations on behalf of the clubs.

In Australian rugby BLK is associated with the Melbourne Rebels and Western Force.

The site also lists its relationships with netball’s ANZ Championships and the Australian Diamonds and international sporting teams such as the England rugby league team.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/spo...f57659d20fd096
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I wonder if this will affect the arrival of 2017 merchandise, if so it will be a huge shame not to have it out before Christmas when everyone is spending cash.

[The InnFORCEr]

I'll have a wager on us going to Asics

[jargan83]

An informed wager by some chance?

[The InnFORCEr]

Not really, just with the ARU alliance, it seems logical.

[jargan83]

I guess it depends on whether the contract had expired or not, I doubt the ARU would be tearing up any contracts if it still has time to run.

If a new supplier needs to be sourced I guess the ASICS would be the No. 1 contender via the ARU alliance.

[Kalahard]

Looks like Beyond Limits Known has found its limit.

[beige]

Not sure what that means for the Force considering we're supposed to have a new jersey next year.

[volvo]

Western Force caught up in sporting kit collapse

Sean Smith - The West Australian on November 16, 2016, 1:22 pm

Western Force is amongst dozens of major sporting clubs and organisations caught up in the collapse of leading Australian sports apparel company BLK.

Queensland-based BLK’s parent company, World Rugby Specialists, called in administrators on Wednesday, casting doubt on orders from myriad clubs waiting for their playing strips.

The exposed professional clubs include the Western Force, one of five Super Rugby franchises supplied by BLK, as well as AFL clubs Greater Western Sydney, Gold Coast, Brisbane Lions, Richmond, Adelaide and St Kilda, the NRL’s Gold Coast Titans and the A-League’s Newcastle Jets.

Western Force chief executive Mark Sinderberry, toldthewest.com.au the collapse “is causing all sorts of problems”.

Deliveries due from BLK include Western Force merchandise, as well as playing strips for its Super Rugby team and kits for representative teams.

“We’ve got some items through but not all of it,” Mr Sinderberry said. “So we’re trying to get to the bottom of the implications, and whether we need to source new supplies.”

World Rugby Specialists called in administrators from Hall Chadwick on Wednesday, but control of the group passed quickly the next day to receivers appointed from McGrathNicol.

McGrathNicol said it was “currently undertaking an urgent appraisal of BLK’s operations to determine the best course of action to preserve the value in BLK’s assets”.

“We will be liaising closely with employees, suppliers, customers and other stakeholders as part of this process,” joint receiver Jamie Harris said.

BLK’s website lists partnerships with not only AFL and rugby, but the International Cricket Council and the world’s top women’s netball teams, the Australian Diamonds and New Zealand’s Silver Ferns.

An AFL spokesman told the AFL.com.au website that the league was “in the process of gathering as much information as they can from the receivers to understand the implications for those clubs in the competition that have a relationship with the company for 2017”.

World Rugby Specialists’ last published annual results, for 2013-14, show a dramatically reduced net profit of $116,853 on revenue of $28.06 million.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/wa...ollapse/#page1

[Ecky]

Crikey! BLK is the haberdasher of choice for the WA Refs as well. We only got our new kit after the season started. Looks like we're not ordering more then.

[fulvio sammut]

Now, now, Ecky, don't panic.

I'm sure you guys can borrow a jumper from which ever team you decide to support each game. You'd be completely undetectable that way.

Anyway, why do refs need a strip? Don't you guys even own a white tee shirt and a pair of old tennis shorts?

That was good enough for refs in the old days when they didn't feel they had to be the centrepiece and star attraction of every game.

And as for whistles, I once knew a dog trainer. He died and left me a big box of high frequency whistles. I'd gladly donate them to the Referees' association ....

[fulvio sammut]

Oh, and you know the $163,853 profit BLK made last financial year?

Coincidently,that's exactly the same amount as Palmyra paid BLK for its supporters' kit order last season.

Gave it all away, too.

True story.

[Ecky]

Now, now, Ecky, don't panic.

I'm sure you guys can borrow a jumper from which ever team you decide to support each game. You'd be completely undetectable that way.

Anyway, why do refs need a strip? Don't you guys even own a white tee shirt and a pair of old tennis shorts?

That was good enough for refs in the old days when they didn't feel they had to be the centrepiece and star attraction of every game.

And as for whistles, I once knew a dog trainer. He died and left me a big box of high frequency whistles. I'd gladly donate them to the Referees' association ....

I'm not panicking one bit.

We are provided with a strip. I gather The Powers That Be deem Sir shall be dressed in a manner so as to distinguish him from the players and shall be provided with the wherewithal to facilitate this.

I have a white t shirt and some Fred Perry shorts, but I doubt the young 'uns do.

The whistle is not BLK brand, so there is no need for you to panic about not being able to hear it in every game next season & beyond.

[shasta]

You blokes should get with the strength. Like the last Lions Tour, the Pommie Mungos and the Scottish Premier League. Better Go To Specsavers. Dead set.

[GAFFA]

With gear like this no wonder they went broke....

[jargan83]

With gear like this no wonder they went broke....

The Force would have the final sign off on the gear but that does look pretty ordinary.