Title Top Priority for New Chief

[Thequeerone]

Really interesting interview with our new CEO in today's West. Not up yet so here is a brief synopsis:

His priorities are not:
Rectanguar Stadium
Player Retention
Happy Fans
lifting Turnstile receipts

His priority is the Super 14 Title - he wants to lift the Trophy.

He reckons that this can be achieved by giving the players the best facilities, the best support staff simply the Best.
Vern had a successful career NBL when they rose to win the title in 1995 ( bit of an achievement and then went on to beat Real Madrid in London a week later and come third in the McDonalds open)

Harris reckons that the biggest problem with the Firepower collapse was the unrealistic expectations that many players had of how much money there was here in the West.

Vern takes over the reins next month.

Thank you Mr Harris you have done a lot for us.

[PerthGirl]

There wont be a team over here to lift the trophy unless he addresses the other issues

[prop53]

When will they get people to run Rugby that know Rugby? Or is that to much to ask?

[Garfiep]

knowing what your doing appears not to have been a prerequisite for a number of Force choices

[prop53]

Yes Garfiep that seems to be a true statement of yours.

[domattw]

Didn't he also run the "Dockers" !!! - think he's been around the block abit as a WA Sports Administrator - not sure if this isn't the WA old boys network at play again. Does he have a good rugby pedigree and know his way around the political minefield and powerbrokers?

[brokendown gunfighter]

another old soaks man I believe

[Mr B.Bear]

There should be 1 priority, a proper home ground...the rest will follow, members will come back, players will have better facilities...

If you build it they will come...

[Bronski Beat]

Yes, they had better start retaining some cattle or get rustling some new cattle.

[Stone Cold]

that's Sharpey's trophy to lift!

[PerthGirl]

We've done the "win the trophy at any cost " approach and it hasn't worked. Time to settle down and try the slowly, slowly way. A rectangular stadium is a must as is retaining players such as Brownie and O'Connor.
Read that the new CEO has been involved in rugby for 30 years so he should know whats what.

[Bronski Beat]

Bring back O'Meara!

[Darren]

All the best to Vern.

Previously we've had the balance of a local board and imported CEO - I think if they are looking inward for a CEO, then they need to look outwards for a few board members otherwise it starts to just smell of an old boys club.

This may be OK if a significant number of our players were also locals, otherwise to me it's looks like an "us and them" divide could easily come between the management and players. There'd be no loyalty built in that ...

[Bronski Beat]

If this was NSW or QLD I would agree with your slowly slowly approach, but seeing as how we are some way off breeding our own blokes I don't think we can afford to fluff around with the fairies.

Reminds me of a poem...

Roses are red, violets are blue, get your farking cheque book out before we lose more blokes.

We've done the "win the trophy at any cost " approach and it hasn't worked. Time to settle down and try the slowly, slowly way. A rectangular stadium is a must as is retaining players such as Brownie and O'Connor.
Read that the new CEO has been involved in rugby for 30 years so he should know whats what.

[PerthGirl]

But it hasn't worked with Gits and Drew. I'm not saying we shouldn't get any overseas or interstate players. It will be a long time before we can field a team with a majority of WA players, but we need to identify players who can grow with the team as Brownie and Pocock have done, not splash out the cash on players who don't have a commitment to the team