DOCSLIB.ORG

Former Storm CEO Brian Waldron Hits Back

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Former Storm CEO Brian Waldron Hits Back Former Storm CEO Brian Waldron Hits back ANDREW RULE and TOM REILLY | The Age | 27 April, 2010 FORMER Melbourne Storm chief executive Brian Waldron has hit back at News Ltd and the National Rugby League for their involvement in the club's salary cap rorts, rejecting their depiction of him as the sole architect of the scheme. Breaking his silence for the first time since the scandal broke last week, Waldron has called for a public inquiry into salary cap cheating, which he says has spread through NRL clubs over several years. In a statement, Waldron told The Age he would ''tell everything I know'' to any properly constituted, transparent inquiry that required evidence under oath. He singled out News Ltd for pointed criticism, stating: ''I am … prepared to give the entire background to Rupert Murdoch so that he has a full understanding of how his company has managed a $66 million investment in the Melbourne Storm since its inception.'' In a meeting at a friend's office in central Melbourne, the casually dressed Waldron spoke fluently, forcefully and at length, but strictly off the record, sticking to legal advice not to talk about the salary issue. He laughed off the ''Where's Wally'' jibes of recent days, saying he had gone about normal activities - watching his son play football in Camberwell, going to his mother's 79th birthday and having dinner with friends. At times like this, he said, ''you stick to the closest 30 people in your life''. He stressed that he had ''strong legal advice'' not to comment publicly on methods NRL clubs used to evade salary cap rules that limit ''third party'' payments above players' base salaries. The advice is because of the possibility police will investigate the affair. But Waldron has confided in friends, family and former workmates since the scandal erupted last Thursday, when the NRL announced it had stripped Melbourne Storm of its last two premierships, fined it $500,000 and forced it to return $1.1 million in prizemoney, and banned it from accruing any premiership points this season. Sources close to Waldron have told The Age he is determined not to let powerful interests use him as a scapegoat for a payment system he says was compromised and corrupted well before he joined Melbourne Storm (from AFL club St Kilda) in 2005. One well-placed source said yesterday Waldron had named News Ltd executives and NRL chief David Gallop as being aware of widespread salary cap cheating for years. Waldron believed that News Ltd - owner of Melbourne Storm - and the NRL have vested interests in deflecting attention from suggestions they knew about systemic pay cheating, he said. Waldron has told several people he warned Gallop three years ago that systemic salary rorting was ''a cancer'' that affected every NRL club except Canberra, which was too broke to pay players more than it should. But, Waldron said later, Gallop had ignored the warning and had never raised the matter with him again. A source said last night that Waldron had called Gallop in 2007 as a scandal was brewing at the Newcastle Knights after a former club accountant alleged systematic rorts there. ''He [Waldron] made it clear he thought such practices were widespread throughout the game and that if the NRL were serious about tackling this issue, the only way for this to be done was to have a moratorium whereby clubs could put their hands up to past sins and start from a clean slate,'' the source said. ''Without some sort of amnesty it would be impossible even for those clubs that wanted to do the right thing to straighten out their books. ''But Gallop said that such a deal couldn't be an option. He told Brian that if extensive details came out about breaches in the salary cap … it would be too damaging to the sport's reputation, as it could lead to fans questioning results they'd seen on the pitch.'' Gallop last night would not confirm or deny the conversation with Waldron. He told The Age that if the conversation had taken place, he could not recall it. Waldron's advisers are intrigued by the new role of veteran News Ltd rugby league troubleshooter Frank Stanton. Stanton is painted in some quarters as ''a clean pair of hands'' assigned to clean up the salary cap mess. But it is not the first time News has sent Stanton to Victoria: he arrived to settle a $700,000 salary cap breach in 2004 that occurred on the watch of foundation Storm chief executive John Ribot - before Waldron started at the club. In his statement yesterday, Waldron said: ''There is a great deal I would like to say about my five years at the Melbourne Storm, a club that I have the highest regard for and whose players are the finest and most courageous group of sportsmen I have ever seen run onto the field of play.'' That's the pity of it, he commented later, in a moment of reflection: they are a great team that will now be remembered for the wrong reason. .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The International World of Sport and the Liability for Off-Field Indiscretions
    Bond Law Review Volume 23 | Issue 1 Article 3 2011 The nI ternational World of Sport and the Liability for Off-Field Indiscretions Chris Davies Follow this and additional works at: http://epublications.bond.edu.au/blr This Article is brought to you by the Faculty of Law at ePublications@bond. It has been accepted for inclusion in Bond Law Review by an authorized administrator of ePublications@bond. For more information, please contact Bond University's Repository Coordinator. The nI ternational World of Sport and the Liability for Off-Field Indiscretions Abstract The recent terminations of the contracts of NRL player, Joel Monaghan and the AFL’s Brendan Fevola, for off-field indiscretions, has highlighted the significance of the bringing the game into disrepute clauses contained in standard player contracts. Tiger Woods’ extra-marital affairs received extensive world wide media attention, and the outcome of this negative coverage was the loss of millions of dollars in sponsorship deals. This indicates that such contracts can be terminated on the basis that a sportsperson’s behaviour was having a negative impact on the sponsor’s image. It is for the same reason that sponsors have put pressure on the governing bodies of team sports to take appropriate action for off-field indiscretions. The Court of Arbitration in D’Arcy v Australian Olympic Committee, has also held that a competitor’s behaviour in an incident where criminal charges were laid, may, in itself be sufficient to bring a sport, or themselves, into disrepute, regardless of whether the competitor is later found guilty or innocent.
    [Show full text]
  • NOTA DI LAVORO 53.2014 Rugby League in Australia Between 2001 and 2012: an Analysis of Home Advantage and Salary Cap Violations
    NOTA DI LAVORO 53.2014 Rugby League in Australia between 2001 and 2012: an Analysis of Home Advantage and Salary Cap Violations By Thomas Longden, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei, Euro-Mediterranean Centre for Climate Change and Metrical Analysis Greg Kannard Economy and Society Series Editor: Giuseppe Sammarco Rugby League in Australia between 2001 and 2012: an Analysis of Home Advantage and Salary Cap Violations By Thomas Longden, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei, Euro-Mediterranean Centre for Climate Change and Metrical Analysis Greg Kannard Summary Within this paper, we review whether incidences of salary cap circumvention within the Australian professional rugby league competition led to improved home team wins during the period between 2001 and 2012. In doing so, we show that while the salary cap breach amounts can be attributed to an improved home team win record in the case of the Melbourne Storm, success during the period can also be attributed with other factors such as the management of the club, talent identification and the quality of the coach and/or captain. This raises an important issue surrounding the effectiveness of a salary cap to create a level playing field when uncertainty over the quality and performance of players exists. A notable role of the salary cap violations was the retention of a core group of players that were instrumental in the success that occurred in the 2007 season. As part of the analysis we also review home team advantage. A focus on the NRL is justified due to the peculiar nature of having multiple stadium types within the same city and team.
    [Show full text]
  • TO: NZRL Staff, Districts and Affiliates and Board FROM: Peter Cordtz DATE: 30 November 2009 RE: Media Summary Tuesday 17 Novemb
    TO: NZRL Staff, Districts and Affiliates and Board FROM: Peter Cordtz DATE: 30 November 2009 RE: Media Summary Tuesday 17 November to Monday 30 November Roosters find new ‘home’ in Garden City: Rugby league will make a long-awaited return to Christchurch's AMI Stadium next year with Sydney Roosters CEO Steve Noyce yesterday confirming his side will play a "home" game against the Warriors on this side of the Tasman in 2010… League taking fans seriously: Don't scoff but there actually may be a sports organisation prepared to put the interests of its fans ahead of the TV executives - even if it costs up to $50 million… Graham’s right Man-ly for the job: Former Kiwis coach Graham Lowe is confident he's the right man to quell the internal bickering that has rocked the Manly Sea Eagles off the field for the last year… Wiki set for Warriors role: Ruben Wiki – one of New Zealand rugby league's favourite sons – is set for a return to the sport with the Warriors expected to announce his appointment to a high performance role within weeks… League: Toopi targets Titans deal: Clinton Toopi is leaving rugby to join NRL club the Gold Coast Titans for pre-season training on January 4, with a season-long contract in prospect… Ali Lauiti’iti’s UK open sesame: Ali Lauiti'iti's bedside reading is heavy stuff: Life in the UK: A Journey to Citizenship, an appallingly written (or so those who have survived reading it say) official publication covering British history, society, law and politics.
    [Show full text]
  • Cushla Dawson DATE: 16 March 2009 RE
    TO: NZRL Staff, Districts and Affiliates and Board FROM: Cushla Dawson DATE: 16 March 2009 RE: Media Summary Tuesday 10 February to Monday 16 March 2009 Bronson Harrison following in Wiki's footsteps: In Canberra Raiders circles there are few compliments bigger than being compared with club legend Ruben Wiki. So as Bronson Harrison prepares to play his first game for the Raiders tomorrow night he can rest assured he has the complete backing of his teammates. Missing World Cup triumph only regret: Everyone from the coaches, Stephen Kearney and Wayne Bennett, and seemingly, through to the kit man have been lauded for their roles in the Kiwis' stunning World Cup win. But one man whose exploits are often overlooked is Roy Asotasi. Asotasi wasn't at Brisbane that famous night when the Kiwis upset Australia 34-20. He still had an arm in a sling, thanks to the torn pectoral muscle sustained in the last 10 minutes of his penultimate NRL game of the season. It dashed any hopes of captaining the Kiwis at the World Cup. Bennett rues letting Harrison slip away: It's not often that Wayne Bennett admits he got it wrong. But that was certainly the case with Bronson Harrison. About the time Bennett signed on to coach the Dragons, Bronson's manager, Sam Ayoub, shopped the Tigers back-rower to several clubs. Bennett was given the opportunity to snap up the 23-year-old but passed. The Kiwi international subsequently signed with the Raiders. Battle looms for Kiwi T'eo: Auckland-born Bronco Ben Te'o is refusing to comment on a possible battle between Queensland and New Zealand for his services.
    [Show full text]
  • What's the Score? a Survey of Cultural Diversity and Racism in Australian
    What’s the score? A survey of cultural diversity and racism in Australian sport © Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, 2006. ISBN 0 642 27001 5 This work is copyright. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced without prior written permission from the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. Requests and enquiries concerning the reproduction of materials should be directed to the: Public Affairs Unit Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission GPO Box 5218 Sydney NSW 2001 [email protected] www.humanrights.gov.au Report to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship. The report was written and produced by Paul Oliver (Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission). Cover photograph: Aboriginal Football, © Sean Garnsworthy/ALLSPORT. Aboriginal boys play a game of Australian Rules football along the beach in Weipa, North Queensland, June 2000. Contents Foreword 5 Introduction 7 Project Overview and Methodology 1 Executive Summary 19 National Sporting Organisations Australian rules football: Australian Football League 2 Athletics: Athletics Australia 41 Basketball: Basketball Australia 49 Boxing: Boxing Australia Inc. 61 Cricket: Cricket Australia 69 Cycling: Cycling Australia 8 Football (Soccer): Football Federation Australia 91 Hockey: Hockey Australia 107 Netball: Netball Australia 117 Rugby league: National Rugby League and Australian Rugby League 127 Rugby union: Australian Rugby Union 145 Softball: Softball Australia 159 Surf lifesaving: Surf Life Saving Australia
    [Show full text]
  • Volume 24 No. 3 Winter 2011 (Pdf)
    N A T I O N A L RESPONSE Official Journal of the Australian Institute of Emergency Services VOLUME 24 NO. 3 WINTER 2011 PRINT POST PUBLICATION NO. PP337586/00067 THANK YOU volunteers Want to pay less tax and get a brand new car? Free 42” LCD HD TV Experience massive tax savings and no upfront costs when you salary package Special Offer! your vehicle with Novated by Fleetcare. PLUS: We pay all your vehicle bills upfront Sign up today and you’ll get a Fleet purchasing power for best vehicle prices 42” LCD HD TV or a $300 Fuel Voucher absolutely FREE! Discounted fuel & maintenance Dedicated account manager for optimum support Call Tim on 0488 557 127 or Adam on 0448 448 723 for an obligation free quote or visit novatedbyfleetcare.com N A T I O N A L Official Publication of AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES Print Post Approved EMERGENCY PP 337586/00067 RESPONSE DISCLAIMER Official Journal of the Australian Institute of Emergency Services Views expressed in this journal, unless specifically acknowledged, are not necessarily those of the Publisher, of the Institute, of its Council or of the Editor. Winter2011 • National Emergency Response EDITORIAL RIGHTS The Editor of National Emergency Response reserves the right to grant permission to reproduce articles from this journal. Such Approval is hereby granted, unless a specific withdrawal of this permission is included in the article in question. CTON EN S The Author and the journal must be acknowledged in any such reprint. REGULAR COLUMNS MAILING AMENDMENTS OR ENQUIRIES For any amendments or enquiries regarding mailing, please email: 2 AIES News [email protected] 3 President’s Report NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS 11 In Brief This publication is the official journal of the Australian Institute of Emergency Services.
    [Show full text]
  • Report of the Congress Review Working Group Australia for FIFA and the AFC
    Report of the Congress Review Working Group Australia for FIFA and the AFC July 2018 crwg Report of the Congress Review Working Group Australia For FIFA and the AFC 02 C Contents 1. Foreword by the Chair................................................................................................ 4 2. The CRWG Mandate and Terms of Reference and CRWG meetings............................ 10 3. Snapshot of Australian Football................................................................................. 11 4. The Governance landscape of Football in Australia..................................................... 13 5. Member Federations.................................................................................................. 16 6. APFCA - Overview..................................................................................................... 18 7. Professional Footballers and the PFA........................................................................... 19 8. PFA Overview............................................................................................................. 21 9. Professional Football Clubs - The A-League and the W-League................................ 23 10. Women and Football.................................................................................................. 25 10.1 Women’s Football Council.............................................................................. 25 10.2 Role/Terms of Reference................................................................................ 26 10.3
    [Show full text]
  • The China Question in Football in Australia David Rowe, Keith D
    The China Question in Football in Australia David Rowe, Keith D. Parry and Bonnie Pang Introduction: Geopolitics and Football In the 21st century, China became Australia’s largest trading partner (both export and import), and a major (though by no means the largest) investor in the country.1 Following the China- Australia Free Trade Agreement, in operation since December 2015, Australia has become the second largest recipient of Chinese outbound direct investment and China is now one of the country’s top investors.2 Chinese immigration has been prominent in Australia since the mid- nineteenth century, but it is only in recent years that the country (since 1997 incorporating, of course, the former British colony of Hong Kong) has become the largest single source of permanent new migrants to Australia3. Australia’s principal strategic ally, the US, is its second largest trading partner, but when two-way investment is taken into account, the US remains Australia’s largest economic partner.4 Australia, therefore, is in various ways caught between the dominant world power and its main imperial rival, while retaining a significant historically-conditioned postcolonial linkage with Britain. Its regionally-oriented turn towards Asia has also meant that Australia must carefully negotiate multiple relationships with major Asian powers such as Japan, Korea, Indonesia and India, as well as with the 43 other countries of varying proximity and size across the continent. Australia also has affiliations and responsibilities in the western Pacific across Australasia, Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. Football (still frequently called soccer in Australia, despite the efforts of its governing body, Football Federation Australia) has necessarily been implicated in these major geo-political, economic and national-cultural matters.
    [Show full text]
  • NZRL Staff, Districts and Affiliates and Board FROM: Cushla Dawson DATE
    TO: NZRL Staff, Districts and Affiliates and Board FROM: Cushla Dawson DATE: 25 May 2009 RE: Media Summary Tuesday 19 April to Monday 25 May 2009 Telstra reviews $12million sponsorship of NRL: TELSTRA yesterday ordered a review of its $12 million sponsorship of the scandal-hit NRL as league boss David Gallop refused to guarantee the embattled Cronulla Sharks' survival. Already reeling from the Matthew Johns group sex scandal and the positive drug test by one of its star players, the Sharks were plunged into further disarray yesterday when major sponsor LG Electronics announced it would pull the plug on its $700,000 deal at the end of this year. Kiwis star eyes revival against Warriors: Kiwis forward Bronson Harrison insists it's the best rugby league move he ever made. Shame about the results. While Harrison is in the form of his career in his first year in Canberra, his Raiders are on a four-match losing streak as they host the New Zealand Warriors on Sunday after a performance their coach David Furner described as "bordering on embarrassing". Fien seeking new club for 2010: Nathan Fien will not be at the Warriors next season, the club instead banking on development of its juniors and waiting to see if Stacey Jones will go around another year. Fien was yesterday dropped from the starting 17 for the trip to Canberra this weekend and was told by coach Ivan Cleary that his contract will not be extended beyond the end of this season. Telstra reviews $12million sponsorship of NRL TELSTRA yesterday ordered a review of its $12 million sponsorship of the scandal-hit NRL as league boss David Gallop refused to guarantee the embattled Cronulla Sharks' survival.
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 4: Culture, Partnerships and Mentoring
    4 Partnerships, mentoring and culture 4.1 Creating strong partnerships arose as a significant issue for the successful delivery of sporting programs for Indigenous Australians. Partnerships between governments, both state and Commonwealth, the private sector and the non-government sector were discussed in detail. 4.2 The value of integrating Indigenous mentors and role models throughout Indigenous sporting programs was another important topic of discussion. The Committee spoke to several Indigenous mentors and roles models and discussed with them what made a good mentor and role model. 4.3 The influence of culture on sport and sport on culture was raised by Indigenous individuals and organisations. The significant role that Indigenous culture in sport has on individuals and communities emphasised the positive impact sport has on reconciliation. Reconciliation through sport and the creation and implementation of Reconciliation Action Plans were discussed throughout the inquiry. Partnerships 4.4 The importance of quality partnerships arose frequently during the course of the inquiry. Most importantly developing a solid relationship with members of the targeted Indigenous community was paramount in achieving successful outcomes through sport. 4.5 The Committee was informed that many of the partnerships were multi- faceted bringing together communities, the corporate sector, government, non-government organisations, schools and health centres. 4.6 Dr Alfred Bamblett, Chief Executive Officer of the Victorian Aboriginal Community Services Association
    [Show full text]
  • 2018 FFA Annual Review
    2018 ANNUAL REVIEW CHAIRMAN’S REPORT 4 CEO’S REPORT 10 FINANCIAL REPORT 16 STRATEGY REPORT 26 NATIONAL TEAMS 42 COMPETITIONS 52 AWARDS & HONOURS 62 BOARD & MANAGEMENT 70 CONTENTS PARTNERS 76 CHAIRMAN'S REPORT CHAIRMAN'S REPORT I AM PROUD TO PRESENT THIS 2018 interests of the game of football at heart, based on ANNUAL REVIEW – THE THIRD AND independent thought, strong debate and careful analysis. FINAL SUCH REPORT SINCE MY ELECTION Ultimately, the existing Members voted for a Congress AS A DIRECTOR AND CHAIRMAN OF model which the current board believes can potentially FOOTBALL FEDERATION AUSTRALIA put the independence of the Board at risk of factional (FFA) IN NOVEMBER 2015. THE interests. This was the principal reason I decided not to seek re-election as Chairman. It is the independence of BOARD INTRODUCED THIS ANNUAL the Board that is the primary foundation for the success of REVIEW TO INCREASE THE LEVEL the game over the past 15 years or so. OF COMMUNICATION ABOUT FFA’S Now that the decision about the future governance of the STRATEGY, ACHIEVEMENTS, CHALLENGES, game has been decided it will be up to the new members OPERATIONS AND FINANCES. of Congress, and future boards of FFA, to build on the Australia’s football community is vast, diverse and success and solid foundation put in place by previous FFA interested to know more about what their national boards and carried on during the past three years by the governing body is doing. Rightly so. After all, this is current board. the game we all love. It is the game played by more In my time as Chairman, we have established a four-year Australians than any other.
    [Show full text]
  • The Power of Sport Building Social Bridges and Breaking Down Cultural Barriers
    Faculty of Humanities Centre for Aboriginal Studies The Power of Sport Building social bridges and breaking down cultural barriers Paul Oliver This thesis is presented for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy of Curtin University September 2014 The Power of Sport ii Declaration To the best of my knowledge and belief this thesis contains no material previously published by any other person except where due acknowledgement has been made. This thesis contains no material that has been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma in any university. Signature: Date: 20 September 2014 The Power of Sport iii Abstract This thesis set out to find evidence whether sport was effective at breaking down cultural barriers across sporting communities for Indigenous people and those from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CaLD) backgrounds, and if it could build bridges by contributing to wider social, physical and health issues, and thereby generate increased social capital in communities. Drawing upon new insights and experiences of online survey respondents and interviewees who are directly involved in various capacities in all levels of sport in Australia, this research finds that sport is not the magic bullet to ‘cure all’ social ills that many assume, in fact in many cases sport reaffirms many existing power structures which cause discrimination and inequality. However, participation in and through sport can help processes of belonging, trust and inclusion, and if managed correctly, sport can be an excellent medium for encouraging awareness and valuable public debate on wider social issues. This thesis aims to contribute to existing sport and sociology studies concerning social capital and exclusion and discrimination in elite and community sporting contexts.
    [Show full text]