While I admit I haven't examined the auditor's report in any great detail, I am lead to believe that the 36ers were one of the financial success stories during the 90s in the NBL and were making money rather than losing money at the same time as they were most likely breaching the salary cap.
I believe they were making decent profits even when we were paying Dunlap and Steve Smith a lot, as well as throwing huge money at guys like Rose, Trimmingham, Brunson, Rillie, Davis, etc, etc. While we weren't winning championships we had Boomers all the way down to 8th and 9th men during those years.
Yet we were still making money.
While there sure is a lot of anti-management propaganda, there is a lot of financial doom propaganda as well (mostly linked to the Distinctive Homes Dome debt).
It really has been only in the last few years where financially the 36ers have reportedly been on a decline and this has come at around the same time that it was decided that cut backs in all areas, especially the playing roster were necessary.
I have never seen the 36ers take a hit both on and off the court as was the case when the cap was lowered. There was an immediate back-lash from the fans who were forced to pay more for what was clearly an inferior product.
You may say that certain financial problems were inherited. I have no idea in this regard other than to pose the question of why were we achieving better financial results when we were spending in excess of $1million on the playing roster than we are spending $730k?
I was strong in my criticism of all the cut backs made by the 36ers at the time decisions were made so I have no problem saying that the results of the cut back (including fan back lash resulting in attendances of 4,000) were clearly foreseeable.
I don't think there is anything wrong whatsoever with Smyth wanting his stars resigned now. What kind of crazy admin would not be doing absolutely everything within their power to resign the best import duo in the league of Rychart and Farley for as long as possible?
Nito, why would you want to wait for the end of the year when other teams may also make bids for Rychart and Farley inflating their value?
While I completely agree with you that at times it is best to wait for the end of the year, when you are dealing with a couple of imports averaging over 20 points per game that are so key in the attendances of the 4,000 left I don't think you leave anything to chance. We are lucky that they are giving indications that they are keen to stay with the 36ers long term.
With the current state of the NBL if you unearth an import that is a MVP type canditate you might as well kiss them good-bye to Europe at the end of the season.
I wouldn't trade Rychart or Farley with any other imports in the league period. Farley is in my opinion the best import guard and Rychart the best import power forward in the entire league. If they are keen they should be resigned ASAP.
No doubt Smyth has an agenda as well but the fact he and Breheny haven't been resigned should be rectified as soon as possible also. I think 36ers' fans are all knowledgable enough to not have to post about their amazing coaching achievements over their years with the 36ers. They speak for themselves.
I think management should best be warned that if they think they have seen a back-lash over recent cut-back decisions they have seen nothing compared to what will occur if Smyth and Breheny are allowed to walk.
How happy would the fans be if hypothetically, Smyth was allowed to leave to replace say Lindsay Gaze at the Tigers and took a few of our top players with him while the 36ers were left to rebuild?
Would this make admin happy? They might as well move the team to Wayville and have double headers with the Lightning. That would cure the Distinctive Homes Dome dilemma.