CATS’ CORONA CUTS REVEALED
COOK TELLS OF DARK DAYS:
NEARLY 75 per cent of Geelong Football Club staff have been stood down in what chief executive Brian Cook says is “probably” the darkest period in club history.
Staff were made aware in the past three days, with nearly all of the football department slashed.
Among those who will remain on part-time duties are a doctor, physio, high performance manager, head of football, a welfare manager and a psychologist. Those let go include recruiters, trainers and every assistant coach.
Cook last night said the COVID-19 crisis was the biggest challenge the AFL had ever faced.
“It has been tough on a lot of people at the club, on the executives in particular, but the players and coaches as well – everyone has been affected one way or another,” Cook said.
“It is certainly the biggest challenge the club has had and probably the biggest challenge the industry has had. In my 30 years as a CEO it is certainly the biggest issue I have faced.
“This is an industrywide, community-wide, worldwide unprecedented natural disaster, I suppose. It is amazing.
“It probably is (the darkest period in the club’s history). I am not 162 years old, and no doubt World War II was a tough time as well, but I can’t think of any more desperate situation than the one we have been in the past two weeks.”
With the club desperate to keep some revenue flowing, certain staff from the digital, HR, finance and IT teams have kept their jobs.
But Cook said the hit to the Geelong football department would be similar to rival clubs across the competition.
“In the last three days my executive team has met with all of our staff face-to-face and around 100 have been stood down,” he said.
“We have around 35 left who are all part-time remaining and we categorised those as our mission-critical staff.
“They are comprised of a football group, who is trying to ensure that medical protocols are followed and every player gets an individual program and there is some sort of connection while they are on leave.
“But the maximum we can spend, as directed by the AFL, is $25,000 per week on our entire football department staff.
“That is the same for every club and we are working on the AFL having a treasury function for all clubs, so they would approach the bank on behalf of all clubs and themselves to get a loan to see us through the bad times.”