Demons faithful rally to help clear club debt

NORTH Hobart has put out an SOS to its members and supporters to help erase its $110,000 debt but Demons boss Craig Martin says the TSL is in no danger of becoming a seven-team competition.

Having dropped the Hobart City Demons identity for a return to the traditional North Hobart name, the club’s new board says debt reduction is a priority. To do that it has launched the Diehard Demons Fighting Fund.

Despite the huge number, Martin said North Hobart was not in danger of following Devonport out of the State League.

“No. Absolutely not. The club is fine, it’s solvent, so there’s no issues with that,” Martin said.

“We just need to work hard to continue to bring revenue into the club through the business we gave to members the other day. We want to be open and transparent about the financial situation of the club.

“The members have a right to know and if they know the full extent of the issue you’ve got a far better chance of being in a position to fix it.”

North Hobart members have already rallied, donating $18,000 to the cause.

“That’s purely and simply because the club is North Hobart again, which is extremely heartwarming,” Martin said.

Donations can be made to North Hobart through the Australian Sports Foundation.

“It’s a really good way for people to donate to us because they can claim it back on their taxes if they donate through the Australian Sports Foundation,” Martin said.

“I am very confident, even in the short time we have been administrating the club, that we are putting a whole lot of things in place to get us back on track.”

Contributors to the fighting fund will receive Diehard Demons Membership status and will be recognised in club publications all year, and there will be a special function exclusive to Diehard Demons members next season.

“To become a Diehard Demon all you need to do is make a donation to the club,” Martin said.

To donate, go to the link on the club’s Facebook page or directly to this site and press the donate button — https:// asf.org.au/projects/north-hoba rt-football-club/