War of words over TSL

THE TSL presidents say they are being kept in the dark following the latest AFL steering committee meeting and have demanded minutes of the meeting to judge progress for themselves.

Writing to AFL Tasmania CEO Trisha Squires on behalf of the seven clubs, North Launceston president Thane Brady also questioned her commitment to the clubs.

“We had an expectation as our appointed representative on the steering committee you would have shown due respect to the stakeholders you represent by communicating verbally, supported through written correspondence in a timely manner, rather than letting us read the messages from the committee meeting through the media and only responding to us after a prompt,” Mr Brady said.

“We are all very disappointed, as before the process started you assured us you were our voice and link to the steering committee.”

He said in order for the clubs to provide further information to the committee, Ms Squires needed to put into writing the “mixed” responses to the document she tabled on their behalf.

TSL clubs provided Ms Squires with a proposal to show the steering committee, advocating a seven-team TSL competition with a minimum of $1.3 million backing for the teams and administration, as well as a team on the North-West or an extra one in Launceston, the return of a Tasmanian VFL team, the return of a Tasmanian team to the TAC Cup, no change to the TSL name or brand and TSL licences with AFL Tasmania to be honoured.

Ms Squires responded with: “I tabled the option as requested and this was met with mixed responses, however it will remain one of the models being considered.

“I have been tasked to provide more information to assist the steering committee with the decision-making process, which I am working through over the next week.

“For each option I need to present the viability, areas of concern and how it aligns with the long-term plan for Tasmanian football to assist discussion at the next meeting.”

Mr Brady replied with: “Did the group form any consensus at all towards our model with a view to negotiating a hybrid solution, as your response makes it look to us that the committee has simply dismissed it.”

The presidents have been invited to a steering committee meeting in Devonport on May 31. They want to know if AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan would be there, if it could be held in Launceston for the convenience of the five southern clubs, and requested agendas for the meeting as well as McLachlan’s mooted visit to the state’s North-West Coast.

The clubs gave her until Wednesday to respond.