DENT TO NORTHERN PRIDE BUT ‘WE CAN SURVIVE’
‘Good people’ cut in move to ensure return
NORTHERN Pride chairman Tony Williamson has warned the club can survive for 15 months as the COVID-19 pandemic forces major changes.
Staffing levels have been slashed, with the club forced to let go of “good people”, and the administration base closed as the Pride seeks to chart a course to survive the crisis.
The Pride board met on Wednesday night to discuss how to handle the fallout.
Williamson (above) described the survival of a rugby league club as a minor detail when compared to the health and medical crisis impacting the world, but said he had little doubt the club would return.
“We have got no reason to doubt the Pride won’t suit up either this year, or next year,” Williamson said. “That’s the whole agenda of the board, to ensure the Pride survives this.
“We’ve put mechanisms in place that we can survive long term by cutting back our costs and consolidating because it’s in our absolute best interest that this part of the world has a team in the QRL competition.”
When asked how long the Pride can survive without a ball being kicked, Williamson issued a hopeful, but sobering, forecast for footy fans.
“From a monetary side, we can survive 15 months,” he said. “I’d like to think we will be through this in 15 months.”
The Cowboys went through a similar process just 24 hours earlier, cutting more than 50 staff members as they sought to safeguard the club’s future.
Williamson and the Pride’s board received advice from the Cowboys ahead of their meeting and decisions.
Two major sponsors have withdrawn support in the past week, but CEO Mark Quinn said talks with sponsors had been “loving and caring”.
“They’re laying off staff too, it’s very tough for everyone,” Quinn said.
“Every business in Cairns is doing it tough right now.
“They have to look after their staff, look after their wellbeing as well, we really appreciate the sponsors sticking with us. Hopefully when we get through this, we can regroup and be stronger.”
Coach Ty Williams’ role already covers both physical and mental welfare of the players, but any on-field instructions will cease as mental health becomes the focus.
Most of the Pride’s New Zealanders have already travelled home, before the country locked down, while the majority of the Intrust Super Cup squad is still in Cairns.
“We know rugby league will start again … my role is to make sure everyone is okay,” Williams said.
“Just making sure we have all of the support mechanisms in place and we get on top of it.
“It’s a tough time, but we’ll get through it.
Quinn, Williams and commercial manager Alannah Giuffrida were the staff retained, with each agreeing to pay cuts.