Rebels not feeling love from Rugby Australia
Melbourne coach Kevin Foote says the Rebels feel abandoned by Rugby Australia, as their future in the Super Rugby Pacific competition remains undecided.
Creditors on Friday voted to accept a rescue proposal by a private investor group rather than liquidate the club, which has debts of more than A$23 million.
There are major obstacles to Melbourne remaining part of Super Rugby Pacific beyond this year.
Rugby Australia (RA) needs to agree to hand over the competition licence to the consortium, which includes current directors, and the Australian Tax Office must release the directors from their personal liability over the club’s A$11.5m in tax debts.
Given both parties voted against the rescue plan on Friday, the club’s future is far from certain and could end in legal action which would leave players, coaches and staff in limbo.
Hours after the vote, the team faced the second-ranked Blues at AAMI Park, and while they trailed by only a point at halftime, fell away to a 38-11 loss in Victoria’s capital.
Foote, who was coaching at the Western Force when they were culled by RA, called for the governing body to show their hand.
“I don’t know what their [RA] intentions are,” Foote said. “I know they voted liquidation [on Friday], and last week, we were told that they were happy that there was a DOCA [Deed Of Company Arrangement] and now liquidation, so it would be great to hear something from them.”
RA has propped up the club this season, taking over the wages bill for players and staff, but Foote said head office had offered no other support for the franchise.
Representatives from the Rugby Union Players’ Association were in Melbourne last week to talk the club through the rescue proposal but RA haven’t been seen in months.
With four rounds to go before the end of the regular season, Foote said the club was feeling the pressure.
He previously said he was hiding the possible demise of the Rebels from his young son because he knew how much the boy would worry.
Foote said staff had one pay cheque left to come from RA.
“Staff and players, it’s the human element,” he said.
“There’s definitely people under massive stress; everyone is under stress, as a matter of fact.
“It speaks again to their performance [on Friday] — guys have done this since day one; before even the season kicked off, they’ve been under this pressure.
“Are people feeling supported? I’d say no.”
While the Rebels, who were fifth on the ladder heading into the round, are targeting their first finals campaign, they are also dealing with other clubs and codes circling their players.
Star playmaker Carter Gordon is believed to be in the sights of several NRL clubs, with his management holding talks with the Gold Coast Titans.