PBC’S SHOCK FOOTY EXIT

Financial woes force club out of first grade

FINANCIALLY crippled Palm Beach Currumbin have been forced to pull out of Gold Coast District Rugby Union first grade on the eve of Round 1 in a shock blow to the league.

Details have suddenly emerged of the Alleygators’ crisis that has put a dark cloud over the club’s future.

The Bulletin understands the Alleygators – whose legal entity covers both the rugby club and licensed club at Bienvenue Drive – have sunk into debt of more than $300,000.

Alleygators officials however refuted this figure.

The full extent of the club’s strain had not been known by Palm Beach rugby officials until the past fortnight.

Those officials had been busily attracting players with incentives and allowances to turn their on-field fortunes around before their operating budget – rumoured to be about the $40,000 mark – was wiped completely.

As a result, many of Palm Beach’s recruits have departed, leaving them with a squad unable to match it in first grade and potentially not enough front-rowers to pack a scrum.

Players voted unanimously after training on Tuesday night to drop back to second grade.

It means the top division reverts to six teams, two of which will be on the sidelines tomorrow. GCDRU chairman Kim Bending said the timing of the situation was “very disappointing” but vowed to press on, with board members to meet on Monday to determine if a more suitable fixture can be redrawn.

The Bulletin attempted to contact both Alleygators rugby manager Michael Bell and coach Anthony Dwyer without success.

Dwyer later responded with a statement via text message.

“The rugby committee, together with new rugby manager Michael Bell, have worked tirelessly to strengthen and rebuild rugby at the Alleygators,” he wrote.

“But some people think senior rugby is a costly annoyance to running their liquor and gaming business.

“At the end of last season, we were given a substantial budget to run rugby in 2019 and made plans around that. Now we’ve been told that it’s zero.

“I am shattered that we’ve had the rug pulled out from under us.

“We have a great group of young players and great volunteers. We’re all going to work hard to enjoy our footy and have a good year on the field.”

Dwyer’s sentiments reflect the surprise felt in the club ranks, who had been honestly talking up their chances this season, even in recent weeks.

“I don’t think anyone had an understanding of quite how bad things were,” a rugby source elsewhere said.

“Like a house of cards, within a week or two the whole thing has crumbled.”

Players and staff have promised to stay at the club in second grade.