Sponsorship only safety net for Pride if takeover deal fails

SAMUEL DAVIS FORMER Northern Pride CEO Brock Schaefer says reinvigorating sponsorship through community engagement is key to the club remaining viable if a takeover by the North Queensland Cowboys doesn’t happen next season.

The Cowboys, who revealed their interest in running the Pride last month exclusively to the Cairns Post, tabled a report to the club’s board this week on the merits of running the NRL feeder club in 2019.

The club refused to comment on the meeting but it is understood the proposal, led by chief commercial officer Jeff Reibel and football boss Peter Parr, was received favourably with the NRL powerhouse to state their case to Queensland Rugby League in the coming months.

Now football operations manager at the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Mr Schaefer, said the Pride had a proven track record of developing outstanding NRL level talent and growing the game in Far North Queensland.

“Sponsorship is they key up there,” he said. “You need money to keep the club sustainable. The work they’ve done in the rugby league com- munity is a massive selling point.”

Pride chairman Tony Williamson said the Cowboys backing would ensure the long-term viability of the club.

“Unlike other teams we don’t have a leagues club or major backer,” Mr Williamson said. “What we’re about is sus- taining the future of the Northern Pride. With the Pride, if it doesn’t make a profit directors are personally liable.

“The Cowboys have an administrative team of 80 people. We have three. Aligning yourself to an organisation like that has a lot of advantages. It makes sense.”