HAMILTON Imperials has challenged one of the key financial stumbling blocks used by the VCFL board for rejecting the club's transfer appeal from the Western Border Football League.
In a prepared statement released this week, the club revealed during its appeal hearing in Ballarat last Friday the VCFL board used annual turnover figures of $250,000, together with a major sponsor of $20,000-$30,000, as financial benchmarks to be competitive in the Hampden Football Netball League .
"Yet there was no research done by the VCFL on this issue with Hampden,'' Imps said.
"In fact, the majority of Hampden clubs do not come close to these figures.''
In announcing the unsuccessful appeal on Tuesday, the VCFL board found: "The HIFNC failed to provide any business plan including financial projections relating to their proposed entry into the HFNL along with insufficient financial information pertaining to the 2008 football financial year.''
Later in its finding the board said: "The VCFL board also held serious concerns (on the basis of evidence submitted and presented) about the HIFNC's ability to be financially competitive with the HFNL Clubs.
"The VCFL board held some trepidation about the notion that sponsorship support for the HIFNC would be enhanced through their proposed move to the HFNL with competition for sponsorship in the HFNL and particularly with the Warrnambool area currently supporting some 13 clubs.''
The Standard yesterday determined the annual average turnover of HFNL clubs was between $110,000 to $140,000 and major sponsorships in the vicinity of $10,000.
Hamilton Imperials said it was disappointed with the outcome of its proposed transfer to the HFNL.
"The club believed it had a good case and that the appeal would be considered favourably,'' it said in the statement.
"Our representatives prepared the presentation and attended the appeal hearing in good faith. However, from the very outset the appeal board demonstrated a belligerent, confrontational and dismissive attitude toward our representatives and the case in general.
"The very first request from the board was to gain an undertaking from our representatives that HIFNC would not take any form of legal action if the decision was to be unfavourable to Imperials. If they did not agree to this, then the appeal would not proceed.
"Such a request in this manner appears to be very duressful. Our reps were taken aback by such an irrelevant and unwarranted request but were powerless to refuse at the time - the club wanted the appeal heard.
"Keven Quinn attempted to present the club's point of view but was continuously harassed by the Board members and was unable to conclusively deliver his prepared agenda. It was interesting to note that our local VCFL director Gerard Lucas was a member of the appeal board, contrary to all our advice.
"It appeared to our club representatives that a decision had already been made prior to the hearing and that the whole process was a farce for Imperials and a huge inconvenience to the appeal board members.
"In conclusion, the VCFL specifically noted that HIFNC had been rejected on four occasions by different VCFL Boards with the possible undertone, 'this is a warning not to rock the boat again'.''
The club said it was seeking further advice on the matter.
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