Everyone is trumpeting Melbourne Heart’s name change, identity change, and big player change. David Villa is on board, the jersey is changing, and everyone’s happy.
It’s absolutely massive news. Villa’s signing is the biggest in A-League history. Football fans in Australia deserve to be happy. And they are.
Everyone except for the ‘other’ Melbourne City FC. They consider themselves to be the true and original club of that name.
» BREAKING: David Villa signs A-League deal, Melbourne Heart change name to Melbourne City
» What David Villa’s signing means for the A-League
They have a fair point it would seem, being established in 1991. How much clout that holds after today’s announcement is anyone’s guess.
So after the announcement of Heart’s name change, and momentous signing of David Villa today, they issued this statement on their Facebook page:
Dear members, players, coaches, fans and committe members
We would like to deny the media allegations that the MCFC has made any deals with Melbourne Heart FC.
We will continue to be Melbourne City FC and we will fight to keep the identity of the club,
We can assure everyone that this matter is currently been looked after our legal department.
Any official comments on the above will only be made by the club’s legal department.
Thank you
MCFC est. 1991
We were unable to contact representatives of the club, but will continue to try to clarify the above.
Matthew Skellett
Guest
Well from some news reports the Local Melbourne City club are taking this to court - more fool MHFC if they win
Bar
Guest
AR, I have heard this kind of negative muck raking before. Whatever your club is, justly stick to it. All this kind of talk was dished out to Man City several years ago. Look where they are now! I would suggest by your comment that you are just a tiny bit scared of the changes ahead, with your club being a victim of another clubs success. We will see who is satisfied about their club after the new season is over.
AR
Guest
A question for Heart fans... Do you still have a club? Is the club you cheer for each weekend still yours? Do you still care about it? Or are you equally happy that the Sheikh bought it and re-badged it the way he wanted, with all the financial security that comes with such a purchase? Its a serious question btw...there's obviously great celebration for this re-badged club (and rightly so) but are Heart fans actually passionate about this new entity?
Mister Football
Roar Guru
So it's the same entity from the Serbian backed JUST to the present Melbourne City FC?
Jhon Quintero
Guest
http://www.mcfcvic.com.au/melbourne-city-fc-club-statement/
MelbCro
Guest
Footscray JUST in its final years changed its name to Melbourne City, they were a financial basket-case in those years. In 1989 they were relegated from the NSL. In 1990 they competed in the state league for a single season, they struggled big-time both on and off the field. Club was basically dead by that stage, then the Argies came in and by 1991 they had completely taken over the club.
ciudadmarron
Guest
Yeah what I've posted above is put together from a very brief search last night which yielded very little... seems curious. It's not particularly important but it's not like whoever they are don't have a bit of history in the game.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Ok, I didn't know they were actually taken over, I just thought they folded - it's a while back now.
ciudadmarron
Guest
Yes I know, but they were taken over and called mcfc just before they folded - then, this club is founded the next year a suburb away. I'm wondering what the links are, if any.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
JUST were a Serbian backed club - their home ground used to be on the other side of Footscray, on Footscray Rd, just inside the old council boundary with Melbourne.
ciudadmarron
Guest
You'd think so but maybe they assumed money would talk. Wondering if any roarers can clear up the links between these guys, who Appear to be a South American club from kingsville formed in 1991, and Footscray JUST who went under at that time after changing their name to Melbourne City?
Sean
Guest
Without knowing the inside word on this, I would suggest it would be reputation suicide for City Football Group's lawyers to green-light a name change for Heart without clearing this up with this other Melbourne City FC. I'm confident that CFG's (probably ludicrously paid) lawyers are satisfied this won't be a problem.
ciudadmarron
Guest
I seem to remember they are victory fans and supposedly are absolutely not interested in any financial settlement. Everyone has a price.... Wonder what theirs will be.
Matthew
Guest
I think many assume nowadays people /companies /other will go for the money. It is entirely possible they wont got for the money and take it to court as the name is trademarked.
Matthew Skellett
Guest
I am amazed that the MHFC owners went ahead with this without legally resolving the naming rights issue with the local club - this could be a albatross around their neck if the Local Club chooses not to play dead and hires a high-profile pro-bono Legal Team . In any event the Local Club will probably win enough dosh to redo their clubhouse and offer the local council to go halves in a new grandstand by the end of the saga either way and if they win in the courts it will be highly embarrassing for the FFA and MHFC -everyone wins or maybe no one will