Townsville Crocodiles general manager Robert Honan says the club needs to build trust and respect in the community after some challenging years strained relationships.
Believing the club is heading in the right direction, with a business plan to become sustainable and financially viable, Honan says they also need to re-engage the community from the grassroots level, as well as look after commercial partners.
In an interview with The Roar, Honan talked about the significant challenges the organisation faces.
“Everyone involved in the club and the local region understands that there are significant challenges involved with bringing the club back to the apex of the NBL,” Honan told The Roar. “We are confident that we are heading in the right direction.”
“The club needs to build trust and respect in the community. The challenging years previously have strained individuals and companies relationships with the club. We have committed to re-engaging the community from the grass roots and we have committed to fully servicing our commercial partners.
“Results won’t be seen overnight, however we are seeing changes that will be sustainable.
“Furthermore, the club has had to assess the impact of midweek, early starts and live TV coverage. These changes by the NBL are tremendous, the club needs to capitalise on the opportunities that have been created by this direction from the NBL.”
In November, NBL owner Larry Kestelman issued an ultimatum to the Townsville community to support their team or face losing them.
“My question to Townsville is, how badly does Townsville want the Crocs?” he asked.
“On the court they’ve beaten who I think are still probably the team to beat in Perth twice, and what’s disappointing to me is on the homecoming after having beaten them they still didn’t draw a huge crowd.
“Our league needs Townsville to want the Crocs here and if we see that is the case then they will be here forever.
“Townsville is an amazing sporting city from rugby league to soccer to the WNBL, but the Crocs are the only team that carry the Townsville name in prime-time television every week.
“We are here to speak to businesses, here to speak to the Cowboys and here to speak to the community and try to promote the fact that we as the league want Townsville here next year.”
Honan says the NBL are backing the Crocs, and believe in the club’s direction.
“The NBL has been very supportive of the club as we realign many aspects of the business so that we can be a sustainable and financially viable entity that has a competitive team each game,” Honan said. “The support within the community is still strong, however it is currently a passive supporter base.
“We are all working towards re-engaging the community so that the supporters are active. Our crowd numbers are okay. There is a need to continue increasing this aspect of our business. The Saturday night game this week followed by the NYE match will hopefully be the catalyst for higher crowd attendances.”
In a wide-ranging interview with The Roar, Honan talked about the challenges facing the Crocs, the sacking of captain Brian Conklin after just 14 games this season, and the club’s future.
Below is a full transcript.
The Roar: You were appointed as general manager of the Townsville Crocs in August 2015, how have you found the challenge?
RB: Everyone involved in the club and the local region understands that there are significant challenges involved with bringing the club back to the apex of the NBL. We are confident that we are heading in the right direction.
You have brought a vast amount of skills from across a number of roles in sport, what has been the biggest challenge since joining the Crocs?
Understanding the club environment.
NBL owner Larry Kestelman issued somewhat of an ultimatum to the Townsville community in November, telling them to get behind the Crocs or face losing them. How has the response been?
The NBL has been very supportive of the club as we realign many aspects of the business so that we can be a sustainable and financially viable entity that has a competitive team each game. The support within the community is still strong, however it is currently a passive supporter base. We are all working towards re-engaging the community so that the supporters are active.
Our crowd numbers are okay. There is a need to continue increasing this aspect of our business. The Saturday night game this week followed by the New Years Eve match will hopefully be the catalyst for higher crowd attendances.
What has the organisation been doing to try and get more supporters to games in Townsville?
The club needs to build trust and respect in the community. The challenging years previously have strained individuals and companies relationships with the club. We have committed to re-engaging the community from the grass roots and we have committed to fully servicing our commercial partners.
Results won’t be seen overnight however we are seeing changes that will be sustainable.
Furthermore, the club has had to assess the impact of midweek, early starts and live TV coverage. These changes by the NBL are tremendous, the club needs to capitalise on the opportunities that have been created by this direction from the NBL.
In 2016 the Brisbane Bullets are coming back into the competition. What impact will that have not only for the Crocs but for basketball in Queensland?
It’s one more competitor that we have to beat to achieve the ultimate success. We are confident that the three Queensland teams will have a strong and competitive on-court stoushes. Off-court it will have limited impact on the club.
What sort of crowd do you need to each home game for the Crocs to continue playing out of Townsville? How have membership sales been?
Crowd attendances are one aspect of our commercial model. No one aspect dictates our ability to be sustainable. Memberships this year were severely impacted by the schedule.
A big story that surfaced just weeks ago was the sacking of club captain Brian Conklin. Can you share with us what happened in the lead up, and the meeting you had with him to tell him he was no longer required?
The club went through its due diligence and a thorough process [on all players], where it was decided that his performances had been sub-par and that the decision was made to release Brian.
Conklin said when he was appointed captain he was told to lead the group and try change the culture of the club, but 14 games later and he is sacked. What changed in such a short amount of time?
Sub-par performances this season.
Have you spoken to Brian or his representatives since he was sacked?
I have and continue to have communication with Brian and his management.
Do you expect the sacking of your captain to impact your chances of landing other imports in the future?
Absolutely not. Our ability to sign quality players is based on being in a stable off-court position that has a highly regarded basketball program.
Jordair Jett’s form since Conklin’s sacking has been a massive positive. Has he taken on more responsibility?
Jordair started the season slowly, however his performances over the last 10 to 12 games have been of a very high standard.
How have you found new import Omar Samhan’s transition into the NBL?
He has settled in well and the coaching staff are happy with his progress.
With the team sitting 6-12 and a tough home game against the Wildcats coming up, what goals has the organisation set for the remainder of the season, both on and off the court?
We are 2-1 against Perth this season and at home are very hopeful of making that 3-1. We have three away games remaining, which means if we can protect our home court our position will improve. At the completion of this weekend we will have finished all our matches against two of the top teams, Perth and Melbourne. There is little separating the mid-tier teams.
Off court we need to continue implementing strategies that instil a sustainable and financially viable business model.
Five years from now, do you see a Townsville Crocs team still competing in the NBL?
I’m not a clairvoyant and not in a position to predict the future. However the club stakeholders remain committed to having a sustainable and financially viable club based in Townsville.
Follow Jason on Twitter: @jased1973
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