- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
As the Melbourne Rebels prepare to take to the field for Friday night’s important home clash against the second-placed Blues, the Super Rugby’s franchise could be decided just hours before with creditors to vote on whether to liquidate the debt-ridden club.
More than two months after the Rebels fell into voluntary administration, a creditors meeting is slated for 2pm AEST to vote on a rescue deal to save the Super Rugby franchise.
In his report last week, PwC voluntary administrator Stephen Longley recommended that creditors, including the Australian Tax Office, who are owed a total of $23.1 million, accept a proposal by a private investor group that includes current directors.
Rebels directors have proposed a Deed Of Company Arrangement (DOCA), which would guarantee employees 100 per cent of their entitlements, but leave unsecured creditors with as little as 15 cents to the dollar.
The Melbourne Rebels’ future could be decided by Friday afternoon. (Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)
The DOCA is dependent upon Rugby Australia handing the Super Rugby participation licence to the new consortium, who are said to be on their way to raising 20-30 million for the club over the next five years.
However, according to the Australian Financial Review, the governing body will vote against the proposed DOCA and seek to wind up the Super Rugby franchise after operating insolvent for more than five years.
According to the AFR, a letter sent from the governing body to PwC claims that the administrators were biased towards its former directors.
It adds that the report had “not included its defence to suggestions it is liable for $8.1m in funding and unpaid PAYG tax liabilities.”
Also, “creditors could receive more money from liquidation, even if the distribution of that money could take up to four years.”
Regardless of whether the DOCA is approved or not, a date in the courts is likely.
As the Rebels directors push for the DOCA to be accepted, a recently announced private equity-backed consortium, led by business heavyweight Leigh Clifford, the father of former director Georgia Widdup, hopes to raise up to $30m to invest in the club’s future.
Part of the plan is to move the franchise’s home ground to Melbourne’s west and share the facility with A-League club Western United from 2027.
After weeks of claims neither party was willing to sit down and properly run through a detailed plan of how any proposal could work, Clifford and Widdup met with RA on Tuesday to discuss it.
It was the first time the parties met since RA accused the Rebels directors of misusing funds meant for tax in a statement last week off the back of PwC’s report.
In a statement, RA claimed: “[The Rebels] … misused these funds and did not pay them to the ATO, which was the intended purpose.”
Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh told reporters on Monday a decision on the Melbourne Rebels’ future needed to be made soon. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images for Rugby Australia)
Maintaining a Super Rugby presence in Melbourne is said to be supported by the Victorian Government, with crucial funding ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup potentially on the line. Melbourne was the favourite to host the final at the MCG.
Yet, according to RA chairman Daniel Herbert, the governing body believes they have been “living beyond our means as a game” for too long and says the continual bailing out of the Super Rugby franchise will compromise the rest of the game, including women’s rugby.
Currently, RA has propped up the club this season, taking over the wages bill for players and staff.
RA chief executive Phil Waugh said at Monday’s Annual General Meeting, where the governing body announced a $9.2m deficit in 2023, a decision was needed soon to provide everyone clarity.
“We understand the urgency and the time pressure given staff finish it at the end of June,” Waugh said.
“Players need certainty, as do staff for 2025 and beyond. So I don’t want to anchor ourselves to a date except for the fact that we need to acknowledge that [a decision needs to be made] the sooner the better.”
It’s believed Victorian Sports Minister Steve Dimopoulos phoned Herbert late last week to discuss the implications of withdrawing the Rebels from the Super Rugby competition.
On Wednesday, Widdup acknowledged the Rebels needed a sustainable future but said rugby’s presence would die in Victoria without an elite professional team.
“The Melbourne Rebels thanks the Victorian Government for their strong support and we look forward to working with Rugby Australia as we seek to establish the women’s and men’s team at their exciting new home in Tarneit in Melbourne’s West,” she said in a statement.
“Like the Victorian Government, all supporters of the Melbourne Rebels are passionate and committed to ensuring a thriving Rugby in this state. We recognise that that cannot happen unless we have a Melbourne team competing in the national competition.
“None of us want to kill Rugby in Victoria, but that will be the outcome if the Rebels don’t exist and we are fighting hard, along with the Victorian Government, to ensure that does not happen.
“We agree with Rugby Australia that the Melbourne Rebels need a sustainable financial model to set them up for future and we have that with the Consortium plan. It is a credible and common sense plan.
“It is an exciting vision to grow the sport of rugby in the fastest growing municipality in Australia. The Tarneit Masterplan is a new financial model for our club, teams, our players and our fans that is sustainable and embraces our future, not our past.”
Kevin Foote said he’s unsure if players will know the result of a creditors vote on Friday afternoon. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)
The high-stakes Friday afternoon vote comes as the Rebels prepare to take on the Blues at AAMI Park in round 11 of the competition later that evening.
Currently sitting fifth on 24 points, ten points clear of ninth-placed Moana Pasifika, Melbourne is on track to make the finals for the first time in their history. Kevin Foote’s side likely only need one win or a couple of bonus points to ensure their place in the knockout stages.
But with a difficult finish to the season, it won’t be easy.
Foote told AAP he wasn’t sure if the vote would be addressed within the playing ranks before the kick-off.
“It all depends, what happens if it’s a really bad message,” Foote said.
“There’s still so much uncertainty because even if it goes to DOCA and it’s positive for the club, we don’t know where Rugby Australia stands on this.
“It’s the heaviness of the situation which is frustrating and that’s for everyone.
“The guys are doing such an amazing job.”
Rebels general manager Nick Stiles has previously said he will continue to be transparent as soon as information comes to light.
“My approach has been [if I get] any news to keep everyone informed. Don’t try and talk rubbish to them and lie,” Stiles, the former Wallabies prop, told The Roar in early April.
“Let’s be open and honest with the pain or the suffering that you might be going through. If you’re getting grief at home, come and talk to me and I’ll try and help you out with whatever I know.”
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.