I write to assure you that everyone at the Club is focused on our on field performance. We are not hiding from the fact that our current situation is unacceptable, and all our efforts are being directed into addressing this area of our Club.
We have completely rebuilt our football department and appointed experienced, talented and credible people to oversee the development of a relatively young and inexperienced playing list. In Mark Neeld, we have a respected leader who will take this Club forward. He has a very clear vision for our team and I know he is the right man for the job.
Our players are on a steep learning curve. They have been set new standards of training, and a new style of play. There have been signs that we have been moving in the right direction, but this amount of change will take time. It will take time for the game plan to become instinctive, and for the players to have the confidence in themselves and each other to execute at the standard we require.
In a broader Club sense, we have spent four years rebuilding the structural and financial foundations of the Club, and they are sound. We have a comprehensive strategy that addresses all aspects of our Club, and all issues facing our future growth and development. Our Balance Sheet is positive, and financial projections are encouraging. We have dealt with a critical sponsorship issue, and come out with three potential long term partners. We have had four years of record memberships, and despite our on field performance, we expect this year’s number to be only slightly down on last year.
But the bottom line is you, our supporters, want to see results on the field, and so does everyone involved with the Melbourne Football Club.
We are determined, united and focused on getting our footy right. We are eight games into a longer term plan to build our Club to be something great, based on the strong foundations that have been established over the past four years. We trust in the expertise and experience of our football department and we must - and will - give them the time and resources to get this right.
To do this, even though things seem extremely tough, we need the continued support from everyone who has a passion for the Melbourne Football Club.
Yours sincerely,
Don McLardy
Tune into Fox Footy's On the Couch program at 8.30 pm tonight, where Don McLardy will be a special guest.
