A DISPUTE has broken out at a local football club over a name change from Redlands Sharks Junior Football Club to Victoria Point Sharks Junior Football Club.
The change was voted in on November 26 last year in a bid to align the sport and make an easy transition for juniors to step into senior teams.
Despite a favourable, yet close vote for the name change, some past Sharks players have complained and offered a sponsorship sweetener to the club to return it to its former Redlands name. The sponsorship promised is $102,000 over three years.
“At the end of the day, the vote was made and we can’t go back. People who play football should be able to accept wins and defeats,” club manager Mal Cochrane said.
Former player Paul O’Brien said he believed the name change was forced through and that members were not given the required 14 days notice of the vote, thereby not allowing sufficient debate.
“Only 52 per cent of members were in favour of change,” he said.
Mr O’Brien said he believed the name change came at a price of 45 years of club history.
Redland Football Club operations manager Martin King said he believed that history was ongoing with his team which plays in the NEAFL competition, the highest possible level of play in Queensland apart from the national AFL competition.
“Look at our Hall of Fame. The history of the football club is enshrined through the Redlands Football Club name which is a proud part of our heritage,” he said.
Mr Cochrane said the new junior name brought the club full circle, returning it to align with its original name of Victoria Point Football Club in 1966.
“The idea (of the name change) was first discussed in April last year. We held an information night and the majority agreed to continue with the process.
“At the AGM (October) most were in favour but there was some momentum against changing the name. The club agreed to hold a vote in November 2017 and the vote went for changing the name.
“The management committee ratified the decision and the name change became official. Sponsorship and jumpers needed to be finalised.
“The logic behind it is that we want to offer a pathway within the club for players to advance and to stay at the precinct.”
Steve Pell, former coach, sponsor and player at premiership level, said he saw the name change as a lack of respect to the founders who made sacrifices to start the club.
“It shortens our base to pull from. Instead of this being Redlands, it has been brought back to a suburb,” Mr Pell said.
Mr Cochrane said the club ran on the dedication of its volunteers who gave up spare time to carry out their duties and that dissent had placed an emotional toll on those volunteers.
“There have been several social media posts suggesting that the club rejected a sonsorship proposal. This was highly conditional and related to the issues already passed. These are just Mums and Dads who want to play football,” he said.
Victoria Point Sharks Football cub vice president Jeff Heath said it was not possible to give those opposed to the name change what they wanted.
“There will always be someone who doesn’t like the umpire’s decision,” he said.
“When a vote is this close, there will always at least half of the people unhappy with the outcome,” Mr Cochrane said.
Mr O’Brien said he believed rejecting the sponsorship was silly.
“This (the sponsorship) was never put to voters, and simply rejected out of hand. Sticking your head in the clouds and rejecting good dollars that could do so much for young sports people in our community is just dumb play," Mr O’Brien said.
The compromise name of Redland-Victoria Point Sharks was discussed but not voted on.
