It’s not the first time, and it most certainly won’t be the last. Once again the Knights have stood up to the powers that be, and once again they have done it alone. Lose and everybody will laugh, win and everybody will jump on board whilst some will try taking all the credit. Yes, I am pretty much singling out South Melbourne, especially after the way they carried on during the National Premier League Victoria saga, and still carry on to this day. I must admit that this ‘piece’ has come about after reading some of the comments on South of the Border, some of which have probably been made by more than one South board member.
So let’s just refresh those memories and remind ourselves as to what unfolded in the last two odd years. After an extraordinary general meeting on the 26th of May 2013, the club announced with a media release that the members had voted not to put forward an expression of interest, therefor ruling the club out of contention for the 2014 NPLV. Prior to this however, the most current (at the time) premier league clubs and a number of state league clubs attended a meeting at Knights Stadium to discuss the position of all the clubs and what would be the best way to go forward. Despite firm belief from the Knights camp that the best way forward would be for all clubs to boycott together, forcing Football Federation Victoria to the negotiation table, the majority (led by South Melbourne) agreed that it would be best to go forward with an EOI. They were of the belief (South Melbourne) that after doing what was asked by the FFV, they would eventually bend and change a large chunk of the criteria to suit what most clubs desired. It was this pig headedness that led us to the courts and ultimately an unnecessary hefty bill which all clubs were expected to cover almost equally. From memory, South Melbourne or club associates would contribute the most, and rightfully so as they pretty much led everyone down the path which would benefit their club the most.
Now that the Knights are again fighting the good fight alone, some are starting to question why no one has spoken up in support. Some people have taken that opportunity, I suspect one or more ‘anonymous’ South board members, to have a go and claim that no one will support the Knights because they still haven’t paid their share of the NPLV legal costs. Now let’s get some things straight, perhaps before making a statement like that, South Melbourne should come good on the sum of money that was promised to the Knights after poaching three players midseason. Also, why would someone put money towards a court case they didn’t need to be a part of and would not have come about if people had just listened and agreed to follow suit? The end result was one that favoured one club, leaving many others with a bitter taste in their mouth. And finally, had it not been for a Knights board member, the case would not have possible and South would not have had the chance to put on its superhero cape and rescue the day for football in the state, or so they believe.
Ahead of the Knights is a mammoth task. One that is even harder without the support of any other club. Despite that, as history will show the Knights will carry on and put every last bit of effort into fighting for what is right, whilst others will be peaking from a dark corner waiting for their chance to run out with their super hero cape and once again claim to save the day.
Until then, South Melbourne can continue to be the Oceania club of the century, still stuck in a league with the rest of us suburban, ethnic, social soccer clubs, whilst failing to make the FFA Cup at the expense of their greatest rivals, and sending postcards from Hobart.
