World Footy News

As a follow up from a previous story about the prospect of the Central Australian Redtails joining the NTFL Premier League for the 2013/4 season, the AFLNT have released the following press release asking for more information. This is not necessarily a negative development. It may also mean that the Redtails have met criteria to date and now more boxes need to be ticked.

CENTRAL AUSTRALIAN REDTAILS REQUESTED TO SUBMIT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN SUPPORT OF THEIR APPLICATION FOR ENTRY INTO THE TIO NTFL PREMIER LEAGUE FOR SEASON 2013/14

The AFLNT board today requested that the Central Australian Redtails Football Club submit additional information to allow the board to further analyze the clubs request to play a number of games in the 2013/14 TIO NTFL season.

A letter detailing the boards requirements has been forwarded to Rob Clarke of the CAFC and the club is expected to provide the required information by June 1st.

The information requested by the AFLNT board includes financials, a proposed governance and management structure for the club, plans for sourcing a home venue and evidence of community-wide support for the Red Tails concept.

AFLNT CEO Tony Frawley said that, like all clubs who have joined the TIO NTFL or expressed a desire to do so, the CAFC will have to put the work in to demonstrate that the club has a solid foundation to build upon both structurally and financially.

“Whilst we agree that the Redtails concept is an exciting one we must also protect the integrity and sustainability of the TIO NTFL by ensuring that any new club seeking entry into the league is well prepared and has a well thought out strategy. Any new club must also be supported by the community and importantly, have ongoing funding from a variety of sources secured for a number of years,” said Frawley.

Frawley added that the information requested from the CAFC was in line with similar requests made to other clubs.

“We expect the CAFC to put the work in to demonstrate to the AFLNT Board that the club is a viable proposition rather then just a worthy concept. We asked Wadeye Magic to do the same a number of years ago and most recently we asked Darwin Buffaloes to submit similar information when they expressed their interest in relocation to Palmerston.”

“We will not rush the expansion of the TIO NTFL as we have to be sure that any new team can survive and thrive in the long term hence the need for the CAFC to clearly demonstrate their plans for the next 3-5 years.”

AFLNT will not make any further comment on the Redtails concept until such a time as the additional information requested has been submitted for consideration by the AFLNT Board.