MAGPIES ADMIT TO BREACHING 2006 SALARY CAP!
Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 11:52 amhttp://barossa.yourguide.com.au/detail.asp?class=sport&subclass=general&story_id=539647&category=General&m=12&y=2006
Salary cap breach
In an historic revelation, Tanunda Football Club has been found to have breached their 2006 salary cap allowance.
It is believed Tanunda exceeded the $35,000 cap by between $1500 and $2000.
Tanunda president Steven Lindner said his committee was "a little bewildered" they were the only club to have exceeded the cap.
Ironically, at the Barossa, Light and Gawler Football Association annual general meeting last week the nine league clubs voted to disregard the salary cap in 2007 in favour of a league equalisation scheme.
A penalty has not yet been set for the first reported breach by a BL&G club.
The accepted financial penalty is considered to be 10 per cent of the amount breached, so Tanunda could be looking at a fine between $150 and $200.
However, the ultimate decision rests in the hands of the BL&G association management which has the ability to vary the penalty.
"Yes I can confirm we did go over the salary cap in 2006," Mr Lindner said.
"We simply filled out the form requirements which states how much we paid.
"John Condon, the person who looks after the SANFL salary cap payments for the BL&G, informed us that we exceeded the cap."
The SANFL has set a $35,000 annual salary cap for rural clubs.
For the majority of BL&G clubs major spending goes toward import players.
Tanunda had three imports during the 2006 season; Schluter medallist Malcolm Greenwood, association representative Callum Rohde and former West Adelaide ruckman Will Grosser.
But it should be noted that Grosser only played six games in 2006.
Mr Lindner said he was aware the club had exceeded the cap when the paperwork was filled in, before it was forwarded to Mr Condon.
"We did not want to break the rules. You don't play with 23 players," Mr Lindner said.
"We are a transparent football club, as was proved this year when we applied to have a player, Dion Woolford, regarded as a local resident.
"Why hide behind misrepresenting yourself?"
Mr Condon, who has been employed to audit the club payments for the BL&G for the past three years, receives details on what players are expected to be paid at the start of a season.
"The salary cap is totally inclusive of footballers' payments and there is an allowance made for coaching staff," Mr Condon said. "This process was brought in to help clubs from falling over.
"I have intermittent communication to ensure there is every possible chance the clubs can comply.
SANFL Affiliated Leagues co-ordinator Justin Dent said to his knowledge no club has been fined during the six years since the introduction of the salary cap.
"It was agreed at our November meeting that imposing a fine on a club was one of a number of options league can use to control the import situation," Mr Dent said.
"There is also a points system which has been used in Victoria and the BL&G are expected to use their import quota system as their form of player equalisation."
Robin Symes, BL&G president, said his board have been advised of the salary cap breach and will discuss the matter at their next meeting.
Salary cap breach
In an historic revelation, Tanunda Football Club has been found to have breached their 2006 salary cap allowance.
It is believed Tanunda exceeded the $35,000 cap by between $1500 and $2000.
Tanunda president Steven Lindner said his committee was "a little bewildered" they were the only club to have exceeded the cap.
Ironically, at the Barossa, Light and Gawler Football Association annual general meeting last week the nine league clubs voted to disregard the salary cap in 2007 in favour of a league equalisation scheme.
A penalty has not yet been set for the first reported breach by a BL&G club.
The accepted financial penalty is considered to be 10 per cent of the amount breached, so Tanunda could be looking at a fine between $150 and $200.
However, the ultimate decision rests in the hands of the BL&G association management which has the ability to vary the penalty.
"Yes I can confirm we did go over the salary cap in 2006," Mr Lindner said.
"We simply filled out the form requirements which states how much we paid.
"John Condon, the person who looks after the SANFL salary cap payments for the BL&G, informed us that we exceeded the cap."
The SANFL has set a $35,000 annual salary cap for rural clubs.
For the majority of BL&G clubs major spending goes toward import players.
Tanunda had three imports during the 2006 season; Schluter medallist Malcolm Greenwood, association representative Callum Rohde and former West Adelaide ruckman Will Grosser.
But it should be noted that Grosser only played six games in 2006.
Mr Lindner said he was aware the club had exceeded the cap when the paperwork was filled in, before it was forwarded to Mr Condon.
"We did not want to break the rules. You don't play with 23 players," Mr Lindner said.
"We are a transparent football club, as was proved this year when we applied to have a player, Dion Woolford, regarded as a local resident.
"Why hide behind misrepresenting yourself?"
Mr Condon, who has been employed to audit the club payments for the BL&G for the past three years, receives details on what players are expected to be paid at the start of a season.
"The salary cap is totally inclusive of footballers' payments and there is an allowance made for coaching staff," Mr Condon said. "This process was brought in to help clubs from falling over.
"I have intermittent communication to ensure there is every possible chance the clubs can comply.
SANFL Affiliated Leagues co-ordinator Justin Dent said to his knowledge no club has been fined during the six years since the introduction of the salary cap.
"It was agreed at our November meeting that imposing a fine on a club was one of a number of options league can use to control the import situation," Mr Dent said.
"There is also a points system which has been used in Victoria and the BL&G are expected to use their import quota system as their form of player equalisation."
Robin Symes, BL&G president, said his board have been advised of the salary cap breach and will discuss the matter at their next meeting.
