Hey CB -- check this out -- Manly Haters Page

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Date Posted: 10:57:06 01/25/02 Fri
Author: mightypanther
Subject: Hey CB -- check this out

I just read this story. Have you already seen it?
And what are your thought on it?
I have to wonder what Singleton's full agenda is?
How many clubs will they allow him to own?
And what does this all mean for the future of league?
___________________________________________________________

Singo's 'sale of century'

By MIKE COLMAN

24jan02

Courier-Mail

WHEN John Singleton asked John Ribot, just before Christmas, if he wanted to move the Melbourne Storm to Gosford, Ribot thought he was joking. Now he's not so sure. Yesterday it was revealed Singleton had bought the North Sydney Bears for $3.5million � a deal Ribot described as "the sale of the century".

"That is a very shrewd buy," Ribot said. "You just can't buy a football team in this country for that sort of money."

The fact that Singleton's "team" doesn't actually exist is immaterial. What he has received for his money is one of the best football stadiums in the country, the potential support of a strong rugby league community and, if all goes to plan, the NRL licence currently operated by Manly.

Singleton had his feet at his NSW Central Coast horse stud yesterday (a leisurely Bentley ride to North Power Stadium incidentally) and could not be contacted. So how this latest acquisition will impact on his plans to buy the Brisbane Broncos is unknown. One report said he would be happy to own both clubs.

But regardless of whether he decides to stay in the current fight against News Ltd for control of the Broncos, Singleton is poised to become a major player in rugby league.

His 80 percent majority ownership of North Sydney gives him marketing rights to North Power Stadium, the magnificent arena paid for by taxpayers and handed to the Bears as bait to get them to the Central Coast in 1995.

Those marketing rights mean that any event mounted at North Power will be money in the bank for Singo. As one observer said yesterday: "He'll put on a few rock concerts and make all his money back in no time."

Not that the millionaire ad man and champion horse breeder and owner is in it for the money. He's in it for the footy.

That the stadium was not completed in time for the start of the 1995 season and the Bears self-destructed in the meantime is enough to bring a tear to the eye of their fans.

That they entered, and then withdrew from an abortive merger with Manly, brings on full-scale sobs. There was some fine print in the divorce papers though � fine print that Singleton is poised to exploit.

If Manly fold, the licence reverts to Norths.

Word around rugby league circles is that Manly have as much chance of staying afloat after this season as Michael Slater has of captaining Australia in the next cricket World Cup.

That means, all falling into place for Singleton, he will soon be looking for a team to play out of his stadium.

Which is where that throwaway line to Ribot starts sounding a lot more plausible.

"He has made a good move but you won't be seeing the Storm there," Ribot said. "We love it in Melbourne, we're totally committed."

Which will come as news to those who have been tipping a move by the Storm to Brisbane and the new-look Lang Park for more than a year.

"That's just because I have some interests in licensed clubs in Brisbane," Ribot said. "It's not on. No way."

So who will be playing on the lush grass of Singo's newest paddock?

"Maybe he'll bring back Newtown," said Ribot. "He loves those Jets."

After what has happened with South Sydney, anything is possible.

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Replies:

Good bloody question! -- CB, 14:01:58 01/25/02 Fri
- How terribly interesting, eh CB? Thanks for that, MP :-) (NT) -- Wills, 18:48:51 01/25/02 Fri
Rubbish -- Manly4eva, 13:20:20 01/26/02 Sat