Corona Virus - We're Doomed

Awww, relax folks, the "story" has now been removed. Guess some "journalists" just don't like being called out

. 

Oh well, one piece of disinformation removed. 

So its back to watching "Ozark", or maybe I should watch something on 9/11, JFK, Princess Diana or even whether Paul Mcartney was replaced by Billy Shears ! ... "conspiracy theorists" have such a choice :-) 

Im hearing Manly Beach has been closed today due to dickheads flouting the law. Might be some fake or slightly altered news out there,but some of the stuff im hearing from family and friends in Qz makes me bloody glad im under lockdown here.

This is true. It's a warm and sunny Sunday. We're still allowed to go to the beach to exercise as long as social distancing is in place; but unable to just hang there, sunbathe etc. Some dickheads will stuff it up for locals who need the beach to run, jog, swim, surf.

This situation is one of the reasons why New Zealand haven't given a green light for people to go swimming/surfing.

do fans think it is time the nix responded to media questions?

What are the media asking?

The same things they are asking (and getting a reply from) the other codes

Na as long as they stay quiet I dont have to hear something I really wont like.

The media are complaining that the nix are denying any request for comment or an interview with Dome or Morrison.

My guess is that they don't really know yet what the future holds and a lot of it will depend on Fox.

I'd prefer they didn't speak to the media until they had something certain to say.

They're definitely investigating their legal and financial positions and yes, FOX will play a huge part in the final outcome. So I say let them get stuff right in the background and then come out with an announcement.

Also, it's probably due to the differences in employment legislation between NZ and Australia, but I'm very proud that we're up there with the richest clubs in the league not to have stood our players and employees down yet.

Until the 14 day club self isolation is completed they have no change in the business to speak of? (Latter this week I think that ends) (They may also have wage subsidy available to stretch longer)

what planet do you live on?

 Revup Valley - Dreamworld 

The isolation period will have no impact on financials, the players will be at home during the lock down regardless.

Well, some of them will... :))

That is correct. We have one exception in New Zealand though. There is one chain of preschools (forgot the name) that negotiated their own business interruption cover that includes an infectious disease outbreak / lockdown. They did that after the SARS epidemic nearly 20 years ago. Crombie & Lockwood confirmed officially a fortnight ago that they would honour the policy.

Unless there is another instance besides my piece for Stuff, the mention of declined requests was to inform readers as to why it consisted of (well-informed) guesswork and speculation, not quotes from those in charge at the club. But when every other major sports organisation and professional club has engaged with media, and they're all in similar boats re: the uncertain future, the Phoenix's reluctance to (so far) is notable.

For example, the first line of the piece began: "The Wellington Phoenix are still paying their players and staff". I had to make off-the-record phone calls to confirm that, when it was something the club could easily have come out and said, even amid all the uncertainty.

Don't see why they have to say any thing until they are ready, couldnt care less how many other sporting bodies or teams have made statements. Can see it all now the Phoenix say something then have to completely reverse it due to the situation has changed and they then get hammered by everyone for not foreseeing it.

Don't get why people or the media feel they are entitled to be told whatever it is the club is working on.

Would imagine there are some pretty sad scenario's being gone over because if our borders stay closed not sur how people expect a team to even be based in Aussie. 

Agree if I was Rob Morrison, until that next $900K Fox payment due the clubs is confirmed, I'd be saying nothing. Because anything he says now could come back to bite him. 

I'm sure there are many backroom discussions being had, both with playing group and FFA.

FFA have been quiet for awhile, unlike say NRL who seem to have been widely praised lately for their handling of player salary cuts, and blue sky (basing the teams on a QLD island!!) thinking for trying to restart the season.

Then of course NZ Rugby operate in their own little bubble, with enough Super Rugby/Mitre 10 teams in NZ, to run their own domestic pro comp in some form, if needed stopgap. Plus they contract all the players direct. So they can take a bit of a lead.

Not an option for Warriors or Nix, their futures are basically dictated by whatever the NRL or FFA and/or Fox decide.

I guess nothing is needed from the club when we can have people on here doing some solid speculation on what has happened/will happen. 

I wonder how solid football loving journos like Voerman will handle being knocked back, especially when it is their livelihood?

Hasn't stopped the Warriors (owner, CEO, and coach) from being open and engaging on the matter. No-one's asking them to lay out detailed plans, but there is plenty people from the Phoenix could talk about without being at risk of saying stuff that could 'come back to bite [them]'.

Pretty sure the Phoenix do it routinely, unfortunately they have a reason to be suspicious of NZ media.

Saw an article recently (not sure if author was you AV), where a comment that Dome made earlier this year "about Coronavirus just being that problem in China", was bought back up. David may not have enjoyed being reminded of that!!

And of course Morrison has never been a media darling. If Radio Sport still existed, him or Dome might have done an interview with Pine by now.

But again FFA have been a bit quiet of late (unlike NRL for example). I imagine a lot of that is to do with all this uncertainty re Fox. If Fox bring in their lawyers and try pull out of their broadcast deal (still 3 years to go?), or even withhold the latest due payments, when football (like all codes) is hurting at the moment - the shark could really fly.

Come on Greenie that's pretty much what this forum has survived on since it started . Why should things change just because we have all been sent to out rooms. An experience im picking is new for some on here.

I see someone has got it sussed. Sadly im not smart enough to post it but I see someone has punted on a result and won 2000 dollars.

So Piney and Voerman are on the dole?

I believe you've misread a sentence in an article of mine – that was my description, not David Dome's.

"Requests to speak to chairman Rob Morrison or general manager David Dome have been declined – but something Dome said in mid-February, when coronavirus was just a thing happening in China, feels portentous now."

What reason would that be?

Ignore him

Meh.

Especially around the time of the license problems the press was particularly bad, even if the stories weren't harsh the headlines were. If the Phoenix won it would be lucky or an upset, even if it was deserved. People I worked with thought that the Nix had never won a game and were perennial wooden spooners just based on the headlines on the back page of the dom post in the smoko room. There's a reason people here used to call it the Doom post.

News, radio, etc. were all the same though. Admittedly with consistent performances, or perhaps a change in the editorial staff, the narrative in the press has improved.

I find it really odd that any fan would argue, "Yea it's great that the club aren't talking to media or fans, keep it up!!"

Obviously the most difficult times imaginable. I don't think it unreasonable to give an update, though obviously there are livelihoods within the organisation with families etc that are more important in all of this than fans, media and public.

Yes apologies I did misread that.

Things maybe quiet from Nix HQ until 22nd April.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/120834085/runaway-leaders-sydney-fc-unsure-over-aleague-future

"The next decision from the FFA is the 22nd of April so maybe we'll have a better idea then of what's happening and then we'll make strategies after that," Corica said.

I got an email from Ticketek yesterday saying the Phoenix will be making an announcement on 22 April. They were replying to my query about cancelled games, which I sent before I realised there were only 2 home games left and that I was happy to donate money to the 'nix anyway.

For Rob Morrison, would not his day job be eating up his time at the moment?

The club is a hobby (memorial to his brother) IMHO

This is the kind of thing it would be good to be able to try to find out in an interview.

Doesn't the fact that you're quoting Steve Corica kind of prove the point that they could be doing more?

I'd imagine Wellington Airport is in a pretty dire financial situation right now, although Vodafone and Canberra Data Centres are probably doing well.

Yes, I remember that. It was also really bad at the time that Terry S. was going under and accepting fictitious loans from shady Arabs. Journalists like Matt Nippert did well uncovering the shark that Terry was up to, but then he had to come around this forum and try to troll the Nix fans about it. There was also that particular Dom journalist, Dave something, who particularly had it in for the Nix - the guy who pretended to be homeless for a story.

It was generally accepted that the Wellington media at the time really wanted the Nix to go bust because that would be the perfect stick to beat Terry with - not that Terry didn't deserve it, but their urge to "get" him meant that they wanted us to lose our club, for extra narrative value. Some said that it was also because those people were very linked in with the Wellington rugby establishment but I never knew whether there was anything in that rumour.

their statement a while back didn't really address  season tickets did it? 22 April is a long way off