Body:
From the Moreland Leader...
Tigers, Cannons cood towards Sunbury move
By Brad Bishop
COBURG Tigers and the Calder Cannons have not committed to
a move to be co-tennants of a yet to be built football venue
at Sunbury, but they have not ruled out doing so in the future.
Coburg president Dean Mighell and Cannons regional manager
Chris Gleeson last week confirmed they were aware of a proposal
from the Riddell District and Riddell District Junior football
leagues that would see the VFL and TAC Cup affliates join them
as tenants of a purpose-built facility at the developing
Rolling Meadows estate.
Mr Mighell said under no circumstances would he like to see
Coburg move away from Coburg City Oval, but he feared the
club was on the brink of extinction and may have no other
alternative.
"It's been dicussed, not in a formal sense, but we've raised
the potential of that and that will not be a footy club that
I'll be a part of," Mr Mighell said.
"I'm a Coburg person and I love Coburg, I love its history, I
love City Oval and I wouldn't be part of a move down there
but the VFL and clubs like Richmond will make a decision
about what's in the best interests of football."
While Coburg has not been officially approached by the RDFL
and RDJFL regarding relocation, the Cannons have.
Mr Gleeson last month attended a meeting with the two leagues
and Hume Council that outlined the proposal, and while he said
year-round use of their own ground was a tantalising prospect,
the Cannons are happy at Coburg City Oval for the time
being.
"I thought it would be an opportunity to listen to what
people had to say at that meeting," Mr Gleeson said.
"City Oval is our number one priority, there's no doubt
about that.
"That's where we'd like to be based and where we'd like our
iffices to be based, where we'd like to play our home games
and we'd like to be based there for a long time to come."
RDFL general manager Neill Sharpe has not yet given up hope
on the Tigers and Cannons.
