In more recent times, South's current president Leo Athanasakis sought to make an effort to be more open about the club's affairs with the few people still intent on coming. There was an open forum late last year, poorly attended, but illuminating nonetheless. There appears since then to have been a hasty retreat from that position, to the more accustomed "it's our information and we don't have to share it with anyone else" approach, as can be seen from this press release on the future of Lakeside Stadium.
South Melbourne FC Media Release
Wednesday, 05 March, 2008
SOUTH MELBOURNE FC IN DISCUSSIONS WITH STATE GOVERNMENT REGARDING STADIUM
Albert Park has been the home of the South Melbourne Football Club for almost fifty years. For the last 13 years the club has been based at Bob Jane Stadium. In that time, the South Melbourne Football Club has invested heavily in both the local and general community, as well as in the Bob Jane Stadium itself.
The South Melbourne Football Club will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2009 and is committed to remaining at Bob Jane Stadium long term and remaining an integral part of the local community and the Victorian sporting culture.
The club is currently in the process of participating in discussions with the Government in relation to the possible future redevelopment of the Bob Jane Stadium.
The discussions are ongoing and the South Melbourne Football Club is satisfied with the process and the discussions to date and intends to remain a part of the process with a view to ensuring a positive outcome and to secure the future of the club.
The club does not intend to make any further statement at this stage.
Now if anyone can get something out of that other than we've been here for a little bit, we intend to stay here for a little bit longer, and we're talking to some people about that, then good luck to you. Basically, they just said what everyone knows already. I understand that negotiations are taking place, that nothing has been finalised (although one rumour from a fairly reliable source says it was all decided some time last year to put a running track round the joint), and that there are all sorts of confidentiality constraints blah blah blah.
But where does that leave supporters? Floating around Internet forums, and with an eye on Neos Kosmos and an ear on 3XY, with only the former at all really worth paying attention to. Not an ideal situation by half.
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