Also please explain-

Administration, business and commercial assistance and opportunities

can someone explain-

# MFC’s use of the MCC name and logo as an MCC Sporting Section.

and

# Qualification for MCC Playing membership as per the club’s guidelines.

Perhaps in it's MFC sporting section there might have to be some reference to the MCC and MCC logo?

and

Perhaps those who achieve a certain number of games and/or years with the club (ie MFC or MCC Club guidelines) can qualify for MCC membership. Which probably means that those on the MCC waiting list may have to wait a little longer...I could be wrong though.

Also please explain-

Administration, business and commercial assistance and opportunities

Sponsorship opportunities??

From the MCC website:

"Playing Membership

Playing Membership may be offered to non-members who play in organised competition in the Sporting Sections of the club. For guidelines and further information about MCC Playing Membership, please contact your Section secretary."

From the MCC website:

"Playing Membership

Playing Membership may be offered to non-members who play in organised competition in the Sporting Sections of the club. For guidelines and further information about MCC Playing Membership, please contact your Section secretary."

Correct. I have a mate who plays hockey - the MCC team in State League 1. As a sporting section of the MCC, they're entitled to or offered an MCC membership once they meet the criteria set as per guidelines.

Absolutely MASSIVE news. We are now 100% safe financially. Go Jimmy you good thing!

I'm absolutely wrapped. Now we just have to wait until the "details" are explained so we understand them more. Just hope what was announced are not just "novelties". For example, what does "financial" assistance mean? Will we still be lumbered with $2m debt?

This does seem like excellent news, but the details are very iffy still.

On SEN they said that financially, this announcement doesn't change anything.

On SEN they said that financially, this announcement doesn't change anything.

Wrong. While we won't be able to just take money from them, they will be looking after us.

The agreement includes:

...

- Financial

...

Sounds like good news, but I'd like to know the specifics.

Wrong. While we won't be able to just take money from them, they will be looking after us.

The agreement includes:

...

- Financial

...

Well the MCC is giving us around a $1,000,000 this year, so perhaps this agreement means that the cash injection will be an ongoing thing. However, as this has already been agreed upon, it means that this deal will not change anything financially for us this year.

At least that's how I understand it.

Don't expect them to give us bucketloads of cash on a regular basis.

Wrong. While we won't be able to just take money from them, they will be looking after us.

The agreement includes:

...

- Financial

...

Yes - but what does this mean? Can't see them writing a $2m cheque to wipe off our debt!!

Another forward step; keep it going Jimma!

The MCC has always helped us in many ways. I saw an interview with Tony Dodamaide during the Shield final. It was very wide ranging and TD outlined the plans that Cricket Victoria have once MFC move to Olympic Park/Casey and he mentioned that the lease to Junction Oval was currently owned by the MCC who have agreed to hand it over to Cricket Victoria. I assume that we get the use of Junction Oval for a pittance. We will need administrative offices in the Southern Stand as there is not enough space in the new rectangular stadium; we will. I think. use gym and other like facilities in the rectangulr stadium. I would imagine that we need to take up the option in the rectangular stadium to gain access to Gosch's paddock. We would not be averse to being 'reluctantly' forced out of the new rectangular stadium should a rugby team take up residence.

what a wonderful outcome

Now I would love to see the Banner this week read:

MFC + MCC

One Club

One Home

OUR HOME !!

what a wonderful outcome

Now I would love to see the Banner this week read:

MFC + MCC

One Club

One Home

OUR HOME !!

I like that you should send it into the club

Perhaps this wasn't all about the MFC.

This might be Schwab and Stynes' way of thanking the MCC for their financial support year in year out to the tune of 6 figures.

I don't think this is 'take take take' situation.

Well the MCC is giving us around a $1,000,000 this year, so perhaps this agreement means that the cash injection will be an ongoing thing. However, as this has already been agreed upon, it means that this deal will not change anything financially for us this year.

At least that's how I understand it.

Don't expect them to give us bucketloads of cash on a regular basis.

Agree Jaded. Apart from the cultural and historical issues mentioned in the email, there were no specifics mentioned in respect of financial agreements, other than use of administration facilities. I can't imagine the MCC underwriting our losses on an annual basis.

And will we now trade under the banner of the MCC, as a subsidiary company?

Another forward step; keep it going Jimma!

The MCC has always helped us in many ways. I saw an interview with Tony Dodamaide during the Shield final. It was very wide ranging and TD outlined the plans that Cricket Victoria have once MFC move to Olympic Park/Casey and he mentioned that the lease to Junction Oval was currently owned by the MCC who have agreed to hand it over to Cricket Victoria. I assume that we get the use of Junction Oval for a pittance. We will need administrative offices in the Southern Stand as there is not enough space in the new rectangular stadium; we will. I think. use gym and other like facilities in the rectangulr stadium. I would imagine that we need to take up the option in the rectangular stadium to gain access to Gosch's paddock. We would not be averse to being 'reluctantly' forced out of the new rectangular stadium should a rugby team take up residence.

The Rectangular Stadium move is part of a clause in the AFL’s agreement to give us the $1 Million for 2009. This is not something that the club wants to do, however is being forced to if they want the AFL financial support. This new administration has stated publicly that their preferred destination for admin HQ is the MCG. The access to Gosch’s paddock and the gym could be negotiated independent of the rectangular deal (of which we would get 3rd pick of facilities behind the Storm and the Victory, not to mention what Collingwood want to come in and over-ride on). The board had planned to build a new training facility within the ‘G itself and use Gosch’s paddock for training and use Casey as the summer base in a proposal to the AFL, however it was knocked back as the AFL is wanting a presence in the new stadium, which is why they wrote the clause in the funding agreement.

Why the AFL are pushing this agenda, no-one outside the inner sanctum can be sure, however if the new super 14 team does come to Melbourne I’m assuming the rectangular stadium is the ideal place to base themselves…therefore one could draw the conclusion that the Ivory Tower types at AFL HQ are thinking more about beating another code to the punch, rather than working for the best interest for our club.

All that hoo-hah aside, we now have a stronger position to push back against the AFL to try and negotiate a better deal for the funding. One possible scenario is that we could set-up temporary residency in the new stadium, whilst our new facilities are built at ‘our’ home ground, which is probably 12 months away. Then once we are ready to vacate, we split the lease, thus keeping the presence in the stadium and allow the AFL to pursue whatever they have in mind for it.

I just wanted to add, that this deal is huge, in many ways, even if it doesn’t have much of a financial impact, the other benefits like security and reclaiming our identity are just as important.

And will we now trade under the banner of the MCC, as a subsidiary company?

"The Melbourne Football Club, while remaining a separate legal entity, will become a Sporting Section of the MCC."

I just wanted to add, that this deal is huge, in many ways, even if it doesn’t have much of a financial impact, the other benefits like security and reclaiming our identity are just as important.

Agreed this deal is massive for the reasons you mentioned above.

This is the best thing that could happen to Melbourne FC. Yes, even better than a flag as it genuinly secures our future!!

Now we have a home, cultural and historical identity, and commercial support, we can for the first time properly build for a flag.

I have been waiting for this to happen for 20 years. Its historic for our club. Full marks must go to Jimmy. I know that our various boards have been trying to do this for at least 15 year with simply no luck.

Well done again Jimmy, your a great man.

Sponsorship opportunities??

Surely more then co-incidence, did anybody notice the qty of signage from our sponsers on the Sthern stand. Surely the MCC have had a hand in the signing of our sponsers.