Was e-mailed to me, not sure of the source.

As well as a new coach and a new football department head next year when Melbourne celebrates its 150th birthday, chief executive Steve Harris, who is on the panel charged with selecting the next coach, will have to justify his own position to his board.

Harris is under pressure from the AFL, which has raised concerns about the high turnover of administrative staff at the Demons' MCG headquarters.

Over the past 12 months, Melbourne has replaced 20 of its 29 office staff. Not counting its football department, the average length of service within its administration is 13 months.

Melbourne's staff turnover in the past year has reached 70 per cent, which is well over the AFL club average of about 20 per cent.

The Demons' stagnant financial position is also being questioned. After forecasting a $1.5 million profit, Melbourne is likely to break even, at best, in a year of record membership of more than 28,000, up almost 3500 on 2006.

The Demons' poor financial result includes $2.2 million in combined payouts from the AFL, as well as about $500,000 from the Melbourne Cricket Club.

Melbourne, like every other club received a one-off payment of $1.2m from the AFL this year from the latest broadcast rights deal, and it also received $1m by way of the annual special dividend fund.

As well the Demons received between $500,000 and $600,000 for playing home games at the Gabba and in Canberra.

Melbourne's high staff turnover has proved costly, accounting for a six-figure hit to its bottom line. Gardner said that future appointments, starting with replacements for Daniher and Fagan, would not be compromised by the Demons' disappointing financial shortfall.

This was highlighted by Patrick Smith on sen a few weeks ago, no wonder we have no money when we spend it all on paying out staff.

Harris is under pressure from the AFL, which has raised concerns about the high turnover of administrative staff at the Demons' MCG headquarters.

Over the past 12 months, Melbourne has replaced 20 of its 29 office staff. Not counting its football department, the average length of service within its administration is 13 months.

Melbourne's staff turnover in the past year has reached 70 per cent, which is well over the AFL club average of about 20 per cent.

I don't see why this is a financial issue for the club.

If people are chosing to leave , esp. after such short times, their accrued leave etc should be minimal, and surley they don't have an employment contract to pay out. If you walk out on a contract you don't get paid.

Just ask Denis Pagan how it works.

If they are contracted , and then made redundant, for whatever reason, then another matter, and a real worry if this is the case.

I can't believe it is. The reason for the turnover should be of more concer.

Nothing new here.

This was an article by Greg Denham in the Australian on August 21. He has written essentially the same article in each of the last 3 weeks. He's struggling.

I don't see why this is a financial issue for the club.

If people are chosing to leave , esp. after such short times, their accrued leave etc should be minimal, and surley they don't have an employment contract to pay out. If you walk out on a contract you don't get paid.

Just ask Denis Pagan how it works.

If they are contracted , and then made redundant, for whatever reason, then another matter, and a real worry if this is the case.

I can't believe it is. The reason for the turnover should be of more concer.

High turnover is a financial cost for any organisation. It goes way beyond paying out accrued entitlements.

Recruitment, induction, training, commencement administration are all costs and they are just some tangible ones. It takes most staff a number of months before they have a sufficient understanding of the organisation, how it works and their role within it before they can perform at anywhere near capacity.

The point you made that the reason for turnover should be more of a concern is valid. You need to solve a problem at its source not attack its symptoms. But dont think for a moment high turnover is not a financial concern. Most of its cost are hidden but they are there.

There is one huge reason we are in such a poor financial state this year... on-field performance. And this could set us back more than just the short-term. This year is a DISASTER and will have a ripple effect that will most likely ruin our next decade and potentially render the MFC extinct. Poor membership next year due to supporters losing faith... Less funds to spend on football department... Poorer performances... Worse reputation in league... Failure to attract big name players... Worse on-field performances... Even lower memberships... Could not have come at a worse time.

Sign Sheedy, members re-sign, problem solved...Sort of, well short term banadaged at least