Hamilton fails in bid for soccer sponsor

Press, 21 October 1980, Page 40

Hamilton fails in bid for soccer sponsor

By DAVID LEGGAT The Hamilton soccer club has failed in its bid to secure a major sponsor to enable it to hold its place in the. Rothmans League next year. However, the club still has high hopes of retaining its place in 1981, according to its secretary (Mr John Ross). Hamilton had been negotiating with the local radio station, IZH, for sponsorship,:l but was informed yesterday that the radio station had rejected the plan, mainly for two reasons. The station told die club that the city of Hamilton must “prove strongly enough that it wants the

team in the national league”; and, secondly, the club “must show beyond intention alone that it has the ability and spirit within the club to prove worthy league placeholders with a future in the game ..t national level.”

But the station added that it was prepared to co-ordi-nate a “business and public appeal” to try and raise a minimum of $12,000 to cover the team’s travel costs next year. Mr Ross said he believed the division that existed within the club a few weeks ago had shifted and the club’s supporters were almost united in a desire to remain in the national competition. He admitted that the club

had "a bad track record financially, and to go cap in hand with a record like ours is asking for trouble.” Although no other major sponsors had been pursued beyond an initial approach, Mr Ross said he was “99 per cent sure” Hamilton would stay in the top league.

The club will reconvene its annual general meeting tonight, after Mr Ross had postponed the meeting two weeks ago to -give the radio station time to consider the sponsorship deal. Mr Ross said he intends suggesting to the club that it press on with the appeal, and is “quite confident ,,! it will raise more than $12,000.