Loss on vehicles 'last straw’

Press, 5 August 1988, Page 48

Loss on vehicles 'last straw’

By

JOHN COFFEY

But for one o( its sponsors going ship, the . Canterbury Cricket Association would have shown a profit on its 1987-88 operations even after losing almost $50,000 on. its.-Shell Series fixtures. ? Because Cooper .. Henderson Motors 4 Ltd was placed in receivership, the C.C.A. lost heavily on three vehicles. An over-all profit of $7523 was trans--formed into a $7408 deficit . For some seasons Cooper Henderson Motors, Ltd, had sold vans to the association for the use of its coaching staff, on the understanding -the firm would buy eaph,. back at only $lOOO lessthan the original price provided thay had not ."travelled more than 10,000 km. That arrangement abruptly fell flat during the last financial year, and the C.C.A. lost $14,931 more than expected on the disposal of the three vehicles. “That was just about

the last straw,” the C.C.A.; treasurer, Mr Dave Galllop, said yesterday. . With good reason, Mr Gallop was proud that thd/\ ; association has been > about to show a reason- ; able excess over income , “in a season when the ‘ Shell stuff was so abysV ’ mal." ' 5 . ■" The over-all deficit ,sf' $7408 compares unfavour-? ably, on the face of with the 1986-87 excess-of . $49,573. But about $46,000 of the difference can be, attributed to the Shell ' Series deficit, and the •loss on the three vans x more ' than covers the rest/A . . .. A 7 ‘About three years ago I warned what would happen, when a Shell Series yyask staged in opposition ?to’Vthe New Zealand team ibqing on a televised tour of Australia,” said Mr Gallop. “It is no comfort to be proved right.” A profit was made on the two home Shell Cup games, but at $6494 it did not compare with the $27,749 from the three home fixtures in 1986-87.

Shell Trophy matches lost $5809, after making $7265 the previous summer. Travel and other expenses increased about $BOOO to $70,820. $ “The association has endeavoured to expand its financial base so that it was not dependent on "Shell gatetakings to balance the books,” said Mr Gallop. L Among the innovations were hospitality tents at Lancaster Park, the signing of the West Indian fast bowler, Michael Holding, the limited-over match with Queensland, and setting up of the Cricket Society. “That the association was 'able to make a small profit (before the one-off loss on coaching vehicles) in a season where attendances were abysmal indicates some success in this respect,” said Mr Gallop. Mr Brian Eathorne, the C.C.A. executive director, said that it was planned to extend the “marketing" of Shell games. They would' be “sold” to sponsoring

companies, which would be given tickets, advertising exposure and use of facilities. “At least we realised a couple of years ago what was in store. Other associations have had some shocks trying to balance their budgets,” said Mr Eathorne.

Auckland, for example, has disclosed an over-all loss of $57,799, compared to last year’s $50,000 profit. That was a direct result of losing $85,000 on the Shell Series, including $12,000 on home matches.

The Northern Districts losses were $64,000 on Shell commitments and $13,000 on all operations. Otago managed a profit of $1829 .after its Shell Series activities cost it $41,000. Mr Gallop takes a measure of comfort from the best New Zealand .players being available for the 1988-89 Shell Series, though Canterbury will suffer some financial loss from not-having a test at Lancaster Park. ■