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Preston officials have apparently met with the AFL in a bid for financial assistance, and are also requesting donations from anyone who's able. I highly advise checking the club's social accounts to donate if you can. Without support their chances of surviving to 2026 are slim.
Thanks for pasting that. I actually published (unpublished) Paul Amy 's article but accidentally didn't make it public!
* It's time to restore the VFA name.
A letter from the President
Preston Football Club President Neil Howard has penned a letter to past players, members and supporters about the viability and sustainability of the club for the 2026 VFL season.
Dear All,
Last Thursday, members of the Preston Football Club “the Club” (formerly the Northern Bullants Football Club) and I, together with General Manager Mr. Peter German, met with the General Manager of the AFL State Leagues Ms. Jennie Loughnan and her colleagues regarding the sustainability of the Club, and the viability of the Club in the 2026 VFL season.
The AFL had conducted an audit into the Club’s trading affairs of 2025, as well as the substantial debts (many hidden and undisclosed to this current Board) the Club had incurred and not paid through the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
It is worthy of note to at least this extent, or in pointing out the irregularities surrounding the Club’s finances, that this current Board, as well as the services of the General Manager, did not commence formally until 16 June 2025, and in the latter’s situation – late March 2025.
Previous management were responsible for the 2025 recruitment and “signing on” of players and coaches, as well as other debts, including those to the Australian Taxation Office, the Darebin City Council (lease payments of the ground etc), and utility payments. A projection of revenue for season 2025 was made to the AFL that in time, did not even realise half of what was outlined. The obtaining of sponsorship and the management of sponsorship was a decided failure.
In the end, which could easily be seen when this Board took control of the management of the Club, weekly expenditure far exceeded the weekly revenue of the Club, and that’s where, I must say, we as a Club, have failed the AFL, our coaches, players, you – as members and supporters of this proud Club – and this current Board administration.
When I took over the presidency of this Club and constructed a carefully chosen Board – professional people who have given their personal time to help remedy the debts of the Club, there was barely a quorum of personnel on the Board. The Club now has a full list, including some non-Board members giving substantial and valuable time to the cause of the Club – with the main cause being viable and sustainable in season 2026.
The current Board has identified and cleared many debts from 2024 and remained in constant communication with the AFL, while trying to maintain some semblance of structure on and off the field.
To this end I must thank a number of people – firstly Mr. Peter German, the Club’s General Manager. He has worked tirelessly in his endeavours to keep the Club competitive. He has worked six, sometimes seven days a week to manage this Club. He has maintained a constant professionalism, despite being misled into a position of trust at the Club in the first instance. His experience from an AFL level has been of great assistance to me in particular. Without his input and guidance, this Club would not have fielded a team beyond Round 6 of this season.
Rohan Welsh, the Club’s head coach, has been faced with an avalanche of problems, yet maintained structure around his players and coaches, and never once failed in his duties. At times his playing group was limited in numbers, and at various other stages, lost faith in the Club’s Board. Looking back at the limited scope Rohan had to coach his team, this is quite understandable. There can be little argument that Rohan and his coaching staff have improved the playing group to no end.
Performances at an individual level and from a team perspective improved greatly in the last six rounds of the season, during which time the team defeated Sydney in Sydney, along with Williamstown, rallying from 35 points down in the last term to get over the finals aspirants. Arguably, one might say the team should also have beaten Coburg, having succeeded in all the key statistical areas, except the most important one – the scoreboard!
The current Board has been a delight to work with, and they are collectively and individually quite selfless. Countless Board meetings, attendances at AFL House, meeting with prospective sponsors and high-end members, and giving their own personal time on game day has made such a difference.
To the volunteers: Well, they’re worth their weight in gold, but the Club has barely enough of them. Strangely we see a lot of comments on social media, but yet these people don’t volunteer their time.
People of the like of Peter Darcy and his own field team of volunteers – David Haynes, Stasi Annou, Chrissy Fourlis, Leo Puglisi and Michael Howard, just to name a few – have been constants throughout the year. But, we need another 20-30 Peter Darcys and David Haynes to make this club viable in match day operations.
The Club needs support – volunteer support – to be viable and sustainable. Not adverse commentary from the hidden agenda of so-called supporters on Facebook and Instagram. Some of those people, and you know who you are, talk of the good old days, when they went to the Club and watched the likes of Harold Martin and Ray Shaw etc. Well, the Club now needs your support in any way you can provide.
A membership. 2-3 hours of your time on a home game match day. A donation. Attendance at past-player reunions. Attendance at the best-and-fairest count. It all helps. Did you know Preston City Oval is classified by the National Heritage Trust? Yet, we are in the throes of losing it forever.
If anyone can give support to our Rallying the Tin Cans Day in October, please contact social@northernbullantsfc.com.au. We will be walking the streets of old Preston town seeking donations to help and support the Club to be viable and sustainable in season 2026. If you can add to joining a group to walk the streets it would be very much appreciated. It will be one day out of your life to support your Club. The Preston Bullants need you.
Finally, the club will hold a Members and Supporters Night next Tuesday (26 August 2025), commencing at 7pm. Current board members will be present. It will not be a night to cast the blame at anyone, or to fingerpoint in an area. The meeting is designed to seek out financial support or point the club to an area where financial assistance can be sought.
In addition to the foregoing, the administration of the Preston Football Club will endorse and promote the business of M.F. McLeod Transport Pty Ltd in a favourable and positive manner, which includes engaging Club Directors and officials, administrative staff, players, coaches and club partners to the partnership.
Sonia, on behalf of our Club, I would like to thank you, Lenny, Rocky and M.F. Transport Pty Ltd for your support of the Preston Football Club and I look forward to our partnership in season 2026.
Yours sincerely,
Neil Howard
President
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© 2025 Preston Football Club
social@northernbullantsfc.com.au
* It's time to restore the VFA name.
And here are the backing details. A 2026 membership might also be a good alternative .
From memory Frankston did that to get the club back out on the field.
* It's time to restore the VFA name.