RELATED: Club can't pay its way
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A MEETING of Lavington Panthers employees yesterday reflected the emotion felt by many of those who found out about the club’s closure through the media.
Forty staff members attended a meeting with Panthers Group chief executive Warren Wilson and human resources staff at noon yesterday.
They said there had been a major breakdown in communication, but cashier Serena Cole said they didn’t hold anyone at Lavington responsible.
“It had nothing to do with people down here,” Ms Cole said.
“They were lovely people to work for.”
Cashier Heather Cook found out on Facebook the club was shutting.
“It wasn’t really respectful that we found out through other people,” she said.
Courtesy bus driver and a Lavington Panthers employee of 14 years, Gary Renshaw, was also disappointed.
“It is upsetting we weren’t informed,” he said.
“To find out through the media wasn’t ideal.”
Security staff patrolled the entrances to the club and car parks at Lavington yesterday before and after the staff meeting.
Panthers’ advisory group chairman Brian Chalmers said he had also been in the dark about the snap closure.
He had received a call late on Sunday afternoon about the club’s demise.
“We’ve always known there has been a problem financially,” he said.
“It has been going since they got us out of the hole originally.
“It has been a battle to keep head above water.
“It has been an icon in the area.
“A lot of people will be bitterly disappointed what has happened due to the entertainment and fun they had in the old days.”