IT’S great news that the North Albury Sports Club has been returned to the control of its members after two months in voluntary administration.
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Administrator Chris Chamberlain has wound up his management of the club after Albury Council’s purchase of the club’s car park was concluded this week.
It is a result that many, including Mr Chamberlain and club president Rob Williams, were expecting might not happen with fears the club would close.
But a fund-raising campaign among club members and supporters drew $135,000 in pledges, which was sufficient to turn around the club’s prospects after it was identified in August as having $850,000 in debts.
A further $160,000 is expected to be raised through trading profits over the next 26 months to allow the club to meet its debts.
However, it is not the end of the fight.
Mr Williams says the structure of the sporting groups associated with the club will need to be examined if it is to generate sufficient revenue for long-term survival.
Meanwhile, Albury mayor Kevin Mack is encouraging those same sporting groups to show their support for the club’s operations, which could not be sustained by poker machines alone.