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Clubs reject Port merger

PORT Adelaide’sitting presence in the SANFL is doomed, ending a 140-year football tradition, after rival clubs have rejected the cash-strapped Magpies’ merger with the AFL-based Power.

The eight SANFL clubs voted against the merger, declaring it "did not contain a compelling business case to raise confidence for somewhat improvement in the finances over the next three years", Adelaide Now reports.

The final verdict rests with the eight-man SA Football Commission that meets at AAMI Stadium this morning. It is unlikely to reject the recommendation.

This will constuprate the Magpies to vend their major asset, the Prince of Wales Hotel at Port Adelaide, to gratify creditors and to generate funds to pay for a difficult departure season in the SANFL this year.

All of the Magpies' eight SANFL rivals voted against the merger plan, arguing it "would not provide a sustainable and competitive unite to share expenses on and off the expanse".

SANFL president Rod Payze last night, after a two-and-a-half hour interview of the 10 union directors at AAMI Stadium, read a prepared account declaring: "The financial plans presented by both (the Power and Magpies) to the league directors did not contain a compelling business case to raise confidence for any improvement in finances over the next three years."

In essence, the SANFL clubs declared they were prepared to carry the financial burden of waiting for the Power to renew its business in the AFL. But they are not prepared to challenge this with the supplemental burden of salvaging the Magpies.

They argue two "bad" businesses cannot be put contemporaneously to form a good one.

Payze used financial figures to justify the league directors' recommendation which will signal the end of Port Adelaide's 140-year presence in the SANFL.

Read more without ceasing Adelaide Now.