A well-known Lake Macquarie venue has closed its doors, after ongoing financial trouble.
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Patrons learned of the decision to shut Belmont Sporties Club after a letter from administrator Geoff Davis was stuck in the venue’s front window.
Mr Davis, from Sydney-based firm BCR Advisory, took over the club with John Morgan last month when the facility went into voluntary administration.
The letter, dated February 5, said the club had permanently closed.
“Since our appointment, we have been trading Belmont Sporties with the intention of restructuring its finances and returning it to the control of its directors and members,” Mr Davis wrote.
“However, we have now made the difficult decision to close the club, effective immediately because of ongoing trading losses.
“We, Belmont Sporties’ board of directors and loyal staff appreciated your support for the club and regret the need to cease trading.
“However, we are not able to allow it to continue operating where its revenues are not sufficient to pay for its trading expenses.”
Mr Davis told the Newcastle Herald on Thursday that members, staff and major creditors and suppliers had given “genuine cooperation” during the process.
He wouldn’t go into specific detail about the club’s financial difficulties but said the result was “very sad”.
“There’s pretty fierce competition in the area,” he said.
“Ultimately, if there isn’t enough money coming in through the tills then you can’t allow that to continue.”
Several residents and groups took to social media to express sadness about the closure of the Maude Street club this week. A message on Belmont Baseball Club’s Facebook page said it had been “very blessed” to have the Sporties Club as a major sponsor for several decades.
“We as a club have had a great history with the Sporties Club and it disheartens us all that the doors have been closed,” the post read.
Belmont Sporties Netball Club posted on Facebook that it was “saddened to hear” the club had closed. However, both clubs noted that the closure would not affect their organisations.
Hunter Life Education Cash Housie sessions have been cancelled until further notice.
The Newcastle Herald reported in 2015 that a merger proposal with Wests Group had the backing of 500 voting members, but the partnership didn’t eventuate.
The club was previously placed in administration in February, 2015, because of a $4 million debt.
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Nick Bielby
Nick Bielby is a crime reporter who has worked as a journalist since 2011. Having joined the Newcastle Herald in 2017, he won a Walkley Award in 2019 with Donna Page for their investigation 'Dirty Deeds', which exposed the decades of illegal dumping of toxic material in and around a Hunter waterway.
Nick Bielby is a crime reporter who has worked as a journalist since 2011. Having joined the Newcastle Herald in 2017, he won a Walkley Award in 2019 with Donna Page for their investigation 'Dirty Deeds', which exposed the decades of illegal dumping of toxic material in and around a Hunter waterway.
