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SOUTH Sydney's benefactor Russell Crowe insists he is not prepared to finance the club's premiership ambitions indefinitely - and wants fans to share more of the financial burden.
Poll: Is Rusty a Scrooge or a realist? l / The Daily Telegraph

SOUTH Sydney's benefactor Russell Crowe says he is not prepared to finance the club's premiership ambitions indefinitely - and wants supporters to share more of the financial burden.

"I won’t continue to put the type of cash I’ve had to into Souths so far forever," he tells Souths supporters in a six-minute video sent personally to every member of the NRL club.

"The business has to begin to stand on its own feet.

"We have to be what we have always been - self-reliant to the core."

Video: Click here to watch Crowe's Christmas message

Crowe says one way for members to help with the financial outgoings is to entice more supporters to join the club.

Poll: Is Rusty a Scrooge or a realist? Vote below

He says the club can only be self-supportive with 15,000 members. The current membership is 5700, with this year’s target 8000.

"It’s just not good enough to be a fan of Souths. It's imperative to be a member," he says.

 

Poll

Is Rusty a Scrooge or a realist?

• Scrooge - As owner he should prop up the club
• Realist - The club must learn to stand on its own two feet

Comments:

damn straight, if you live in sydney and call yourself a bunnies supporter, you should bloody well be a member.

Posted by: barney of sydney 6:40pm today

Go the MIGHTY RABBITOHS........ lets get the 8,000 mems WIN the comp and SOUTHS will have the 15,000 members or more........ Lets entertain and lets WIN... The image is back and the club is in GOOD hands all there is now is to WIN......... Winner Winner chicken Dinner....... RTR09 is going to be unforgetable... Brother i'm signing you up for XMAS... Membership is AWESOME and its GREAT entertainment... Can't wait for the new Hoodies Merry Chrismas Rusty...

Posted by: Michael of West Sydney 6:38pm today

To save me boring you David of Mascot echoed my comments. (Apart from the SSFC member bit)

Posted by: perthdragon of perth 6:37pm today

Souths have the most amount of sponsorship, they have the most members, they had the 3rd best crowd averages this year, they are returning to redfern as a training base and much more. Geez things are looking grim for them arent they, not. Well done Crowe and Holmes aCourt, the red and green is on the rise. At least theyre not broke like Cronulla.

Posted by: Ian Clements of 6:34pm today

John Shelford Souths dont half-hearted fans like yourself. Go watch soccer

Posted by: Yasmin of 6:28pm today

When Russell wanted fans to sell him the club, he never mentioned that they'd have to pay the bills. Now that Russell's bored with his Rabbitoh toy, he wants to do a runner. There was none of this nonsense from Manly's owners.

Posted by: Godfrey of Mascot 6:27pm today

I am a fan of the sharks, and thought the decision to keep the rabbitos in the NRL brilliant, as another team adds more competition, plus foster the history behind the game. However Rusty is right, he can only dig into his own pocket for so long, he has done his bit!!!. Many people wanted the rabbitos to keep going and some of those people continue to support the club, but there are many out there that need to follow through and help keep the club going. So, if you like the rabbitios, what are YOU going to do????

Posted by: michael adams of Adelaide 6:23pm today

I am a Manly fan and just watched Crowe's xmas video. Must say im amazed the media has siezed on something so insignificant from this 6 min recording. Souths have done the right thing privatising, look at Manly, from the outside things have never looked so promising for the Rabbits on and off field. Does ray Chesterton have some beef with Souths?

Posted by: Gary of 6:16pm today

5000 season tickets is pathetic?? Wake up Marcus, kick off is still 3 months away. How many other clubs have already sold over 5000 season tickets for 2009. The total membership when you include non ticketed memberships is closer to 10,000

Posted by: Paul of Penrith 6:12pm today

i know ill be purchasing membership this year considering i no longer work weekends =]

Posted by: mc of sydney 6:08pm today