Author: George Kouroumalis

South Melbourne FC confirms the departure of Luke Eyles and Cody Martindale for the remainder of the 2016 season.

Eyles will join NPL 2 side Kingston City and Martindale will join NPL side Northcote City on loan for the rest of the season. Both are required back at Lakeside Stadium for pre-season training ahead of the 2017 PS4 NPL Victoria season.

Both youngsters have spent the majority of this season playing in our Under 20s, with Eyles making his first team debut in the FFA Cup Round 4 win against Keysborough back in March.

We wish Luke and Cody all the best for the remainder of this season and look forward to seeing them back at Lakeside at the end of the year.

Birmingham City Football Club are one of the 92 teams in the English Football League (Premier League down to League Two) all participating in an end-of-season charity cycling event from London to Amsterdam.

Starting at West Ham United’s new stadium and ending at Dutch Giants Ajax Amsterdam, the event comprises teams from each of the English clubs. Birmingham City will be represented by long-time South Melbourne FC Corporate Partner Brendon Davis of AIS Insurance.

Managers, executives, players and past champions are representing their clubs in this iconic event. Former England captain Terry Butcher, and his former England team mate Viv Anderson are two of many high profile football identities cycling for an excellent cause.

It’s not a race but a fundraiser for an excellent cause, Brendon explained, before adding “we obviously have to beat Aston Villa and Wolverhampton!”

The event is a 230 kilometre cycle that leaves London on 3 June and crosses the North Sea overnight using the Harwich ferry. Brendon is already making plans on how to best follow SMFC during his overseas trip.

AIS are into their 20th consecutive season as an SMFC Corporate Partner.

Focus Financial Partners (‘Focus’), the leading international partnership of independent, fiduciary wealth management firms, today announced that MW Lomax Group (‘MW Lomax’), an integrated financial services company headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, has joined the Focus network of independent wealth management firms.

The MW Lomax relationship represents Focus’ entry into Australia, the largest funds management market in Asia Pacific 1, and will accelerate MW Lomax’s growth strategy by affording access to Focus’ capital strength and value-added resources allowing it to better serve clients’ needs. With almost 2 million Australians stating they are looking for a financial adviser 2, there is enormous growth potential in the region and this relationship will provide the platform for MW Lomax to capitalise on increasing consumer demand for truly independent financial planning advice which is being intensified by ongoing regulatory reform in the sector.

The founding partners, Nick Maikousis and Jon White, with a combined 54 years of experience, held senior management roles within the financial planning and insurance advisory sectors before establishing MW Lomax. Over the past 14 years, they have continued to grow the business steadily through a combination of strategic transactions and organic growth. With offices in Melbourne and Sydney, MW Lomax currently has a staff of 55 full-time employees, comprised of numerous experienced CPAs, tax specialists and other advanced degrees and designations.

“We are excited to be the first Australian firm to join the ranks of the high calibre wealth management firms currently in the Focus partnership. Having seen various firms tapping into Focus’ capital and resources to achieve the next stage of growth while maintaining their independence and local characteristics, we are confident that we will be able to do the same here in Australia,” said Mr White, Group Managing Director at MW Lomax. “In addition to the M&A expertise, we look forward to utilising Focus’ value-add programs in operations, technology, compliance and marketing.”

“MW Lomax represents a significant step forward in our international growth strategy. Our founding mission is to support entrepreneurial wealth management firms to provide independent financial advice to individuals, families, and institutions. We are excited to bring our model and resources to the Australian financial market today,” said Rajini Kodialam, Co-Founder and Managing Director at Focus.

“MW Lomax’s strong desire to grow and their client-centric model make it a natural fit for Focus. With the firm’s scale of business and their holistic financial planning services, we believe that MW Lomax will act as an attractive platform to consolidate the fragmented planning and accounting space in its local regions.”

MW Lomax is the third international firm to join Focus, following Canada-based Dorchester Wealth Management and the U.K.-based Greystone Financial Services.

Focus was advised by Minter Ellison, and MW Lomax was advised by Mills Oakley and Chase Corporate Advisory.

About Focus Financial Partners
Focus Financial Partners is the leading international partnership of independent, fiduciary wealth management firms. Focus provides unrivaled access to best practices, resources, and continuity planning for its partner firms who serve individuals, families, employers and institutions with wealth management, benefit and investment consulting services. Focus partner firms maintain their operational independence, while they benefit from the synergies, scale, economics and best practices of the market leader to achieve their business objectives. For more information about Focus Financial Partners, please visit www.focusfinancialpartners.com.

About MW Lomax
Founded in 2002, MW Lomax offers financial expertise across the areas of wealth management, accounting & tax, insurance and business advisory services. The firm provides clients across the greater Melbourne and Sydney regions with independent advice and a holistic service offering. MW Lomax utilises a planning process approach that incorporates wealth accumulation, preservation and diversification while managing risks through appropriate financial protection. For more information about MW Lomax, please visit www.mwlomax.com.au.

It has been a roller coaster off-season for the South Melbourne Women’s Football Club following their back-to-back Women’s Premier League titles. Despite their Grand Final triumph in September 2015, making them back to back champions, SMWFC were not included by FFV into the 2016 Women’s National Premier League. They have since undergone extensive restructuring in the off-season both on and off the park.

The most significant change has seen SMWFC’s teams now forming “One Club” with South Melbourne Football Club. That means that all male and female footballers, seniors and juniors, will be fielded by SMFC from 2016. Years of hard work, ensuring that men, women, boys and girls will be looked after and promoted equally in the best interests of SMFC and its members and supporters, culminated in a historic vote last Wednesday night (23 March), at the Club’s Annual General Meeting. Also at the meeting, SMFC members overwhelmingly supported the necessary amendments to the Club’s constitution to bring the club back together as one and to ensure every player and member is an equal part of it.

The SMFC membership supported changes to the Constitution to immediately provide for a minimum of one female director on the SMFC Board of Directors and other measures to ensure equal opportunities for all which the club expects will be to everyone’s benefit. This historic move shows the commitment of SMFC to strengthen and grow the female component of the Club and to ensure a strong and diverse Board of Directors to meet the Club’s future challenges and aims.

At the AGM, former SMWFC President Gabrielle Giuliano proudly officially accepted her position as the first female SMFC Director under the new structure. Gabrielle has a strong business background in her professional career and has worked tirelessly over numerous years to create a strong SMWFC that has enjoyed so much recent success. Gabrielle is also the daughter of legendary 1960s South Melbourne Hellas player John Margaritis (who also coached the club in the 1970s) and has been part of the South Melbourne family for many years.

Speaking to smfc.com.au, Gabrielle, was very proud of the new structure being so strongly supported by the membership. “We are all extremely excited and proud that the SMFC membership base has accepted and driven this change at our club. For the members to so clearly and enthusiastically support the necessary amendments to the Club’s constitution to include female representation on the Board of Directors and equality of opportunity for women and girls signifies the progress our club and our members are making. It is a historic day not only for our club but for women’s football in Victoria.”

2016 SMFC season pass holders also benefit from the move, with each membership allowing free access to all Women’s matches in 2016. We urge all members and fans to support our girls as we strive for yet another successful season.

South Melbourne FC and the Victorian Government formally executed the Club’s new 40-year lease and license on both its Lakeside Stadium exclusive and non-exclusive areas earlier this morning.

SMFC President Leo Athanasakis described the executing of the documents as a historic moment, with the Club finally able to commence building its new administrational offices, museum, futsal court and bisto / social room in its exclusive areas.

Mr Athanasakis thanked Mr Bill Papastergiadis and his legal team at Moray & Agnew Lawyers for finalising the legal documents. “Bill applied not only expert legal knowledge to the enormous difficulties faced by our club, he also utilised his significant connections with Government to ensure that an excellent deal was achieved. There is no doubt that we would not have achieved this result without Bill’s contribution.

“This has come at significant personal cost, with Moray & Agnew Lawyers not charging any legal fees whilst Bill was on the SMFC Board of Management, therefore saving the Club over $200,000 in fees. History will record that as a significant turning point for us and I am sure that the entire South Melbourne family is extremely grateful to both Bill and Moray & Agnew.”

Mr Papastergiadis thanked Mr Athanasakis and the SMFC Board of Management for their commitment in seeing the agreement through. “Without Leo’s dedication and his participation in all meetings, this great result would not have been possible.”

Mr Papastergiadis also noted that the Greek Community of Melbourne is obliged to step in and assist any Greek entity in Victoria. “The Greek Community of Melbourne has to play a strong advocacy role for any Greek-based organisation. It became involved with the negotiations due to the rich contribution that SMFC has made to our Greek community for over fifty years and it wanted a positive result for the club.”

Mr Papastergiadis then elaborated about the new agreements executed this morning. “These agreements allow SMFC to invest towards securing the Club’s ultimate goal of playing top tier football in Australia. The infrastructure offered by the new Lakeside Stadium agreements are essential towards securing the long-term support of Football Federation Australia.”

Mr Athanasakis also thanked State Labor Member for Albert Park, Mr Martin Foley MP. “Minister Foley’s involvement was critical in achieving such a positive outcome for our club in the agreements that have been executed today.”

A very proud Mr Foley congratulated Mr Athanasakis, the SMFC Board of Management and Mr Papastergiadis. “South Melbourne FC’s new 40-year lease gives the club the security and certainty that it needs to build for the future. SMFC has been a great club for many years and today’s agreements now give it the opportunity to take its on-field and off-field activities to an even higher level.

“As the Local Member for Albert Park, I want to congratulate SMFC in negotiating such an excellent deal that secures its future at Lakeside Stadium and I look forward to visiting and utilising the Club’s new facilities when they are completed.”

South Melbourne FC would like to wish all of its corporate partners, members, volunteers and fans a very happy and safe Easter.

All NPL Victoria Youth teams also have the weekend off, so we look forward to all of our sides returning to action next weekend.

SMFC would like to inform all 2015 members attending tonight’s Annual General Meeting at Lakeside Stadium that entry will be from Gate 1 (non traditional entry gate).

The area is still in pack down mode following the Australian Grand Prix and as a result the main car park at Lakeside Stadium has limited parking.

Please park either close to Gate 1 or on Albert Road for easier access.

South Melbourne FC wishes to advise that the 2016 Jersey Presentation Night will be held at our long-standing partner Beachcomber Cafe on Friday 8 April from 8pm. A three-course meal will be provided inclusive of beer, wine and soft drink.

Fox Sports W-League commentator and presenter Stephanie Brantz will host the event.

The SMFC Senior teams (men and women) will be presented with their 2016 playing jersey on the night, with guests invited to bid for each player in the annual Player Auction. Each winning bidder will be recognised as that player’s official 2016 sponsor, with public acknowledgements throughout the season.

There will also be a raffle, with several prizes to be won on the night.

For bookings email the club at multimedia@smfc.com.au or visit www.smfc.com.au/Jersey16