By David

I see Simom Plumb Of the Sunday Star-Times has written a piece in this week newspaper entitled “Funding threat lifted as SPARC rallies for AGM” In it Plumb reports on a discussion with SPARC boss, Peter Miskimmin. Evidently Miskimmin told Plumb he “categorically ruled out changes in government funding as an immediate reaction should the current Swimming New Zealand board resign en masse”. But Misskimmin was concerned that SNZ “stop squabbling, or expect to pay the price”. “If it continues to be a fractured and fragmented situation, dysfunctional, then we [Sparc] are going to get further and further concerns” and will agree a consequence then,” he said.”

There are three important points that come out of the Sunday Star-Times report.

1. Many of the problems associated with sport in New Zealand come about as a result of poor and weak leadership. The Misskimmin interview is a classic text book case. He says we (SPARC) do not care who sits on the Board of Swimming New Zealand. Just make sure there is a happy resolution as quickly as possible. At the same time Kerry McDonald and Nelson Cull, SPARC’s $1500 a day hired guns on the SNZ Board, are wandering around Wellington telling the SNZ Board not to resign and the Regions to back off with the call for a mass resignation. The mixed messages and confused leadership are just awful. Misskimmin cannot tell Swimming one message (we don’t mind who is on the Board) and allow his employees to preach something totally different (we want the current Board to stay). By allowing that Misskimmin is directly responsible for the confusion he says will result in SPARC’s wrath. Right now SPARC have reaped exactly what they deserve. A bloody mess.

   A 60% majority of the voting power of the sport has called for the Board to resign. They have quoted chapter and verse the misdeeds that have brought about their demand. At that point good management demanded that SPARC back the call for change. But I bet Miskkimmin hasn’t even called Bronwen Radford. Instead, through the newspapers, he has told her to sort the shambles out as best she can and behind her back has instructed his representatives on the Board to defy the demands of the majority, she represents. Right now, Peter Miskimmin, this mess is down to you – 100%. You may recall Swimwatch told you a year ago this Board was incompetent. We told you to never use the excuse you didn’t know. Well, you did know and you did nothing about it then. You should take control now and back a talented lady in Rotorua who is trying to sort this mess out; who is trying to make a difference.

2. The weakness of Coulter continues to damage the sport. Even in this Sunday Star-Times report he says “his resignation was still under consideration”. He is reported as going on to say that while “the board remains unified; he is still chewing over the idea of resigning.” “I don’t think I’ve made up my mind of whether I’d like to stay on the board,” Coulter told the Sunday Star-Times. “When I get the formal response of the regions, then I’ll decide my personal position.” Isn’t that just great? Our esteemed leader is sitting there defying a 60% majority of his membership and telling the world he might bugger off at any minute. That’s as close to fiddling while Rome burns as I’ve seen. Certainly it is the sort of weak management that has led the sport to this dark, dark place. That and Miskimmin’s mixed messages. Coulter, do something decisive. Do something that is best for the sport. Resign, clear the decks for a new crew. Be remembered as the guy that did the decent thing. Hand the reins over to Bronwen Radford and get out of there. That one act can save the sport; can save SPARC’s funding and can save your reputation.
3. The Sunday Star-Times article was predicated on the thought that losing SPARC’s funding would be a disaster. Of course it would be better to preserve the current level of support. However Miskimmin should not run away with the idea that his presents are essential. There is even merit in the thought that an independent sport, free of government welfare, may be stronger than the current bloated welfare dependant fat cat organization. Even Ineson recognized the sport was oversized and overstaffed. It could be that the following image of life without SPARC has merit.

The new CEO was certain the sport could make ends meet. After all Auckland’s regular income was about $250,000. Add to that national affiliation fees of $300,000, meet entry fees of $200,000, the awards dinner $60,000, profit on clothing sales $50,000, interest of $40,000 and sponsorship funding of $150,000 and the new trimmed down Swimming New Zealand was going to have to survive on an income of $1,050,000 or about 30% of the income of the old SPARC dependant organization. Costs, of course, would need to be slashed. No more involvement in learn to swim. Responsibility for that activity would revert to the clubs where it should have been all along. No more golf club lunches or company cars. No more tuition programs or subsidised travel for junior swimmers; not in the short term anyway. And best of all, no more Millennium Institute coaches or support staff to pay. Gone were the army of hangers on, gone were the uniforms and team costs that had burdened New Zealand swimming for a decade.

The cost figures the new CEO proposed taking to the Board meeting tonight included salaries for the CEO, the office staff and a Coaching Facilitator of $400,000, accommodation costs of $15,000, other administration costs of $140,000, depreciation and equipment costs of $60,000, swim meet expenditure of $120,000 and payments to eight swimmers and their coaches of $35,000 per swimmer, $280,000. That, he thought, would leave a profit of $35,000; only 3% of sales but as the price for a standalone proud little sport, not a bad place to start – not a bad place at all.
The Sunday Star-Times report concludes with this thought – “Whether the SNZ board, or the coalition, blinks first remains to be seen.” We wish the coalition well. It is surrounded by Coulter’s weak management and Miskimmin’s bureaucratic politicking. Only the coalition seems capable of providing the sport with very much needed good and strong management. Here at Swimwatch we wish you, God speed.