FOR those following the fortunes of Fury in recent times it would come as no surprise that the club is struggling to sell season memberships as well as failing to find a major sponsor, but what, if anything, is to blame?
To be fair, Fury have done fairly well in getting the word out there, holding coaching clinics, autograph sessions, Family Fun Days and rarely failing to find a spot in The Townsville Bulletin. Not to mention Robbie Fowler's continuous promotion of the club, appearing on television programmes such as The Footy Show and Football Superstars of Tomorrow.
Yet for all the club's hard work it has seen little result, with the estimated 5000 or so fans that turned up for the Family Fun Day outnumbering Fury fans who currently possess a season membership. It is quite different times for NQ Fury to when star recruit Robbie Fowler first arrived in a blaze of publicity, with some recent negativity around the club clearly effecting the number of memberships sold to date.
It's been anything but a dream start to life as a football club up North, and the recent departures of the likes of Felipe and Director of Football Michael Petrillo did little to help that. Ian Ferguson's early assessment that his squad would not be filled with old and injury-prone players wasn't a good one judging from the amount of players that have been so far sidelined with injury. This has certainly wreaked havoc with Fury's pre-season campaign.
Questions such as the ones asked of Don Matheson and Ian Ferguson recently, which include whether an early clearout of the squad was on the tables have no doubt done more harm than good for the players' confidence. Fortunately it didn't stop Ian Ferguson's men posting their first win against A-League opposition beating an understrength Adelaide United 3-2, to give the players a timely boost.
Despite what many may think there have been a few positives to come from Fury - the signing of talented 21-year-old Rostyn Griffiths is one, the superb form of Fred Agius is certainly another, and in spite of his injury problems Robbie Fowler remains committed to the club. Reports in England linked the Liverpool legend with a return to his home country to join Tranmere Rovers, but a frustrated Fowler denied the move.
"I don't know where it's come from," Fowler said about the article. "It looks like somebody's put two and two together and come up with six.
"I've got a two-year contract with North Queensland Fury FC and I'm a man of my word - I'll play it out," he said putting the move beyond all doubt.
It could simply be put down to hard financial times, but the signing of Felipe's high-profile overseas replacement and a few more positive pre-season results certainly wouldn't go astray in helping turn the Fury's fortunes around.
As F Troop's motto goes: Una Per Furor - Together with Fury
