THE Bathurst St Patrick’s Sporting Club is in the process of being sold.
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Speculation that Liam O’Hara from the Kelso Hotel will purchase the club’s land and buildings was confirmed yesterday.
Mr O’Hara intends developing the facility into a pub or tavern.
The worst kept secret in town became public on Wednesday night at a meeting of St Pat’s club members as they were briefed on the results of recent negotiations with the local publican.
Former St Pat’s licensed club secretary manager Vince Melton told the Western Advocate yesterday no resolutions were passed.
“It’s simple. The meeting was called by the board to tell members that the sale of the club to Mr O’Hara is proceeding and we’re going through that process,” he said.
“Once the sale is completed we will organise another meeting to discuss and consider our next step which is most likely to be that of winding up the club.”
Members of the board include John Coughlin, John White, Christian Dowling, Harry Pitman and Ian Shaw.
With debts of $714,000, Mr Melton would not comment on how much the club was sold for.
However, it is believed a figure of around $600,000 is close to the mark.
More funds are also being recouped with the separate sale of the club’s 16 poker machine licences which Mr Melton estimates as being worth $10,000 or $11,000 each.
“Mr O’Hara is still in talks with the sporting club regarding the playing fields with the aim of allowing those grounds to made available to their users,” he said.
“Once the sale is completed, the next step will be to satisfy the club’s creditors’ and whatever else needs to happen after that.
“Members will then be called to a meeting for a vote to formally wind the club up if that’s the way they want to go.”
For board member Christian Dowling, the captain-coach of St Patrick’s first division rugby league side, the result was the best they could have hoped for.
“In the end it was as good a deal as we could get,” he said. “The good thing is that all the figures have been done and everyone will be paid which was our main aim.”
Mr Dowling said the sale is tinged with some sadness.
“It will be a shame not to see the St Pat’s club there, but at least there will still be the fields and some form of pub or tavern,” he said.
Mr O’Hara was out of town and unavailable for comment yesterday.
