THE WA government has stepped in to try and end a stalemate between East Fremantle council and the East Fremantle Football Club over its lease at the town’s revamped oval.

The Sharks have moved back to their new clubrooms at the East Fremantle Community Park, but negotiations have bogged down over their desire to install fencing, returfing delays which have seen their homecoming game repeatedly rescheduled, and other minor matters.

The playing surface was officially signed off recently, but the Chook understands some of the club’s colts pulled up sore after a training session, which has the Sharks a little nervous about its senior players.

Earlier this week the council sent out a newsletter to residents pointing the finger at the club for stalemate, saying the Sharks wanted to “revisit” matters.

“Despite negotiating the details of commercial agreements with the East Fremantle Football Club for many months, the club recently chose to prolong negotiations,” the newsletter said.

The council, noting its own $8 million contribution, said the Sharks hadn’t needed to put any money into the $33m revamp, wouldn’t have any ongoing maintenance costs and would receive a share of revenue from food and beverage sales.

“The modelling demonstrates that the East Fremantle Football Club is significantly financially advantaged in the new shared facility arrangement compared to how they operated in the past.”

The council also doubled-down on its commitment to a fence-free oval.

“Community consultation formed the principles on which the design was based.

“This included a decision to remove the fence around the oval to make the park open and accessible for all.”

Sharks CEO Addy Wetzler told the Herald he was an East Fremantle resident and had received the council’s newsletter.

But he said it would be inappropriate for the club to make a comment while the Department of Local Government, Sport and Culture was attempting to mediate a breakthrough.

by STEVE GRANT