Transforming Port's tarnished image

New Port Adelaide president David Koch is helping lure new sponsors to the embattled AFL club. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: The Advertiser

PORT Adelaide is closing in on a national corporate sponsor for the first time in four years.

And South Australian businessman Bill Vis - whose VIP franchises hold "major sponsor" status at Port - is prepared to share space on the Power's corporate billboard as the AFL club strives to fill the cash register at Alberton.

Power chief executive Keith Thomas says change at Alberton - with a new board including high-profile president David Koch and a new coach in Ken Hinkley - is turning around Port's tarnished image.

Port has not had a multi-national company's logo on its jumper since 2009 when telecommunications company Vodafone turned away from AFL football to focus on motor racing.

Well before television presenter Koch accepted the presidency at Port, the Power had Melbourne-based sports marketing company Nexus MG opening doors on the eastern seaboard.

Now Koch's image and salesmanship is critical in finding multi-million dollar sponsorships that can restore Port's financial independence from the AFL which is bankrolling the Power by up to $5 million a season.

"Our recent announcements have helped," Thomas said.

"Now that we have the chance to present, we can show we are on a strong platform for 2013 and reaching into Adelaide Oval in 2014."

Questions on Vis's sponsorship - and whether it would continue at Port - deepened at the weekend.

Thomas yesterday said regardless of the Power's chase for a major corporate backer, VIP would be part of Port's sponsorship chart next season.

"If we secure that major national sponsor, Bill is prepared to continue his sponsorship," Thomas said.

"If not, he is quite happy to stay as the major sponsor with his logo on the jumper."

Port already has had one sponsor, Envestra, increase its sponsorship. The SA-based gas distributor has taken its logo off the Power's shorts to sponsor the new coaching panel at Alberton.

But not every backer has embraced change.

Businessman Gordon Pickard, who has been a white knight at Port since 2010 with financial outlays of around $750,000 a season, was vocal at a function on Saturday night. He is unsure if he wants to be part of SA football - at the Power, Crows, SANFL or Norwood - next year.

He is not totally pleased with the boardroom bloodletting at Alberton and is considering moving his football money to medical research.

Pickard's unease with SA football could hinge on a meeting with SANFL chief Leigh Whicker this week.

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