The Maclean Services Club has closed its doors after being placed in voluntary administration.

The action comes during a conflict between the property’s owner, Maclean RSL Sub-branch, and the property’s tenant, Maclean Services Club, regarding the sub-branch’s recent decision to accept an offer to purchase the property.

The administrator, Andrew Sallway, who is a partner at accounting company BDO Australia, said he was appointed by the service club’s directors.

“The club was closed when I was appointed,” he said.

“At this stage I have no intention of reopening the club.”

Mr Sallway said he was working towards holding a meeting of the club’s creditors “in July, where the creditors will vote on the future of the club”.

He said it was “too early to say” what the outcome might be and that his firm is “talking to stakeholders”.

“Unfortunately, the possibility is there could be a permanent closure of the club,” he said, “or an amalgamation with another club, or some sort of proposal, from whom I don’t know, to reopen the club and pay the creditors back.

“In the coming weeks I will be writing to members of the [service] club, [after which] I’ll have a better idea of what the club’ future might look like – at this stage it’s too early to say.”

The sub-branch’s president, Stephen Walton, said his branch was “still proceeding with the offer” made to purchase the property, “subject to Clarence Valley Council approving a development application” by the potential purchaser.

“The club’s closure has nothing to do with the proposed sale of the sub-branch premises,” he said.

“The club’s lease allowed it to trade on until 2022.”

An official post on sub-branch’s Facebook page on June 24 states, in part: “The [services] Club has continued to generate operating losses despite the sub-Branch providing it with significant rent reductions over many years.

“Strange as it may seem, it appears that the [service] Club’s offer to purchase our premises was made at a time when it was considering voluntary administration.

“The [service] Club’s offer will be set aside and we will work towards a sale based on genuine offers.”

CATCH UP – Other related articles regarding this topic:

• May 27th – Maclean Services Club’s fate decided on June 1

www.clarencevalleynews.com.au/maclean-services-clubs-fate-decided-on-june-1

• May 28th – What RSL NSW thinks about the Maclean Services Club dispute

www.clarencevalleynews.com.au/what-rsl-nsw-thinks-about-the-maclean-services-club-dispute

• June 3rd – Sub-branch accepts offer to buy Maclean Services Club

www.clarencevalleynews.com.au/sub-branch-accepts-offer-to-buy-maclean-services-club