His comments followed what he called a “cowardly … anonymous” campaign to undermine the club by circulating misinformation about the club’s financial position.
This was reflected in an article in The Advertiser incorrectly suggesting - without naming sources - that the club had received $1.2m in emergency funding and that its loss was more than the $4.12 m figure reported last week.
He said the club had been unable to identify what the alleged $1.2m figure referred to, but stressed there had been no additional funding to the club from the AFL.
Speaking at a luncheon attended by 300 supporters at The Port Club in Alberton, Koch called on a “very tiny minority of … vicious opponents to the club” to put on the public record whether Port Adelaide had their support to succeed on and off the field.
“It’s frustrating,” said Mr Koch.
“It disappoints me that a lot of that rumormongering, that twisting, the poison always seems to come in the close proximity after an SANFL board meeting or commission meeting.
“It seems as though there are a couple that have an agenda and that’s got to stop.”
Despite high-level support from SANFL executive commissioner Leigh Whicker and SANFL president John Olsen, Koch called on other members of the SA football industry to stop undermining Port Adelaide and publicly state their backing for Port Adelaide.
“The real decision makers of the SANFL (Mr Whicker and Mr Olsen) are incredibly encouraging,” said Koch.
“They want Port Adelaide to succeed … to win.
“Here’s a challenge - I want every SANFL director or commissioner to pledge their support to renewing Port Adelaide or publically saying they will not pledge that support.”
Koch strongly objected to reports of a $6.3 million loss this year, saying that it was an inaccurate reflection of the club’s true financial position and was an unequal comparison with the finances of other clubs.
“Let’s talk facts. Yes, we did lose $2.1 million [after a $2m SANFL grant] in the last financial year to the end of October,” said Mr Koch.
“[But] 10 AFL clubs will report a loss this year.
“Virtually no other club breaks down the grants that they receive. We do - we’re completely transparent and we think that’s a good thing.”
Koch said a further $2.1 million in equalisation money from the AFL was strategic investment in the club that was not a grant but rather part of a league-wide funding program shared among all 18 clubs in an attempt to provide equality and strengthen the competition.
“We run a competition where everyone should get a reasonable go,” said Mr Koch of the AFL.
“Like so many clubs we get a little more equalisation because we don’t have Friday night blockbuster games.
“Every club got $500,000 this year, 13 AFL clubs got more than that and eight received the same as us, or more than us.
“We get equalisation money like every other club.
“The money received is what we’re entitled to and what’s been agreed across the whole league.”
Koch said that significant progress had been made with a new two-month old board which recently enjoyed the addition of former South Australian senator Amanda Vanstone to its ranks.
He closed his speech by saying Port Adelaide needed more than the support of its own true believers, but the entire South Australian football community to guarantee the success of two elite AFL clubs in the state.
“We’re proud of who we are, we’re proud of what we’re doing,” said Koch.
“Have no doubts that we will succeed in this but we need members, we need sponsors to believe in us.
“We need South Australians to believe in us.
“Because this state’s football tradition is just too good, too much glory ... not to be represented by two really strong teams.
“We’re not going to go away. We’re going to succeed.”
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