Footy dream fried

Jessica Benton
SURF Coast’s council has blown the whistle on radio personality Paul ‘Chicken’ Dyer’s attempt to start a Jan Juc football club.
The former Big Brother contestant and K Rock personality said council had written to him rejecting his bid for a rival team to nearby Torquay Football Club.
“We had to put in a proposal to Football Geelong by the end of this week but before we could do that we had to get support from the local council,” he said.
“We’ve been pushed around like a tennis ball from both Football Geelong and the shire.”
The shire’s letter to Mr Dyer said council had “a number of concerns” about his plan.
“There is a lack of another ground/pavilion for use by the Jan Juc Junior Football Club,” the letter said.
The proposed club would also lead to “scheduling prolems” and “over-use” of Jan Juc’s Bob Pettit Reserve.
Council’s letter suggested a new community precinct could accommodate the club “in the future”.
Mr Dyer said council misunderstood his proposal.
“They don’t want to listen to us and they’re trying to say we’re attempting to take over Bob Pettit Reserve,” he said.
“Currently Torquay uses all the grounds. We proposed to use the Jan Juc ground but we’re happy to play anywhere, even Connewarre.”
The Independent reported in August that Mr Dyer wanted to set up the junior club to service the Surf Coast’s growing population.
He pointed out that Torquay Football Club had 15 junior teams.
“I don’t know of any other club that has more,” Mr Dyer said.