After recent news that the Bendigo Bank Spirit had incurred a significant tax liability relating to some difficult years prior to winning its first championship, the club is positive about the future. 

“The Spirit is here to stay,” Bickley said.

"While we have some short term challenges, the board has worked through the issue and is confident of the way forward. We are determined to secure the future of the Spirit for Bendigo.” 

The recent success for the club is in no small part due to the great work done by people like Wendy James, Jeremi Moule and Coach Bernie Harrower in the early years of the club. 

“The very first years of operation were vital to secure our future, and Bendigo owes these people a great deal,” Bickley said.

“Bendigo knows that in the intervening period, the Spirit had some rocky years prior to our premiership wins, and there was a time when the club's future was  uncertain. 

“Whilst the clubs current financial pressures are not insurmountable, the recent announcement that Bendigo Gold would not be continuing next year has highlighted the challenges of establishing an elite sporting club in a regional area.

“The hard work done by people like Wendy James, Jeremi Moule and Bernie Harrower in those early years has ensured that the Spirit is now well and truly part of Bendigo’s identity. They put us on the map."