South Australian based business My ATM has been announced as the first of the Power's joint major sponsors for 2010.
Port chief executive Mark Haysman said the five-year sponsorship deal would provide some badly needed security for a club that has had to fight through some financial issues in recent times.
“We’ve been able to secure My ATM with time in hand, which is great and it’s terrific to be able to now focus on working with them to really maximise the partnership,” he said.
“We’re making very good progress on [the second joint-major sponsor] front and we think it should be very complimentary to My ATM."
The company raises funds by selling networks of automatic teller machines and passing on fees collected from machine use to the buyers.
Port Adelaide are hoping for more good news on Tuesday night when the SANFL clubs and affiliated leagues will vote on the proposed merger.
The idea of a merger between the two battling clubs was first floated before Christmas when it was revealed the Magpies had sought a financial advance from the SANFL to play its players and field a side this season.
The Power and Magpies have presented the merger model to each of the SANFL clubs and also the affiliated leagues, through representative Rob Kerin.
The clubs need a 6-4-majority vote in order to be united this season, but there have been suggestions the matter will be referred to the independent South Australian Football Commission, meaning a decision could still be weeks away.
Haysman said it would be better for all involved if the issue was resolved in the meeting of League directors on Tuesday night.
“We’ll wait and see wait happens tonight," he said.
"We’ll draw breath tomorrow and work out what’s next. We’re confident that the vote will get up, but at the end of the day it’s out of our hands now.”
“We think one Port Adelaide footy club makes sense in terms of having one football community. I think there’s a lot of discussion around which [is the real] Port Adelaide and it [the merger] put would that issue to bed once and for all, which is probably our single biggest concern out of it.
“We certainly don’t like to see the Magpies in the situation they are and if there’s a way that we can work together to help the whole of the Port Adelaide football community that’s really what it’s about.”
If the merger isn’t given the green light by either the SANFL clubs or Commission, the Magpies will have to sell off their only asset, the Prince of Wales Hotel, and the club will likely fold.
Supporters and players and officials from the past and present are expected to rally outside the SANFL offices on Tuesday night.
Haysman denied assembling the show of support, but said he didn’t expect fans of the black and white to go down without a fight.
“Footy clubs are about emotion and this would be the ultimate emotion for Magpies people. I’m sure they’ll be showing their support for the footy club they love and they’re fully justified in doing so.”
