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The lack of scrutiny and tough questions asked by our 'local' paper is disgusting. Feels like a puff piece sent in by a PR department

1. ABP own the land, they won't give it up easily. Or will they?
2. Where is the money coming from to fill in part of dock?
3. Wouldn't this take significant time to do?
4. Would ground need sufficient time to settle before any building work starts on top of it?
5. Has any environmental report been commissioned to check this is feasible?
6. Are ABP happy/involved in this?
7. Has any provisional permission been sought?
8. How many businesses are now in a position to relocate to an unproven and untested scheme?
9. Are these plans 'COVID-proof'?

While the pictures are nice, I can't get remotely excited about a property developer from London until basic questions like this are answered. The fact this guy has lingered in and out for nearly three years suggests we haven't been convinced he can adequately answer some of the above

What happens to the club when his trawler stadium runs into an issue??? I don't think we should hand over the keys to a London property developer on a punt or nice idea. The current board are not perfect but better the devil you know IMO

There is very little of Mr. Shutes online but the stuff I can see suggests he has a record of big, bold ideas that fizzles away. Where's his track record for delivery? Happy to be proven wrong with evidence of this guy delivering something of this scale and complexity???

Previous plans for Holloway theatre undelivered: https://www.islingtongazette.co.uk/news/bid-to-redevelop-holloway-s-national-youth-theatre-runs-into-trouble-1-3107547

It's all too vague and just a distraction at a very bad time IMO

I will be happy wherever the stadium is built and the more involved the better it just might happen in my lifetime.

The club is not for sale now but Shutes wants to be involved with planning and building so let's hope something happens soon.

We have Ollie now and he has said on national TV he wanted a project not just a managers job well he has that now and he will be here long term and hopefully when he has had enough of managing he will step up as chairman and look after the club that way.

A little late but if these plans had gone ahead when they were taking down the flats the rubble from there could have been used to fill in part of the docks.

If Pettit is involved, there won't be any grand plans.

The docks proposition is far better than the Freeman Street location which I always thought was rubbish. Only time will tell and we need to get beyond what is going on at the moment before anything progresses.

As long as its not a shoe box, or Shutesbox, I will be happy.

If its a generic building, im glad i wont see more than 20 years in ti

So with all this coming up again, I expect this isolation and so on to get worse...Drunk Fenty statement around 11:40pm after VE Day garden celebrations...

Have a look online at the publicly available information on Pettit. He's attributed to over 400 companies and was very high up at the now dissolved Lehmann Brothers.

If people want a new ground, I know which group of people are more likely to manage it.

If we’re saying the major problem is funding, who would you rather have in charge - the former Head of European Real Estate at Lehman Brothers & someone currently responsible for investments and capital raising at a specialist real estate investor, who happens to be a town fan, or Philip Day who’s response to “where is the money coming from?” was to ask a fans forum “well...has anyone got £20m?”

Not sure what people have got against Shutes - think he’s maintained a level of dignity and respect that was lacking when Fenty spent the last 2 years slagging him off publicly. It’s the first time he’s spoken about it and I think he, and his partners, deserve a bit more credit for how they’ve gone about it.

Quoted from ska face

If people want a new ground, I know which group of people are more likely to manage it.

If we’re saying the major problem is funding, who would you rather have in charge - the former Head of European Real Estate at Lehman Brothers & someone currently responsible for investments and capital raising at a specialist real estate investor, who happens to be a town fan, or Philip Day who’s response to “where is the money coming from?” was to ask a fans forum “well...has anyone got £20m?”

Not sure what people have got against Shutes - think he’s maintained a level of dignity and respect that was lacking when Fenty spent the last 2 years slagging him off publicly. It’s the first time he’s spoken about it and I think he, and his partners, deserve a bit more credit for how they’ve gone about it.

well it clearly is about funding, and the board dont think he has got it.....

So we’re gonna take the boards opinion as fact? I’d imagine Shutes has lost more money the bird at the club, probably minus Honest John.

Once agin we were clearly pedalled a story by the club (John) to suit their agenda.

Shutes and his team have been dignified throughout, they’ve been called the kickers and the likes (something our own intrepid leader said was poor when fans called him names) and are still clearly interested.

People can choose to only side with the board, that’s their choice but surely logic says open your thinking and be honest, does anyone believe the current leadership of the club can deliver on a project this size? Nothing points to an answer of yes... we couldn’t fathom out how to sell ST becauee they hadn’t been printed, yet people think they can build a stadium...

Let’s face it, Shutes offered what he considered a good deal for everyone, but that would’ve meant certain people lost their control and dominance, they didn’t want that so it never came to fruition.

Chairmans statement now available. And quite right he is too.

[url]https://www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk/news/2020/may/a-statement-from-the-chairman[/url]

Seems fairly sensible by the club. They asked for proof of funds and what financial implications of a new ground would be for the club and for whatever reasons this hasn't been presented. How many clubs have taken the money and run when big investors come in then find themselves living beyond there means.

I hope that the swft response from the chairman (longtime since we could say that!) has now cleared up this matter. Mr. Shutes has gone to the telegraph first without consulting GTFC (not for the first time). The Town board has repeatedly asked for clarification from Mr. Shutes,which has not been forthcoming, so they have, like the rest of us, dismissed his proposals. He doesn't go about his ideas in the right way, says nothing for over a year and then goes to the Telegraph with his plans. This is not the right way to conduct business. The board are right to be sceptical and cautious.

Quoted from promotion plaice

Well I hope Shutes vision for the new stadium comes off, the images for the new stadium look fantastic and I would still be able to look over the river from the upper if we're not playing well ;)

It makes no sense to have one stand twice the height of the rest of the stadium. It would detract from the atmosphere inside the ground.

Maybe Mr Shutes thinks people will pay to sit in the upper tier on non-matchdays to gaze at passing ships.

Quoted from White_shorts

It makes no sense to have one stand twice the height of the rest of the stadium. It would detract from the atmosphere inside the ground.

Maybe Mr Shutes thinks people will pay to sit in the upper tier on non-matchdays to gaze at passing ships.

all stands will be the same size, you wont know the difference, the home and away ends will be identical....it will be a box, a shoebox.

Quoted from jamesgtfc

Have a look online at the publicly available information on Pettit. He's attributed to over 400 companies and was very high up at the now dissolved Lehmann Brothers.

You mean his office was on the top floor?

Quoted from White_shorts

It makes no sense to have one stand twice the height of the rest of the stadium. It would detract from the atmosphere inside the ground.

Maybe Mr Shutes thinks people will pay to sit in the upper tier on non-matchdays to gaze at passing ships.

Looking at the design I'd guess the stands would be all the same height, but the taller bit in the drawing is showing the possibility of extending capacity.

Fenty hasn’t delivered the new stadium that much we know , maybe Shutes might ? Hopefully Shutes proves he’s got the financial clout and probably even more importantly the contacts to deliver

Quoted from Alfie

The lack of scrutiny and tough questions asked by our 'local' paper is disgusting. Feels like a puff piece sent in by a PR department

1. ABP own the land, they won't give it up easily. Or will they?
2. Where is the money coming from to fill in part of dock?
3. Wouldn't this take significant time to do?
4. Would ground need sufficient time to settle before any building work starts on top of it?
5. Has any environmental report been commissioned to check this is feasible?
6. Are ABP happy/involved in this?
7. Has any provisional permission been sought?
8. How many businesses are now in a position to relocate to an unproven and untested scheme?
9. Are these plans 'COVID-proof'?

While the pictures are nice, I can't get remotely excited about a property developer from London until basic questions like this are answered. The fact this guy has lingered in and out for nearly three years suggests we haven't been convinced he can adequately answer some of the above

What happens to the club when his trawler stadium runs into an issue??? I don't think we should hand over the keys to a London property developer on a punt or nice idea. The current board are not perfect but better the devil you know IMO

There is very little of Mr. Shutes online but the stuff I can see suggests he has a record of big, bold ideas that fizzles away. Where's his track record for delivery? Happy to be proven wrong with evidence of this guy delivering something of this scale and complexity???

Previous plans for Holloway theatre undelivered: https://www.islingtongazette.co.uk/news/bid-to-redevelop-holloway-s-national-youth-theatre-runs-into-trouble-1-3107547

It's all too vague and just a distraction at a very bad time IMO

Is that not the same lack of scrutiny that Mr Fenty has had in every interview he’s done with the GET in the last 15 years?

Quoted from jamesgtfc

Have a look online at the publicly available information on Pettit. He's attributed to over 400 companies and was very high up at the now dissolved Lehmann Brothers.

Do you mean the now bankrupt Lehman Brothers?

Quoted from pizzzza

Odd that Shutes chooses to break his silence now after all this time, this is the first time we have actually heard from him right? To be honest, Id take either the Docks or Freeman Street right now.

I wouldn't trust this guy as far as i could throw him - he's playing a game. Tell him to fcoff JSF Please

Quoted from Ipswin

Do you mean the now bankrupt Lehman Brothers?

Ok, I added an extra N at the end but you get my drift.

Quoted from jamesgtfc

Ok, I added an extra N at the end but you get my drift.

Didn't notice that I simply wanted to replace 'dissolved' with 'bankrupt'

Quoted from dapperz fun pub

Fenty hasn’t delivered the new stadium that much we know , maybe Shutes might ? Hopefully Shutes proves he’s got the financial clout and probably even more importantly the contacts to deliver

Well he hasn't so far as he ?

In my opinion we can forget any new ground now, following this lockdown i can only see a massive financial claw back from the government who will need to recoup expenditure, wouldnt be suprised if some of the Town Deal monies are curtailed which i think is what Shutes is hoping to piggie bag his plans onto, never seen or heard of him prior to the £64m Town deal being negotiated...coincidence ??

Again we come back to the fact the club doesnt have a pot to p!ss in , Shutes hasnt ,in two years since he drafted those plans , come up with any evidence he can fund it, run it and secure 5yrs running of the club to allow the board to go along with it.

Lets stop dreaming for now. B.P for ten years at least.

Also that stadium plan looks mightily complicated, as i look at it it looks like its sandwiched between the dock offices, Royal Dock and the Ice house.....not much space and there is a train line running alongside that site too. Highly ambitious which equals high costs.

To deliver any stadium, even a basic one that Mr Day alluded to at the last fans forum would cost a fortune. Does anybody on here or the wider fan base have any confidence at all that the current Board could raise the money?

I don't think the board could deliver any new stadium and if by chance they did there would be so many corners cut it would be a mockery.

If the current board are to remain in place I would rather stay at BP as I don't think, judging by their track record, they have the expertise or ambition to deliver a new stadium.

Shutes on the other hand has certainly got the vision; a dockside stadium with the dock tower as a backdrop has always been the thing to aim for to catapult the club into an exciting future .

If Shutes is genuine then that would be the best option to take the club forward but it doesnt instil confidence when he talks in riddles; if he wants to buy the club then just get on with it. If he doesn't then stop wasting everybody's time.

I guess we will still be talking about a possible new stadium for many years to come.

Quoted from mimma

I hope that the swft response from the chairman (longtime since we could say that!) has now cleared up this matter. Mr. Shutes has gone to the telegraph first without consulting GTFC (not for the first time). The Town board has repeatedly asked for clarification from Mr. Shutes,which has not been forthcoming, so they have, like the rest of us, dismissed his proposals. He doesn't go about his ideas in the right way, says nothing for over a year and then goes to the Telegraph with his plans. This is not the right way to conduct business. The board are right to be sceptical and cautious.

I picked up on that in Day’s statement. I was very surprised by that. When was the previous occasion or occasions that Shutes did that? This is the first time I’ve seen any such public ‘appearance’ by him. I might have missed it so could you point out when/where?

For what it’s worth I think the information that they are asking for is sensible. However who did Fenty show such information to when he was proposing the Peaks Parkway Stadium?

FFS the sooner football comes back the better !

Quoted from pizzzza

I'm sure he only has a small involvement.

Very good Pizzza ,appeals to my sense of humour

I've had enough of this chopping and changing -fkuk moving - I've got a nice warm seat with plenty of leg room at B.P. and good view and good company. I don't care if you lot move I'm staying at Blundell Park - it's all I've known

This pipe dream is not going to happen in the foreseeable future. We've had thirty years of this guys - it really is not worth discussing any further. Home is BP & we are now even probably hanging on to that by a thread given the current situation. Let's hope we can settle down in the Findus or wherever & watch a game of football again.

We are going to have the greatest recession in our history. Talk about building a stadium in the current climate is absurdly stupid. We may not see football 😭 for a while. Let us just concentrate on getting back to normal. This is going to be hard for all of us. Be safe.

So this guy decides to release this statement now in the current climate just shouts “ look at me ... I want to be the saviour of Grimsby ....”

Six months down the road ... “ well I would’ve done it if it hadn’t been for that bloody coronavirus, honest . “

Full of sh.it if you ask me .

I'd settle for jumpers for goalposts at the moment. A new stadium feels about as far away as the Champions League.

I have my reservations over Shutes and his grandiose ideas. If it's the first GTFC have heard of this, then I bet it's the first that ABP, or whoever owns the land, have heard of it as well.Has Shutes and his team done any feasibility study on this? The Freeman Street proposal has the backing of the owners of the land, and the council, and it is cleared and ready to go.

As for the financing, do you think for one minute that the board have dreamed up this scheme without looking into how it can be paid for? They will have spent many hours in discussions will the relevant people to come up with a method of financing it, drawing on the experiences of other clubs that have relocated.It's only like you and me buying a house, only there's more noughts on the end. If everyone thought of how much their house costs, nobody would ever buy a house.

We've been crying out for some ideas and imagination. Some fresh blood. We've been stagnating and sinking during this Fenty era.

Shutes comes along — and I get it; none of us truly know what his financial situation is, or how sincere he is about delivering something for the people — but the reaction from some of our fans is to presume he's after something, and he's somehow going to do us over?

Give the bloke a break. We don't know him. I'd love to hear more from him. That's not to say I think we should just drop everything and pile onto what he's proposing.

I don't know about you but I feel a bit uneasy by how all this potential buy-out business has been handled, in the main, by the board. We only know what we know because 95% of the quotes — and any version of the story — has come from the board.

Shutes gives us a few quotes in an article and it's like we're scared of someone who's got a bit of imagination and a bit of ambition.

If more of us were open to change and willing to allow different people with different ideas into our lives then maybe it'd be a bit more vibrant and successful.

But no. The Grimsby way is to shut out anyone from out of town and close down the conversation.

Like I say, I just want to hear more from Shutes. I'd love to hear how he'd answer some tougher questions. I'm not necessarily for his stadium, and his idea. I just want to hear both sides and then make my mind up.

Our board have controlled what we've heard about Shutes' plans so I just feel it's time we heard more from the man himself. Until then I'm not making any decision on whether it's Freemo, the docks or BP.

Quoted from RichMariner

We've been crying out for some ideas and imagination. Some fresh blood. We've been stagnating and sinking during this Fenty era.

Shutes comes along — and I get it; none of us truly know what his financial situation is, or how sincere he is about delivering something for the people — but the reaction from some of our fans is to presume he's after something, and he's somehow going to do us over?

Give the bloke a break. We don't know him. I'd love to hear more from him. That's not to say I think we should just drop everything and pile onto what he's proposing.

I don't know about you but I feel a bit uneasy by how all this potential buy-out business has been handled, in the main, by the board. We only know what we know because 95% of the quotes — and any version of the story — has come from the board.

Shutes gives us a few quotes in an article and it's like we're scared of someone who's got a bit of imagination and a bit of ambition.

If more of us were open to change and willing to allow different people with different ideas into our lives then maybe it'd be a bit more vibrant and successful.

But no. The Grimsby way is to shut out anyone from out of town and close down the conversation.

Like I say, I just want to hear more from Shutes. I'd love to hear how he'd answer some tougher questions. I'm not necessarily for his stadium, and his idea. I just want to hear both sides and then make my mind up.

Our board have controlled what we've heard about Shutes' plans so I just feel it's time we heard more from the man himself. Until then I'm not making any decision on whether it's Freemo, the docks or BP.

Sorry but have you read Phillip Day's statement? What is it that makes you uneasy with the way the board has handled Mr. Shutes proposals?
they repeatedly asked Shutes for information, but he never gave them a reply. The gave him an ultimatum, which he ignored. The board then publicly stated that since Shutes has not been it touch and updated his proposals, they would have no alternative but to assume the deal was dead. What more could they have possibly done in the circumstances? Instead of now getting in touch with the board, Shutes has gone running to the Telegraph with a fancy picture of a stadium and said he still wants to take the club over, and he can deliver this latest proposed stadium. Surely the right thing to do would be to contact the board first, not the local rag.

I for one am uneasy with these proposals and the way the whole thing has been handled by Shutes. It just doesn't add up.

Did you not read Rich’s sentance after the one you highlighted Mimma? That says clearly what he’s uneasy about.

And care to answer my previous question about your claim (and Day’s claim) that Shutes has done this media thing before.

Quoted from mimma

I have my reservations over Shutes and his grandiose ideas. If it's the first GTFC have heard of this, then I bet it's the first that ABP, or whoever owns the land, have heard of it as well.Has Shutes and his team done any feasibility study on this? The Freeman Street proposal has the backing of the owners of the land, and the council, and it is cleared and ready to go.

As for the financing, do you think for one minute that the board have dreamed up this scheme without looking into how it can be paid for? They will have spent many hours in discussions will the relevant people to come up with a method of financing it, drawing on the experiences of other clubs that have relocated.It's only like you and me buying a house, only there's more noughts on the end. If everyone thought of how much their house costs, nobody would ever buy a house.

They’ve been very quiet about how they were going to do it. They/Fenty pursued the Great Coates plan years after it was all obvious it was a non-starter commercially, and then Peaks Parkway with no clear plan (just vague statements about ‘enabling development’, which never appeared).

I’ve got no less confidence in Shutes’ dream scheme than I have in the Fentydome. Everything you said about Shutes applies to Fenty.

Given the uncertainty surrounding football, this shabbily governed country, and the post-Covid world, it's tough to believe any 'grand scheme' is definitely do-able.

I cannot foretell the future (my record backing horses proves this :) ) but it's not hard to imagine that football crowds will dwindle given the recession which
is coming and people don't have the cash to watch. Lower league football may have to become substantially part-time, perhaps. Some clubs will fold.

Any proposal which assumes historic income streams or relies on borrowed money should be a non-starter.
If Shutes has got the cash, then that's a different matter.
But if he has got the cash it wouldn't appear too difficult to show the Town board a few bank statements.
It still looks to me like there's only the idea there, without the wherewithal.

I've seen Shutes described as "businessman", "entrepreneur" and "altruistic".
These are unlikely bedfellows for an ageing cynic like myself. (I'd love to be wrong)

Yes, I hope it could happen...but as we all know, it's the hoping that kills you.

Quoted from mimma

As for the financing, do you think for one minute that the board have dreamed up this scheme without looking into how it can be paid for?

The evidence would suggest this is the case, yes.

As is his right, Tom Shutes has finally given us an overall view of his plans for a new stadium. By going public after all of this time and also during this pandemic, he must be more confident of delivering the project than a lot on here give him credit for. Too many people look at things from their own microeconomic point of view rather than expanding their minds into being more macroeconomic. Small town mentality kicks in far too often along with new stadium fatigue (inflicted by the incumbents not TS himself) and it's why Grimsby gets left behind as a backwater. Shutes has put a little more meat on the bone and it's now up to him to deliver or be left looking foolish. And my gut instinct is that he's no fool and is far more well connected than the current board, far more visionary and far more able to raise the necessary finance. He's had one say in the press and that's it so far. Our current board, who at the minute, have hung their hat on Peaks Parkway and failed, hung their hat on Freeman Street and asked fans at a forum if anyone has got a spare 20 mill (which isn't enough anyway), promised Championship football within three more years, still write season ticket holder details in an exercise book.and refer to our current majority shareholder as the "main man" having bankrolled the club over twenty years for the princely sum of a third of one season's turnover and he still wants that back too have controlled the narrative on a new stadium, delivered nothing, on occasions have been downright disrespectful and reading between the lines putting a far higher standard of future takeover funding than they could ever dream of putting together themselves. I'd like to see more of what Shutes has to offer before I can get fully on board with his project and welcome the fact that we still have another potential option. The odds on favourite is that we'll still be in BP in ten year's time but my gut tells me that Shutes is a strong second to deliver a new stadium (and one that we can be rightly proud of) and our current board a poor last (with a Poundland shoe box effort)..

Lets not be quick to dismiss Shutes, let's be patient and see what else he has to say in the future and let's not believe everything our board has to say as the gospel truth as their words can only be written from their own personal viewpoint. The world hasn't ended with Covid, government coffers may dry up, but there's plenty of investors with deep pockets out there looking to get more bang for their buck post pandemic..

Ridiculous reply, balanced & reasonable.
Why can't you just dimiss the idea & tell him were to go.

Quoted from Bigdog

As is his right, Tom Shutes has finally given us an overall view of his plans for a new stadium. By going public after all of this time and also during this pandemic, he nust be more confident of delivering the project than a lot on here give him credit for. Too many people look at things from their own microeconomic point of view rather than expanding their minds into be more macroeconomic. Small town mentality kicks in far too often and it's why Grimsby gets left behind as a backwater. Shutes has put a little more meat on the bone and it's now up to him to deliver or be left looking foolish. And my gut instinct is that he's no fool and is far more well connected than the current board, far more visionary and far more able to raise the necessary finance. He's had one say in the press and that's it so far. Our current board, who at the minute, have hung their hat on Peaks Parkway and failed, hung their hat on Freeman Street and asked fans at a forum if anyone has got a spare 20 mill (which isn't enough anyway), promised Championship football within three more years, still write season ticket holder details in an exercise book.and refer to our surrent majority shareholder as the "main man" having bankrolled the club over twenty years for the princely sum of a third of one season's turnover and he still wants that back too. The club have controlled the narrative on a new stadium, delivered nothing, on occasions have been downright disrespectful and reading between the lines putting a far higher standard of future takeover funding than they could ever dream of putting together themselves. I'd like to see more of what Shutes has to offer before I can get fully on board with his project and welcome the fact that we still have another potential option. The odds on favourite is that we'll still be in BP in ten year's time but my gut tells me that Shutes is a strong second to deliver a new stadium (and one that we can be rightly proud of) and our current board a poor last (with a Poundland shoe box effort)..

Lets not be quick to dismiss Shutes, let's be patient and see what else he has to say in the future and let's not believe everything our board has to say as the gospel truth as their words can only be written from their own personal viewpoint. The world hasn't ended with Covid, government coffers may dry up, but there's plenty of investors with deep pockets out there looking to get more bang for their buck post pandemic..

Unless it's covered by a NDA, then it absolutely is not his right. You claim to have been involved in lots of business, have you ever heard of somebody entering into negotiations like this without a NDA in place?

As for the takeover and them pursuing a new stadium, I think that's what everybody wants. But first questions need answering like how much is it going to cost and what is the financial implication for the club. That information was requested well over a year ago and hasn't been answered. Would you really be ok with the club being sold to people that are promising a new stadium that could cripple the club without any explanation of how they're going to fund it. The board clearly know how difficult funding a project is, let alone one of the scale of the docks proposal.

Also, Holloway has spoken very fondly of "squeaky" and the way the club is run, and has signed up to us as a project. I'm not so sure he'd be happy to work with a group of unknowns that might not agree with his vision for running a club.

Quoted from pen penfras

Unless it's covered by a NDA, then it absolutely is not his right. You claim to have been involved in lots of business, have you ever heard of somebody entering into negotiations like this without a NDA in place?

As for the takeover and them pursuing a new stadium, I think that's what everybody wants. But first questions need answering like how much is it going to cost and what is the financial implication for the club. That information was requested well over a year ago and hasn't been answered. Would you really be ok with the club being sold to people that are promising a new stadium that could cripple the club without any explanation of how they're going to fund it. The board clearly know how difficult funding a project is, let alone one of the scale of the docks proposal.

Also, Holloway has spoken very fondly of "squeaky" and the way the club is run, and has signed up to us as a project. I'm not so sure he'd be happy to work with a group of unknowns that might not agree with his vision for running a club.

A Non Disclosure Agreement works both ways and the club haven't been silent either have they? The club is now not up for sale so I guess the NDA no longer stands. Shutes was the one who was silent when it was in place and got castigated for not saying anything..

And I know people are asking questions, but give the man some time. Let's just embrace the fact that there's another IDEA on the table at this stage. Any of the questions that are being asked of him can't be answered by our current board at the minute and they've being incumbent for twenty years. Shutes has only had eighteen months or so and probably is waiting for the right time to answer every single one, when all of his ducks are in a row and deliver what we've all been waiting for. Let's just be patient and respectful for now. It will either be everything we could wish for or nothing at all. Time will tell..

Quoted from pen penfras

Unless it's covered by a NDA, then it absolutely is not his right. You claim to have been involved in lots of business, have you ever heard of somebody entering into negotiations like this without a NDA in place?

As for the takeover and them pursuing a new stadium, I think that's what everybody wants. But first questions need answering like how much is it going to cost and what is the financial implication for the club. That information was requested well over a year ago and hasn't been answered. Would you really be ok with the club being sold to people that are promising a new stadium that could cripple the club without any explanation of how they're going to fund it. The board clearly know how difficult funding a project is, let alone one of the scale of the docks proposal.

Also, Holloway has spoken very fondly of "squeaky" and the way the club is run, and has signed up to us as a project. I'm not so sure he'd be happy to work with a group of unknowns that might not agree with his vision for running a club.

Dear me,I think IH will have worked with more persons in this area than "squeaky" could have dreamt of.
Very closed thinking,no wonder progress has stalled for decades.

Why can't they all just be friends and more the merrier investors wise like Lincoln?

Or, I haven't thought this through and plenty chance for things to go awry, but a Stadium Management company led by Shutes seperate to GTFC? With a 100 year unbreakable contract so don't get shafted with extornate rent and homeless, we basically live there for free, have shares in income streams or summits.

I dunno just chucking it out there if there a safe and mutual lly be be ficus way to do something similar?

Shutes was repeatedly asked for updates, then given a deadline, not once did he contact the club to tell them what he was doing. Then he suddenly turns up out of blue in the Telegraph with his scheme and takeover plan. There are inaccuracies in his statement,namely that 100 houses will have to be demolished down Freeman Street. Why has he remained silent for so long? His original idea for a stadium on the docks were reportedly at the other end of the docks, near the slip way,from what I recall. Now it has moved to the other end.

I do not want to appear as though I want the stadium building down Freeman, in a perfect scenario I acually think the docks would be better, but I can't see it happening for various reasons, the main one being the land belongs to ABP, and they don't seem to be very keen on the idea. Time and costs are also a concern. Freedom is ready to go given the green light. We know Fenty and what he stands for, nobody has a clue about Shutes, and dissaping then suddenly reappearing like he has leaves more questions than answers

UTM

Quoted from Rik e B

Why can't they all just be friends and more the merrier investors wise like Lincoln?

Or, I haven't thought this through and plenty chance for things to go awry, but a Stadium Management company led by Shutes seperate to GTFC? With a 100 year unbreakable contract so don't get shafted with extornate rent and homeless, we basically live there for free, have shares in income streams or summits.

I dunno just chucking it out there if there a safe and mutual lly be be ficus way to do something similar?

You get the impression that Fenty would feel that his power would then be diluted. Unless of course potential investors don't want to work with the current board.

Yeah it's clear it Fenty's way or the highway, its his precious toy and he's reportedly impossible to work with.

Not wanting to get into Fenty bashing yet again it's just a massive shame really. Just imagine Mike Parker, Petit, Shutes etc etc even the Mullens if they just invested and kept their traps shut, what a powerhouse we could be or could have been.

It is a bit strange to come out with it now after such a dignified silence. And also that they going to carry on regardless with continuing their grand plan, that's just weird and a waste of resources unless they got a mega ace up their sleeve somewhere that makes them so member sure gonna become a reality.

But like others have alluded to, the world and the country suddenly gone to hell in a hand basket, we could be facing very bleak times in deep recession (God help us further instances or other grave happenings and economy collapses) so vast regeneration plans might have to be put on hold.

I wish Phillip Day would put a positive spin on it though, expressing hope positive things can happen going forward but obviously things may be more difficult not just simply 'it's the last thing on our minds' like an excuse found to kick the can down the road yet again.

With everything that’s going on and the financial repercussions to come I’d say we’re the furthest away we’ve been from a new stadium since we all donned conoco hats.

Quoted from mimma

Shutes was repeatedly asked for updates, then given a deadline, not once did he contact the club to tell them what he was doing. Then he suddenly turns up out of blue in the Telegraph with his scheme and takeover plan. There are inaccuracies in his statement,namely that 100 houses will have to be demolished down Freeman Street. Why has he remained silent for so long? His original idea for a stadium on the docks were reportedly at the other end of the docks, near the slip way,from what I recall. Now it has moved to the other end.

I do not want to appear as though I want the stadium building down Freeman, in a perfect scenario I acually think the docks would be better, but I can't see it happening for various reasons, the main one being the land belongs to ABP, and they don't seem to be very keen on the idea. Time and costs are also a concern. Freedom is ready to go given the green light. We know Fenty and what he stands for, nobody has a clue about Shutes, and dissaping then suddenly reappearing like he has leaves more questions than answers

UTM

"Shutes was repeatedly asked for updates, then given a deadline, not once did he contact the club to tell them what he was doing"

May I ask if you are a director or senior member of staff, do you know that for a fact?

"We know Fenty and what he stands for, nobody has a clue about Shutes"

Do we?

It's Great Coates, no it's not it's Peaks Parkway, no it's not it's Freeman Street. :-/

Quoted from arryarryarry

"Shutes was repeatedly asked for updates, then given a deadline, not once did he contact the club to tell them what he was doing"

May I ask if you are a director or senior member of staff, do you know that for a fact?

Hi harry

No I'm not a director. I have a season ticket and one £100 share in the club so I can say I own a very small part of it.

It seems to me that people are siding with Shutes just to have a go and regurgitate all the old anti- Fenty rhetoric that people want to go on and on about. Take all that away and what are we left with? A bloke that turns up wanting to buy the club, build a stadium on the docks. He then goes very quiet and ignores Fentys very public deadline. He then suddenly reappears in the Telegraph with another idea of buying the club and relocating without contacting the club first and as far as anyone is aware the owners of the land. Why is it so wrong to be sceptical of him? Please leave anti-Fenty views to one side and give a reasoned view.
"We know Fenty and what he stands for, nobody has a clue about Shutes"

Do we?

It's Great Coates, no it's not it's Peaks Parkway, no it's not it's Freeman Street. :-/

Quoted from Rik e B

Just imagine even the Mullens.

You are fcuking joking I hope!

May I ask if you are a director or senior member of staff, do you know that for a fact?

Hi harry

No I'm not a director. I have a season ticket and one £100 share in the club so I can say I own a very small part of it.

It seems to me that people are siding with Shutes just to have a go and regurgitate all the old anti- Fenty rhetoric that people want to go on and on about. Take all that away and what are we left with? A bloke that turns up wanting to buy the club, build a stadium on the docks. He then goes very quiet and ignores Fentys very public deadline. He then suddenly reappears in the Telegraph with another idea of buying the club and relocating without contacting the club first and as far as anyone is aware the owners of the land. Why is it so wrong to be sceptical of him? Please leave anti-Fenty views to one side and give a reasoned view.

I'm not siding with anyone. You are stating facts about Mr Shutes who I have no idea who he is or what he does. Does your £100 share give you access to what he has been doing?

You say what are we left with, let me tell you, we are no nearer to getting a new ground than we were 25 years ago, probably further away. So please accept my apologies for not jumping up and down waving my Fenty flag.

It's not a coincidence that this article appears 5 minutes after a new chairman is appointed. Come on, this guy is not seriously any kind of saviour or he'd have put his money where his mouth was months ago. He's a chancer with no actual, tangible backing yet. Whether that stays so remains to be seen, but for now, he's not got a chance of buying the club until he shows that he's got the cash.

Exactly Biccys. You've hit the nail on the head. It's just sad that every thread on relocation turns into a Fenty bashing session when all I am trying to do is be subjective on what looks to me to be dodgy del-boy dealing.

Quoted from Biccys

It's not a coincidence that this article appears 5 minutes after a new chairman is appointed.

Why? How has that changed anything?

Quoted from mimma

Exactly Biccys. You've hit the nail on the head. It's just sad that every thread on relocation turns into a Fenty bashing session when all I am trying to do is be subjective on what looks to me to be dodgy del-boy dealing.

On this subject, fans are just stating facts based upon twenty years history of JF's inability to to relocate the football club. It's not bashing him at all.

I've seen a lot more Shutes bashing on here without any one having full knowledge of his plans yet and that includes your "dodgy del boy dealing" description which seems to be a lot worse than anything written about JF on this thread.

It's been eighteen months. In all my lifetime of over fifty years, the football club and the council have let the NE Lincs public down over the regeneration of the area and achieved diddly squat in that time, yet people want to jump on Shute's back after so little time because of their sheep-like tendency to believe every single word the club or JF says. It's beyond pathetic.

If I were Shutes and read some of the comments on here I'd turn my attention elsewhere and tell those people to rot in the squalor of BP, the Marshes and run down docks and Freemo.

Narrow minded Nimbys who are fearful of change or anything or anybody new hold everyone else back who hope for progression..

Just try being polite, open-minded and patient for a while longer. Don't chase the guy away before he's even had chance to put together what is a huge regeneration project..

We are now going round in the same circle here. If I was to win the record amount in the lottery, then building a stadium on the docks would be my dream. But the reality is very different. Freeman Street on the other hand is ready to go and discussions are well advanced (by all accounts).

My main concern about Shutes is the way he has handled the whole situation from the beginning and throughout. Not keeping in touch, ignoring Fenty's very public ultimatum, then, when the club have started negotiating relocating to Freeman Street he suddenly shows up again via the Telegraph. It simply isn't the way to do business. If he is serious, then he should have made contact with Fenty and the club first. That in a nutshell is my main gripe. Nothing else.

Maybe his plans just didn’t fit Fenty’s arbitrary deadline? For all his talk about the club no-longer being for sale, if Shutes turned round tomorrow with say £5m in cash and a credible 10-year plan for the club then does anyone think he’d stick around?

Not sure where you’ve got the idea that any talks are “well advanced” either.

Quoted from ska face

Maybe his plans just didn’t fit Fenty’s arbitrary deadline? For all his talk about the club no-longer being for sale, if Shutes turned round tomorrow with say £5m in cash and a credible 10-year plan for the club then does anyone think he’d stick around?

Not sure where you’ve got the idea that any talks are “well advanced” either.

Well done, you've finally got the point!! That's the one thing that is missing in all Shutes says. CREDIBILITY.

Says who, you and Honest John Fenty?

I see you’ve missed the point though. The fact he’s not put anything on the table yet means all this talk about his plans not being credible are a bit premature, given that you’ve no idea what he’s proposing.

Quoted from ska face

Says who, you and Honest John Fenty?

I see you’ve missed the point though. The fact he’s not put anything on the table yet means all this talk about his plans not being credible are a bit premature, given that you’ve no idea what he’s proposing.

And what did John EVER put into a more solid plan?

I have done enough Fenty bashing in the past and I do not want to add anything else as I believe I have been unfair to the man.

I do like the way Phillip Day conducts himself .

I do like what I have seen that Tom Shutes has produced regarding the new stadium.

BUT

I do not believe anything will happen until I see where the money is coming from to build our new home and work has started on the building and we see a completion date.

Quoted from mimma

Well done, you've finally got the point!! That's the one thing that is missing in all Shutes says. CREDIBILITY.

Well I'm glad someone has finally got the point as you clearly haven't.

You keep on slagging off Mr Shutes for putting some points and possible plans forward yet still completely ignore the abject failure of John Fenty to move this club forward in terms of a new ground after more than 15 years as the major shareholder and chairman.

As I mentioned in a previous post that you conveniently ignored, we are no nearer a new ground now than we were 25 years ago when it was announced. Where's the CREDIBILITY in that?

And as for a lack of updates how many frigging times have many on here asked for updates from the club regarding a new ground and most of the time all we get is silence.

Quoted from Boris Johnson

wont be long before the knives are ot if he is......

It will be a big gammonble.

Quoted from mimma

Shutes was repeatedly asked for updates, then given a deadline, not once did he contact the club to tell them what he was doing. Then he suddenly turns up out of blue in the Telegraph with his scheme and takeover plan. There are inaccuracies in his statement,namely that 100 houses will have to be demolished down Freeman Street. Why has he remained silent for so long? His original idea for a stadium on the docks were reportedly at the other end of the docks, near the slip way,from what I recall. Now it has moved to the other end.

I do not want to appear as though I want the stadium building down Freeman, in a perfect scenario I acually think the docks would be better, but I can't see it happening for various reasons, the main one being the land belongs to ABP, and they don't seem to be very keen on the idea. Time and costs are also a concern. Freedom is ready to go given the green light. We know Fenty and what he stands for, nobody has a clue about Shutes, and dissaping then suddenly reappearing like he has leaves more questions than answers

UTM

Talk about not answering questions. I’ve asked you a question twice now and you’ve completely ignored it.

I’ll ask you a third time. On what previous occasions has Shutes gone public with something as Day claimed and as you repeated?

Given your lack of an answer it looks like you were just regurgitating guff fed to you by Day?

I remember when Philip Day said the new ground would probably have 4 stands with open corners as that would be cheapest. Hard not to caught up when somebody is creating powerful visions like that.

Back today with more plans for the town.

https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/news/grimsby-news/new-hope-grimsbys-derelict-ice-4117174

Quick question for those who are concerned re credibility - what did you make of Extreme Leisure?

Quoted from Rodley Mariner

Quick question for those who are concerned re credibility - what did you make of Extreme Leisure?

Wasn’t it Mr Day who seemed to think they were a credible business (they didn’t have anything like a track record) and would be delivering a large development project within a few days of that ill fated fans forum.

All we got was some dozy cow slagging off Town fans...and to think people think Shutes delivering a press release through a local newspaper is out of order.

That’s the one thing that confuses me in all this, why do Town fans think Shutes, who has zero connection with the club should reach out to them before he chooses to make a press release? Let’s face it, the club don’t bottom themselves, remember slagging off a bloke for doing his job publicly? Making statements without sharing them with the trust first, and so on.

Shutes does not need to seek permission from a gentleman’s club to release a statement.

People can keep their rose tinted GTFC specs, people can be dead against the club, that’s everyone’s entitlement but Shutes has nothing but dignity here and it still proves the clubs initial response, as ever was somewhat amateur and fictitious in places.

Simple fact is Fenty will not sell. On offer was obviously made to buy him out and have an overhaul, something he didn’t want so used the excuse of ‘proof of funds’...the fact Shutes has been financially supporting a large youth worker scheme that has recently been brought in to the area should help to prove, and anyway, his proof of funds would be proven during the due diligence phase...but Fenty didn’t agree with the deal and his yes people around him wouldn’t dare speak their mind.

So I look forward to Day et al walking round town with begging bowls, once again, assuming the fans to stump up some cash...like they haven’t stumped up enough. If the club hasn’t even a plan to figure out where the money is coming from then it doesn’t fill us with much confidence that they can assemble a plan to actually deliver on the largest local development for years.

But hey, let’s all crack on...UTM and all that jazz...

The question is not whether Day/Fenty was credible over Great Coates, Parkway or anything else, it is whether Day/Fenty is credible over Freemo. We have absolutely no idea do we? This is all still ethereal visions based on what they tell us. What is likely is that the council is involved at some level but again we do not know and we are not likely to know until some scheme is either agreed or disagreed. We really should know better by now than to take face value public statements as gospel.

The second question is whether Shutes was credible in his bid and over his plan. With great respect to Shutes, I could make a plan for a ground that looks maritime on the Docks and produce a CGI of the Ice House looking like a super whorehouse. There is nothing tangible in what he has put forward. Pretty? Yes. Maybe he has nothing or maybe he just wants to keep it close for now. Maybe he has another speculative development agenda altogether and is just using a new ground as publicity and bait. Who knows? He ain't gonna tell us that is he?

But the facts as we stand are that BP is the one and only ground we are likely to have for the foreseeable future .... if there is a future for football. The rest of this really is pure speculation but I suppose it makes a change from lockdowns.

Quoted from Rodley Mariner

I remember when Philip Day said the new ground would probably have 4 stands with open corners as that would be cheapest. Hard not to caught up when somebody is creating powerful visions like that.

What a vision. The idea that the current board have any credibility when it comes to them possibly delivering a stadium is laughable.

Shutes’ drawings are pretty spectacular. Seems strange that he would waste his time going public about his plans for the club if he could acquire it, if it wasn’t his intention to do so. Surely the board have questions to answer on why the deal with Shutes fell through, as he presents contrary information.
Why is it that we would automatically trust the board over him?

Can someone explain to me how the club/Shutes/anyone are going to find funding for the new stadium when we are set for the biggest recession since records began ?

As someone once said "not in my lifetime" :-/

Quoted from headingly_mariner

What a vision. The idea that the current board have any credibility when it comes to them possibly delivering a stadium is laughable.

Shutes’ drawings are pretty spectacular. Seems strange that he would waste his time going public about his plans for the club if he could acquire it, if it wasn’t his intention to do so. Surely the board have questions to answer on why the deal with Shutes fell through, as he presents contrary information.
Why is it that we would automatically trust the board over him?

The board has no obligation to answer anything except for its own amusement and, for all we know, this Shutes plan may be for real or just him amusing himself on the computer during lockdown. The board may have nil credibility but it has the one thing Shutes doesn’t - it has the club. That puts the board in the driving seat whether we like it or not and whether he likes it or not. The ball is always in his court to come up with an offer it can’t refuse.

I don’t trust the board automatically, or even manually, over Shute, but why should anyone trust Shute either? He has only drawn some pretty pictures and raised some possibilities. There is nothing else is there? Have I missed some massive cash pot somewhere? Does he have some multi-billionaire partner with a bottomless wallet and sand in his shoes?

What I don't understand is why Shute didn't provide the information to the Board when requested to do so. Like has been mentioned, he can come up with a press release, provide fancy drawings and wax lyrical about his vision but he still hasn't shown any real substance to any of this. If he was truly genuine about his desire to buy their club then all he had to do was provide what was required by the Board in the time frame that was set out.

It is good to have grand ideas and a vision. We certainly need hope.

Without any certainty over funding though, it remains just a vision.

I will not search for my red Conoco hat just yet.

Quoted from TheRonRaffertyFanClub

The board has no obligation to answer anything except for its own amusement and, for all we know, this Shutes plan may be for real or just him amusing himself on the computer during lockdown. The board may have nil credibility but it has the one thing Shutes doesn’t - it has the club. That puts the board in the driving seat whether we like it or not and whether he likes it or not. The ball is always in his court to come up with an offer it can’t refuse.

I don’t trust the board automatically, or even manually, over Shute, but why should anyone trust Shute either? He has only drawn some pretty pictures and raised some possibilities. There is nothing else is there? Have I missed some massive cash pot somewhere? Does he have some multi-billionaire partner with a bottomless wallet and sand in his shoes?

Agree with you on Shutes. And on the board.

Quoted from KingstonMariner

Talk about not answering questions. I’ve asked you a question twice now and you’ve completely ignored it.

I’ll ask you a third time. On what previous occasions has Shutes gone public with something as Day claimed and as you repeated?

Given your lack of an answer it looks like you were just regurgitating guff fed to you by Day?

Given his refusal to answer a straight question three times about a claim he made about Shutes going to the media, I’d assume Mimma was talking balderdash

Unless Shutes shows the ££££££ I wouldn’t let him anywhere near GTFC .

Quoted from louth_in_the_south

Unless Shutes shows the ££££££ I wouldn’t let him anywhere near GTFC .

And how much is the current board putting into GTFC and the funding of a new ground?

This to me gives just more evidence that he is riding on the wider Town deal with all his plans and schemes, which is great, that money for the Town needs spending and needs to be used for what it was intended to, regenerate and invigorate the town. If he can deliver on that then thank you. ... but..

I still see no evidence that he has the private money to buy the club, build the ground and finance a lower league football club into the future.

Quoted from KingstonMariner

Given his refusal to answer a straight question three times about a claim he made about Shutes going to the media, I’d assume Mimma was talking balderdash

I would say Mimma is training to be a politician :D

Quoted from Madeleymariner

I would say Mimma is training to be a politician :D

And I’m training to be Paxman

Quoted from KingstonMariner

Given his refusal to answer a straight question three times about a claim he made about Shutes going to the media, I’d assume Mimma was talking balderdash

We all know full well that Day was referring to the leaked story to the telegraph that Shutes was interested in taking over the club. Presumably to put pressure on the bid being accepted without providing any credible evidence for his vision. There is no proof that this was the case, but it certainly suggests the club weren't involved in leaking the story.

Quoted from pen penfras

We all know full well that Day was referring to the leaked story to the telegraph that Shutes was interested in taking over the club. Presumably to put pressure on the bid being accepted without providing any credible evidence for his vision. There is no proof that this was the case, but it certainly suggests the club weren't involved in leaking the story.

Once again no evidence at all with what you have stated.
Please provide it if you have it available?

The current board have achieved the square root of nothing during their tenure, so the Shutes proposals are just more of the same at the moment. No more or less likely to happen than previous proposals. Can't see why he would be putting this in the press though without any foundation....

Quoted from pen penfras

We all know full well that Day was referring to the leaked story to the telegraph that Shutes was interested in taking over the club. Presumably to put pressure on the bid being accepted without providing any credible evidence for his vision. There is no proof that this was the case, but it certainly suggests the club weren't involved in leaking the story.

Absolute poppycock. (a) we don’t all know; (b) the supposed motive is purely conjecture; (c) it only suggests the club weren’t involved if you believe it was Shutes.

It could just as easily been someone connected with someone at the club for their own motives. There were people on this board who claim to have known about the bid.

Unless Day can come forward with any evidence that Shutes had gone to the media before, I’d suggest he made a big mistake trying to undermine someone else’s credibility by making such a claim. Anyone else repeating that is just spouting tittle tattle to support the regime.

Quoted from ginnywings

The current board have achieved the square root of nothing during their tenure, so the Shutes proposals are just more of the same at the moment. No more or less likely to happen than previous proposals. Can't see why he would be putting this in the press though without any foundation....

That's very harsh of you Ginny, remember they've saved us from being like Bury..

Shutes has got to back up his proposals of course and I hope he does because it will be the only way we get a new stadium imho. What is interesting is looking at the website of the architects he has used for the images of the stadium, hotel and residential complex at Garth Lane and also the Icehouse.

https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/news/grimsby-news/new-hope-grimsbys-derelict-ice-4117174

http://waughthistleton.com/projects/

Associating with a company like this gives me a lot more confidence in that individual than a group who put their faith in Extreme Leisure for a number of years. Pretty pictures at the minute, but let's hope there's more substance to come in the future..

Quoted from Bigdog

That's very harsh of you Ginny, remember they've saved us from being like Bury..

Shutes has got to back up his proposals of course and I hope he does because it will be the only way we get a new stadium imho. What is interesting is looking at the website of the architects he has used for the images of the stadium, hotel and residential complex at Garth Lane and also the Icehouse.

http://waughthistleton.com/projects/

Associating with a company like this gives me a lot more confidence in that individual than a group who put their faith in Extreme Leisure for a number of years. Pretty pictures at the minute, but let's hope there's more substance to come in the future..

I agree, and i'm not dismissing Shutes out of hand. In fact i feel he is more likely to achieve it than the current board and the local council are, with no disrespect to either of those two bodies. I think Shutes has better contacts and a less parochial approach, but like many, I'm now at the stage of believing it when it happens.

Quoted from headingly_mariner

What a vision. The idea that the current board have any credibility when it comes to them possibly delivering a stadium is laughable.

Shutes’ drawings are pretty spectacular. Seems strange that he would waste his time going public about his plans for the club if he could acquire it, if it wasn’t his intention to do so. Surely the board have questions to answer on why the deal with Shutes fell through, as he presents contrary information.
Why is it that we would automatically trust the board over him?

They are no more impressive than the vision for Freeman Street. Or by spectacular do you mean there is an upper tier? You don't need to see the Dock Tower from inside the stadium.

I have said it before and I'll say it again: it is madness to go to the trouble and expense of filling in the dock when there is a brownfield site just a few hundred metres away.

Four separate stands would be okay for atmosphere as long as they are fully screened at the ends. Four stands of equal height, with the side stands covering the entire length of the pitch, and toilets with room for more than six people, would be a vast improvement on Blundell Park.

"Fan" Views from the ever reliable GT.

As a life-long Grimsby Town fan I believe the current board are acting in the best interests of the club and the community it represents. Whilst the proposals by Tom Shutes and his colleagues are very exciting and would really bring a sense of pride to the area, it appears there is not enough meat on the bones in terms of detail. The current board of directors have a duty to ensure the long term viability of the club. It would appear, on the face of it, that they have requested information that is relevant and needed before any potential takeover can take the place. Whilst I would love to see Mr Shutes’ plans come to fruition, the devil is in the detail. Until that detail is available I believe the board are doing the right thing by the business, fans, players and the wider community by not proceeding further without assurance the club is safe for future generations - Matthew Jason Brown

If he isn't coming forward with all the information that you want, to me that seems he is hiding something and has another agenda and his plans should not go ahead - Wayne Tucker

I fully back the board. If they have asked for basic information from Mr Shutes and it has not been forthcoming then they have to ask why? We have to be sure that if and when the club is passed on that it is done so to a worthy and financially sound person who has only the best of intentions for GTFC and its fans. - Peter Grant

Freeman Street is the key to unlocking Grimsby. The Docks would be a flood risk, so why put a stadium there? Tom Shutes is living in dream land if he thinks that will be a viable proposal. I fully support the board. - Holly James
Any new stadium is too big at 14,000, with at best for most games only 4,000 to 5,000. How can you create an atmosphere? It should be on Freeman Street with at most 10,000 to 12,000 capacity - James Woodhouse

  If the guy is found to be genuine then snap his hand off, because when the dust has settled after this pandemic there is no way any money is coming our way and let's face it, funding of a new stadium will be way down the to-do list of any responsible authority, take his money or be prepared to see your days out at the rapidly degenerating BP - Richard Jones

I think it's a brilliant idea to go forward with Grimsby Town. Over the years, we have heard this and that and nothing gets done. Let's do something positive for a change - Nigel Judge

Obviously not going to happen! I hope Shutes gets the stadium built on the docks, but think Freeman Street will win. With Ollie in charge it really doesn't matter. UTMM!! -  Bill Brown

As much as I, and am sure many fans would love to see that stadium on the docks, as Mr Day quite rightly points out, it’s not at the top of the club’s priorities right now. I have faith in Mr Day as chairman with the current board, manager, players and staff and will be very optimistic for looking forward when football starts again. UTM -  Rob Parkinson

Nice ideas for new stadium. But why now nearly a year on. He's not come up with the financial plan. So thank you, but I prefer Fenty. He brought a great manager in Ollie, who got the fans and community behind him. So Shutes you had your chance last year, you blew it, bye. Let's get on with getting promotion next season and moving to Freeman street. UTM - David Storr

  Shutes - a chancer who sounds like the dreamers and tyre kickers who have led to the decline of great old clubs in the past with no long-term survival plan, just the here and now. How many clubs built a new ground only to have no back-up if it doesn't mean instant success, leading to administration or worse. Things are looking up at the moment, the boat needs to keep steady. - Tony Inch

If Mr Shutes really wants Town relocated then he has to give the board what they want and put his money down, Town can’t carry on with ifs and buts, we need this new ground, we have the manager, lets go forward with Mr Shutes - Ray Hutton

If it’s ‘oven ready’ then get it done! The club is on an upward curve with the right manager, some potential in the squad and incredible support. This would be a risk but, in reality, if you don’t break your comfort zone then you don’t move forward. No one has ever achieved anything without taking a risk! The area needs this regeneration and the docks have always been my preferred home for the club. The club is built around fish; Harry the haddock, the mighty mariner, our badge.....our history should be in our future. - Andy S

Has it ever been advised by the board how much was spent with Extreme Leisure or didn't it cost the club anything?

Quoted from White_shorts

They are no more impressive than the vision for Freeman Street. Or by spectacular do you mean there is an upper tier? You don't need to see the Dock Tower from inside the stadium.

I have said it before and I'll say it again: it is madness to go to the trouble and expense of filling in the dock when there is a brownfield site just a few hundred metres away.

Four separate stands would be okay for atmosphere as long as they are fully screened at the ends. Four stands of equal height, with the side stands covering the entire length of the pitch, and toilets with room for more than six people, would be a vast improvement on Blundell Park.

Four separate stands would be shite and a total insult. It must have connected and closed corners.

Vision for the icehouse is impressive and I believe that both drawings at the Dock are related to actual drawn plans, whereas the Freemo one is just a computer mock up.

Quoted from headingly_mariner

Four separate stands would be shite and a total insult. It must have connected and closed corners.

Vision for the icehouse is impressive and I believe that both drawings at the Dock are related to actual drawn plans, whereas the Freemo one is just a computer mock up.

When it comes to a new ground the past 25 years have been a complete mock up

Quoted from White_shorts

They are no more impressive than the vision for Freeman Street. Or by spectacular do you mean there is an upper tier? You don't need to see the Dock Tower from inside the stadium.

I have said it before and I'll say it again: it is madness to go to the trouble and expense of filling in the dock when there is a brownfield site just a few hundred metres away.

Four separate stands would be okay for atmosphere as long as they are fully screened at the ends. Four stands of equal height, with the side stands covering the entire length of the pitch, and toilets with room for more than six people, would be a vast improvement on Blundell Park.

If we ever move it needs to be visionary. To have a new stadium which is the cheapest available should be avoided at all costs.

Shutes knows that a move is more than an upgrade on toilet facilities (welcome though that would be) but a chance to catapult the club forward and the chance to make the football world to take us seriously, as well as giving the town something to be proud of.

I have said it many times but I would not wish to move whilst the current board are in situ. None of them have the contacts, the drive or ambition to see beyond the cheap option, as proved by their running of the club up to this point.

We need Shutes and the people that back him; if it doesn't happen then we need someone like him in the future.

Countless clubs of our current stature have gone on to better things by looking past their immediate problems.

The missing ingredient is money, but it's hard to imagine Shutes has done this without having the people who can raise the finance but I wish he would get on with it once the current crisis is over.

Hello again.

Firstly, I decided to have a rest from all this because of all the point scoring and people putting their own personal agenda before any sensible arguments and had a pleasant time with my friend Timothy Taylor.

Now to KingstonMariners question. I was going on my own personal recollection of events. I have better things to do with my time than trawling through press reports just to prove a point to you.

Shutes has now given further details of his plan, again through the Telegraph. I actually bought a copy for the first time in years! I must admit that they are very impressive ,but are they viable here in Grimsby? For example, do we need another theatre, or will the Auditorium be pulled down? My personal vision is for the Fishing Heritage Centre to be relocated there along with the Doughty Collection. Just imagine having the restored Ross Tiger next to the new stadium. Of course no of this means diddlysquat if ABP aren't on board. Has Shutes been in contact with them to ask of the availability of their land? They must be perplexed with what is being proposed on land that they own!

To be fair to the board, they gave Shutes a deadline. He did not even have the courtesy of replying and updating them. They had no other choice but to go it alone and persue Freeman Street. What other option did they have? I can't wait for tomorrow's episode in the Telegraph to get another snippet of the new stadium saga. Well at least it livened up this dreaded lockdown.

Stay safe follow Mariners

Maybe the board calling time on Shutes has actually made him up his game and is now forcing him to show his hand a bit more in order to be considered a serious bidder? Very cunning of them.

Either way up i still dont see any new ground hosting games before 2030.

With Ollie buying shares he will have a say now, or is his holding not big enough?

Quoted from mimma

Hello again.

Firstly, I decided to have a rest from all this because of all the point scoring and people putting their own personal agenda before any sensible arguments and had a pleasant time with my friend Timothy Taylor.

Now to KingstonMariners question. I was going on my own personal recollection of events. I have better things to do with my time than trawling through press reports just to prove a point to you.

Shutes has now given further details of his plan, again through the Telegraph. I actually bought a copy for the first time in years! I must admit that they are very impressive ,but are they viable here in Grimsby? For example, do we need another theatre, or will the Auditorium be pulled down? My personal vision is for the Fishing Heritage Centre to be relocated there along with the Doughty Collection. Just imagine having the restored Ross Tiger next to the new stadium. Of course no of this means diddlysquat if ABP aren't on board. Has Shutes been in contact with them to ask of the availability of their land? They must be perplexed with what is being proposed on land that they own!

To be fair to the board, they gave Shutes a deadline. He did not even have the courtesy of replying and updating them. They had no other choice but to go it alone and persue Freeman Street. What other option did they have? I can't wait for tomorrow's episode in the Telegraph to get another snippet of the new stadium saga. Well at least it livened up this dreaded lockdown.

Stay safe follow Mariners

I would have thought he'd have talked to ABP before he spent his money on a set of plans.

Quoted from mimma

Hello again.

Firstly, I decided to have a rest from all this because of all the point scoring and people putting their own personal agenda before any sensible arguments and had a pleasant time with my friend Timothy Taylor.

Now to KingstonMariners question. I was going on my own personal recollection of events. I have better things to do with my time than trawling through press reports just to prove a point to you.

Shutes has now given further details of his plan, again through the Telegraph. I actually bought a copy for the first time in years! I must admit that they are very impressive ,but are they viable here in Grimsby? For example, do we need another theatre, or will the Auditorium be pulled down? My personal vision is for the Fishing Heritage Centre to be relocated there along with the Doughty Collection. Just imagine having the restored Ross Tiger next to the new stadium. Of course no of this means diddlysquat if ABP aren't on board. Has Shutes been in contact with them to ask of the availability of their land? They must be perplexed with what is being proposed on land that they own!

To be fair to the board, they gave Shutes a deadline. He did not even have the courtesy of replying and updating them. They had no other choice but to go it alone and persue Freeman Street. What other option did they have? I can't wait for tomorrow's episode in the Telegraph to get another snippet of the new stadium saga. Well at least it livened up this dreaded lockdown.

Stay safe follow Mariners

You still fail to offer a solution to where the current board are going to fund a new stadium.

Hello again Harry

I have said on an earlier thread that the board will not have gone to all this trouble if they don't have a financial plan in place.

grants are available from various sources, and they can get a loan or mortgage for the rest.They would have thought it through before committing themselves. They will have a plan!!

Freeman Street has the backing of the land owners, the council (for a change) and the area itself is ready to go. Shute's plans doesn't have any of these. The biggest problem as I see it, is getting the land. It is a prime dockside site, and will be priced as such. Throughout all the dockside saga ABP have remained steadfastly silent on the subject, giving the impression that they are not keen on the idea.

As a matter of interest, where does the latest Shutes plan say anything about filling in any dock? This was mentioned during the first plan he put forward, but that was at the other end of the docks to his latest release.Filling in any dock would be a huge undertaking on its own, and very expensive on top of buying the land.

Quoted from mimma

Hello again Harry

I have said on an earlier thread that the board will not have gone to all this trouble if they don't have a financial plan in place.

grants are available from various sources, and they can get a loan or mortgage for the rest.They would have thought it through before committing themselves. They will have a plan!!

Freeman Street has the backing of the land owners, the council (for a change) and the area itself is ready to go. Shute's plans doesn't have any of these. The biggest problem as I see it, is getting the land. It is a prime dockside site, and will be priced as such. Throughout all the dockside saga ABP have remained steadfastly silent on the subject, giving the impression that they are not keen on the idea.

As a matter of interest, where does the latest Shutes plan say anything about filling in any dock? This was mentioned during the first plan he put forward, but that was at the other end of the docks to his latest release.Filling in any dock would be a huge undertaking on its own, and very expensive on top of buying the land.

So you slag Shutes off for not giving details of a financial plan but support the current regime who also haven't given any details of a financial plan?

Quoted from arryarryarry

So you slag Shutes off for not giving details of a financial plan but support the current regime who also haven't given any details of a financial plan?

Unlike Shutes I don't think the current regime have a financial plan and just like Shutes I don't think they have the money either but at least they don't claim to be planning to revive the Ice House and half of the town aswell

Quoted from moosey_club

Either way up i still dont see any new ground hosting games before 2030.

Don't worry mate, we'll still be in the grip if Covid19 by then ;)

Quoted from mimma

Hello again Harry

I have said on an earlier thread that the board will not have gone to all this trouble if they don't have a financial plan in place.

grants are available from various sources, and they can get a loan or mortgage for the rest.They would have thought it through before committing themselves. They will have a plan!! A massive leap of faith here. Philip Day had a blank piece of paper and was asking if anyone had a spare 20 mill only in February. So no plan in place and since then PD has stated that a new stadium is way down the list of current priorities.

Freeman Street has the backing of the land owners, Question mark who owns the land needed as stated by JF himself the council (for a change) and the area itself is ready to go.Maybe so, but what about funding? Shute's plans doesn't have any of these. That's just guesswork without any knowledge on your part at all. He's been involved with the New Town Deal from the start [/i] The biggest problem as I see it, is getting the land. It is a prime dockside site, and will be priced as such. Throughout all the dockside saga ABP have remained steadfastly silent on the subject, giving the impression that they are not keen on the idea. [i]Again a completely unfounded emotional assessment speaking on ABP's behalf. Silence is not always a negative and if I was a betting man, I would say through the Town Deal that Shutes has had more than one or two meetings with ABP.

As a matter of interest, where does the latest Shutes plan say anything about filling in any dock? This was mentioned during the first plan he put forward, but that was at the other end of the docks to his latest release.Filling in any dock would be a huge undertaking on its own, and very expensive on top of buying the land. Wasn't it all guesswork and rumour the fish dock location was based upon? Shutes hasn't released anything before this week to the press.

You give the board all the unfounded credit in the world and dismiss Shutes without any evidence. The truth is that the board haven't got a pot to pisss in and Shutes has released some pretty pictures. I'm not writing anyone off and I'm not getting excited either. A little bit of hope maybe but that's the limit of my expectations. I just think you need to give Shutes a little more respect at this moment in time and probably have a little less blind faith in the GTFC board when it comes to stadium relocation...

The Shutes plans are a load of very pretty cobblers, just the same as all the other bright ideas about “regenerating” the docks area. The cost would be astronomical and the outcome would be laughable. It would be a 7 day wonder than a ghost town. Who is going to travel to the end of the world to sit in a freezing cold wind round a marina or make a round trip of miles to visit a converted ice house?

The football part looks OK but the Shutes notion has the same basic flaw as Great Coates and the Parkway - Building the ground depends on conning persuading some rich investors that the dock area is a good investment. It isn’t. If it was so viable then ABP would have done it years ago.

No doubt somebody will get on about Hull but do some checking beforehand about the footfall around their dock area and retail.

A new ground will have to stand on its own feet and not depend on some fly by night housing or retail or culture scheme. It can be connected but building the right stadium must not be dependent which is what Shutes proposes and what was wrong with both Great Coates and Parkway.

I’ve already said before I don’t trust the board to do the goods but I don’t trust Shutes or any such scheme as this either. We forget too easily the euphoria there was on here about Parkway and the nonsensical plans of that fairytale company. A lot of us took a lot of flak at the time for simply pointing out that the scheme was not fit for purpose for the club and was not what the town needed. Any objector was accused of Nimbyism, not wanting the best for the club but the objectors DID want the best and were right. The same applies here. It would take a lot more than some pretty CGI to convince me that this scheme could be any more than a half-arsed plan designed as a profit maker for some developer.

That is not to say that Freemo is as yet any better or that the board have it right, I think they have a better chance of getting it right ...... whether they take it or not is quite another matter!

Id have a bit more time in Shoots, if Id actually seen him at a game.

Does anyone know if he is actually a 'proper fan', you know the one you can count on for an inflatable in a big game?

Quoted from Boris Johnson

Id have a bit more time in Shoots, if Id actually seen him at a game.

Does anyone know if he is actually a 'proper fan', you know the one you can count on for an inflatable in a big game?

He's not a football fan,And he doesn't disguise the fact.he's interested in the redevelopment of Gy and it just happens that GTFC is a big part of that.
Ps I was told that there had been some changes at the top of ABP and they were interested in making use of their land rather than just sitting on it

If Shutes bought the club would be attend any games or will be remain living in London ?

We had six years in non league and I am certain Fenty did not miss a game .

Long term Ollie is our man with a will and a vision for the future so I am happy to see our present board carry on whenever that might be.

Quoted from forza ivano

He's not a football fan,And he doesn't disguise the fact.he's interested in the redevelopment of Gy and it just happens that GTFC is a big part of that.
Ps I was told that there had been some changes at the top of ABP and they were interested in making use of their land rather than just sitting on it

not even a football fan? ah well, I dont suppose its a deal breaker.

Quoted from TheRonRaffertyFanClub

The Shutes plans are a load of very pretty cobblers, just the same as all the other bright ideas about “regenerating” the docks area. The cost would be astronomical and the outcome would be laughable. It would be a 7 day wonder than a ghost town. Who is going to travel to the end of the world to sit in a freezing cold wind round a marina or make a round trip of miles to visit a converted ice house?

The football part looks OK but the Shutes notion has the same basic flaw as Great Coates and the Parkway - Building the ground depends on conning persuading some rich investors that the dock area is a good investment. It isn’t. If it was so viable then ABP would have done it years ago.

No doubt somebody will get on about Hull but do some checking beforehand about the footfall around their dock area and retail.

A new ground will have to stand on its own feet and not depend on some fly by night housing or retail or culture scheme. It can be connected but building the right stadium must not be dependent which is what Shutes proposes and what was wrong with both Great Coates and Parkway.

I’ve already said before I don’t trust the board to do the goods but I don’t trust Shutes or any such scheme as this either. We forget too easily the euphoria there was on here about Parkway and the nonsensical plans of that fairytale company. A lot of us took a lot of flak at the time for simply pointing out that the scheme was not fit for purpose for the club and was not what the town needed. Any objector was accused of Nimbyism, not wanting the best for the club but the objectors DID want the best and were right. The same applies here. It would take a lot more than some pretty CGI to convince me that this scheme could be any more than a half-arsed plan designed as a profit maker for some developer.

That is not to say that Freemo is as yet any better or that the board have it right, I think they have a better chance of getting it right ...... whether they take it or not is quite another matter!

Hasn't every plan since 1995 been pretty cobblers?

Quoted from Ipswin

Unlike Shutes I don't think the current regime have a financial plan and just like Shutes I don't think they have the money either but at least they don't claim to be planning to revive the Ice House and half of the town aswell

Maybe not half the town but wasn't Peaks Parkway going to provide hundreds of houses, some community pitches, a supermarket?

Shutes net worth is Minus £4 million . End of .

Quoted from barrattstandman

Shutes net worth is Minus £4 million . End of .

Perhaps he is the catalyst for the project not the actual money man.

Fenty has got some money but has done nothing with it.

Nothing would surprise me anymore but it is inconceivable that investors are not part of the overall plans that he has outlined, otherwise why go to the trouble?

As RRFC says neither plan, from the board or Shutes stack up yet. The boards plan involves a cheap as chips option predicated on a move being the answer to all the clubs ills but with no finance in sight. Shutes' plan involves a much greater vision for the club and the town but again where is the money, and do the investors I hope for actually exist?

As the advert on the telly says - "I don't know. Nobody knows!"

Quoted from arryarryarry

Maybe not half the town but wasn't Peaks Parkway going to provide hundreds of houses, some community pitches, a supermarket?

Right enough 'arry. Maybe the board learned a lesson there eh? I hope so.

Quoted from mimma

Hello again.

Firstly, I decided to have a rest from all this because of all the point scoring and people putting their own personal agenda before any sensible arguments and had a pleasant time with my friend Timothy Taylor.

Now to KingstonMariners question. I was going on my own personal recollection of events. I have better things to do with my time than trawling through press reports just to prove a point to you.
Stay safe follow Mariners

What you mean Mimma is that your comment (repeating what Day said) is a load of tripe that you cannot back up. Not even a ‘remember the time when’ or a ‘last Summer there was that thing in the GT’. Zilch!

You shouldn’t need to spend a long time trawling through press reports if you were remembering actual events.

Hello Kingston

Since Kingston is in London, may I ask if you have any connection with Shutes or his associates?

I thought I answered your (persistent) question, when I said that it was my perception, and I cannot prove a perception. Shutes does not do interviews, videos or any other communication other than to release carefully worded articles in the Telegraph, which is where my perception comes from. Even when Fenty was asked, all he could say was he was "getting his ducks in line". Maybe he should do a "locked down, but not out" podcast! Put simply he is very mysterious which leaves us guessing, His vision looks fantastic, but is it a bit too bold for Grimsby docks? "If it looks to good to be true...." Nobody knows why he never stayed in contact with the club, and ignored the deadline. A lot on here would like to hear his explanation, but I doubt we ever will.

As for Fenty and the board, I haven't always agreed with what they have done, like everyone on here, but the one thing you cannot deny is that the club is well run, and financially stable. The only real debt we have is Fenty's benign loan, which by football standards isn't that great, (unlike Scunny for example!). So when it comes to financing a new stadium, I trust Fenty not to put the club in the financial mire, or walk away and leave it in the hands of a "Carl or Owen Oyston" type character.Fenty would have had business loans to finance his fish business, so will know his way round.them. I agree that the peakes parkway and Extreme Leisure was a disaster, but Great Coates was down to an inept council, the club couldn't have done much more IMHO.

I must admit that Shutes plans look fantastic, and would love to see it come to fruition in my lifetime, (I in my late 60s), but the reality is it just looks to grand for Grimsby, in London, no problem,

One final point, when the proposed takeover was first announced, Fenty said that the price (for the takeover) had been agreed, so why did it not go ahead? My guess, (and that's all it is Kingston) is that Shutes couldn't come up with the money.

Stay safe fellow Mariners and goodnight.

Quoted from mimma

Hello Kingston

Since Kingston is in London, may I ask if you have any connection with Shutes or his associates?

I thought I answered your (persistent) question, when I said that it was my perception, and I cannot prove a perception. Shutes does not do interviews, videos or any other communication other than to release carefully worded articles in the Telegraph, which is where my perception comes from. Even when Fenty was asked, all he could say was he was "getting his ducks in line". Maybe he should do a "locked down, but not out" podcast! Put simply he is very mysterious which leaves us guessing, His vision looks fantastic, but is it a bit too bold for Grimsby docks? "If it looks to good to be true...." Nobody knows why he never stayed in contact with the club, and ignored the deadline. A lot on here would like to hear his explanation, but I doubt we ever will.

As for Fenty and the board, I haven't always agreed with what they have done, like everyone on here, but the one thing you cannot deny is that the club is well run, and financially stable. The only real debt we have is Fenty's benign loan, which by football standards isn't that great, (unlike Scunny for example!). So when it comes to financing a new stadium, I trust Fenty not to put the club in the financial mire, or walk away and leave it in the hands of a "Carl or Owen Oyston" type character.Fenty would have had business loans to finance his fish business, so will know his way round.them. I agree that the peakes parkway and Extreme Leisure was a disaster, but Great Coates was down to an inept council, the club couldn't have done much more IMHO.

I must admit that Shutes plans look fantastic, and would love to see it come to fruition in my lifetime, (I in my late 60s), but the reality is it just looks to grand for Grimsby, in London, no problem,

One final point, when the proposed takeover was first announced, Fenty said that the price (for the takeover) had been agreed, so why did it not go ahead? My guess, (and that's all it is Kingston) is that Shutes couldn't come up with the money.

Stay safe fellow Mariners and goodnight.

Absolutely nothing to do with the man. I’d never even heard of him until the rumours of the takeover were reported on this board. I have no particular wish to see Shutes takeover the club. I know next to nothing about him or where the money is coming from. I would be dead against the Trust selling up its shares to ANYONE.

You know London is a big city, so strange as it might seem, I don’t know everybody. Try to imagine if you can, that for every person in Grimsby, there’s 100 times that many in London. I’d imagine that you don’t know everyone in GY.

As for you having an impression, that’s fair enough. But you’ve just admitted it’s a completely baseless one. You’d have been much better off saying ‘my bad, I got it wrong’.

As for Fenty’s stewardship. It’s been disastrous. We started to get a grip financially when the Trust got on the board.

PS Fenty continued to pursue the Great Coates option long after it was a dead duck and the club had to write off £££££.

He’s a serial pursuer of pipe dreams. It wouldn’t surprise me if Freeman Street went the same way. Then he’ll jump on the docks plan when it becomes clear that it too is a non-starter.

Hi Kingston. Since you live in London I wondered if you'd met my friend from school called Tony?

Quoted from Rodley Mariner

Hi Kingston. Since you live in London I wondered if you'd met my friend from school called Tony?

I worked with a Tony once in Glasgow, is that the same bloke ?

Quoted from moosey_club

I worked with a Tony once in Glasgow, is that the same bloke ?

No your talking about the Tony who wears a woman's skirt, a red wig, a kitchen knife down his sock and struts about blowing up an octopuses bottom

Is that the Tony who has a weapon of mass destruction??

Quoted from mimma

Hello Kingston

Since Kingston is in London, may I ask if you have any connection with Shutes or his associates?

I thought I answered your (persistent) question, when I said that it was my perception, and I cannot prove a perception. Shutes does not do interviews, videos or any other communication other than to release carefully worded articles in the Telegraph, which is where my perception comes from. Even when Fenty was asked, all he could say was he was "getting his ducks in line". Maybe he should do a "locked down, but not out" podcast! Put simply he is very mysterious which leaves us guessing, His vision looks fantastic, but is it a bit too bold for Grimsby docks? "If it looks to good to be true...." Nobody knows why he never stayed in contact with the club, and ignored the deadline. A lot on here would like to hear his explanation, but I doubt we ever will.

As for Fenty and the board, I haven't always agreed with what they have done, like everyone on here, but the one thing you cannot deny is that the club is well run, and financially stable. The only real debt we have is Fenty's benign loan, which by football standards isn't that great, (unlike Scunny for example!). So when it comes to financing a new stadium, I trust Fenty not to put the club in the financial mire, or walk away and leave it in the hands of a "Carl or Owen Oyston" type character.Fenty would have had business loans to finance his fish business, so will know his way round.them. I agree that the peakes parkway and Extreme Leisure was a disaster, but Great Coates was down to an inept council, the club couldn't have done much more IMHO.

I must admit that Shutes plans look fantastic, and would love to see it come to fruition in my lifetime, (I in my late 60s), but the reality is it just looks to grand for Grimsby, in London, no problem,

One final point, when the proposed takeover was first announced, Fenty said that the price (for the takeover) had been agreed, so why did it not go ahead? My guess, (and that's all it is Kingston) is that Shutes couldn't come up with the money.

Stay safe fellow Mariners and goodnight.

He's actually Jamaican..... ;)

Quoted from Garth

No your talking about the Tony who wears a woman's skirt, a red wig, a kitchen knife down his sock and struts about blowing up an octopuses bottom

No, no , no this Tony had a squid.

Quoted from jock dock tower

He's actually Jamaican..... ;)

Wha gwaan Jock! I’m in Hull 😂

Strangely enough I do know a bloke called Tom in this area, who’s got family links to Grimsby but was born elsewhere. Also he’s known to local media mogul Sutton Mariner. Maybe it’s him!!

* though he is actually a Town fan so that probably rules him out. Well that and the fact Shutes has got hair.

Quoted from scrumble

Looking at the design I'd guess the stands would be all the same height, but the taller bit in the drawing is showing the possibility of extending capacity.

The only justification for building an upper tier would be if we gained promotion to the Premier League. I don't want Town to be like Hull, playing in a half-empty stadium. They were getting crowds of 10k before the lockdown.

Quoted from White_shorts

The only justification for building an upper tier would be if we gained promotion to the Premier League. I don't want Town to be like Hull, playing in a half-empty stadium. They were getting crowds of 10k before the lockdown.

Have you been to BP recently?

Bobby, I like to think there would be 10,000 season ticket holders in a new stadium, for the first year novelty at least.

Philip Day has mentioned a 14k capacity, which is about right: two 4k side stands and 3k behind each goal. The big city teams in the Championship would easily fill the away end.

Quoted from headingly_mariner

Four separate stands would be shite and a total insult. It must have connected and closed corners.

Vision for the icehouse is impressive and I believe that both drawings at the Dock are related to actual drawn plans, whereas the Freemo one is just a computer mock up.

Headingly_mariner, please explain why a new stadium must have connected and closed corners.

Quoted from White_shorts

Headingly_mariner, please explain why a new stadium must have connected and closed corners.

Acoustics for me is one factor I’d think

Preston doesn't have corners, but because the stands meet, and the ends are covered it has that enclosed feel to it. It's only when there are gaps between each stand,and the ends are not covered, like Chesterfield for example, that it looses that enclosed feeling.

Ffs please stop bringing this thread up the man is wasting time and just mudding the water

Quoted from White_shorts

Headingly_mariner, please explain why a new stadium must have connected and closed corners.

Because it’s amateur to aspire to anything else.
Open corners allowing the atmosphere to leak out of 4 separate stands is not much of a vision.

Any new football ground should be looking at maximising and enriching the experience of those who go through the gate.
It’s not about doing it as cheap as possible and just getting it built, what’s the point in that?

It’s going to be our home for hopefully a 100+ years, make it something to be proud of.

Quoted from White_shorts

Headingly_mariner, please explain why a new stadium must have connected and closed corners.

Have you been to Colchester's new ground?

Quoted from Ipswin

Have you been to Colchester's new ground?

Agreed. Both Colchester and Shrewsbury are perfect examples of what I wouldn't want from a new ground. Soulless and devoid of atmosphere.

Quoted from Ipswin

Have you been to Colchester's new ground?

Yes, but that's more to do with two of the stands always being closed. Ipswich, Millwall and QPR all work perfectly well without fillied in corners.

Quoted from Welwynmariner

Yes, but that's more to do with two of the stands always being closed. Ipswich, Millwall and QPR all work perfectly well without fillied in corners.

QPR? If I'm not mistaken it has filled in corners!

Quoted from Ipswin

Have you been to Colchester's new ground?

I’d say Oxford is a better example!

For now I’d trade off open corners for....

- An unobstructed view
- Decent toilets
- Access to a pre match pint in a kind if fan zone
- Being able to get refreshments without missing minutes 46 to 51
- A decent ticketing system
- A pitch with sprinklers and a heating system
- A club shop where we’d be able to swing a cat
- Controlled secure parking (wish list)
- Decent facilitates for players, officials & staff
- Tte opportunity for the club to generate income from the facility

If we have to we can add the corners later

Quoted from HertsGTFC

For now I’d trade off open corners for....

- An unobstructed view
- Decent toilets
- Access to a pre match pint in a kind if fan zone
- Being able to get refreshments without missing minutes 46 to 51
- A decent ticketing system
- A pitch with sprinklers and a heating system
- A club shop where we’d be able to swing a cat
- Controlled secure parking (wish list)
- Decent facilitates for players, officials & staff
- Tte opportunity for the club to generate income from the facility

If we have to we can add the corners later

Modern football fans demand so much!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0MK7qz13bU

We were already down to 4 independant stands as cheap as possible before the crisis , now we have no idea whether the club will actually survive the season let alone have money to burn on planning/ development and as far as i am aware the club still havn't had any meaningful discussions with the key landowners involved. ....

altogether now...

Doesn't Glanford Park have closed corners?

Quoted from Abdul19

Doesn't Glanford Park have closed corners?

Yes, but that's to keep their fan in until the end of the game.

Anyway would you like a view of Scunthorpe through the corners?

Quoted from crusty ole pie

Ffs please stop bringing this thread up the man is wasting time and just mudding the water

Didn't Mr Fenty say he had been in dialogue with Shutes for two years? Un-fcuking-believable, when there is a STADIUM-SIZED PLOT OF LAND AT FREEMAN STREET. What does he have against Freemo anyway?

You must be funny in the head if you think disjointed, antiquated Blundell Park is better than Shrewsbury or Colchester's stadium. I bet the people saying that sit at the top of the Findus, gazing at the estuary.

If Shoots is fuffing us about he wants Shuting ( duck me I get fafter)

Thing is, we don’t actually know that it’s Shutes dragging his heels...the club can say what they want but who’s to say it’s not them dragging their heels?

Quoted from aldi_01

Thing is, we don’t actually know that it’s Shutes dragging his heels...the club can say what they want but who’s to say it’s not them dragging their heels?

The main man wants out, if he had received a suitable hard cash offer he would be gone wouldn't he ? I cannot remember Fenty or the board dismissing Shutes bid, plans or proposed takeover as outright poppycock but just that there has never been proof of funds to complete the transaction.
That indicates to me that what he has said to the board is of interest and plausible enough to happen....if the money is delivered or at least gauranteed.

The club have now said they have closed the doors on Shutes anyway havnt they ? as he hasnt come up with the goods and they were going to be forging ahead under their own steam before the Covid crisis kicked in.

Regardless, the only outcome now is that we arent going to be in a new ground anytime soon, certainly not in time for our Championship bow in what is it now......just 2yrs time ?

Quoted from moosey_club

The main man wants out, if he had received a suitable hard cash offer he would be gone wouldn't he ? I cannot remember Fenty or the board dismissing Shutes bid, plans or proposed takeover as outright poppycock but just that there has never been proof of funds to complete the transaction.
That indicates to me that what he has said to the board is of interest and plausible enough to happen....if the money is delivered or at least gauranteed.

The club have now said they have closed the doors on Shutes anyway havnt they ? as he hasnt come up with the goods and they were going to be forging ahead under their own steam before the Covid crisis kicked in.

Regardless, the only outcome now is that we arent going to be in a new ground anytime soon, certainly not in time for our Championship bow in what is it now......just 2yrs time ?

What I’ve heard is that funds were shown but Mr Fenty just dismisses them.Also heard that Mr Fenty wanted to stay on but the proposed new owners wanted him gone.All through the talks he kept changing the deal.ASK HIM

We will never get Shutes’ side of the story because he’s rightly keeping his cards to his chest...in reality, whatever the truth, we’ll only ever get the clubs public view.

Fenty has always said he wants out yet he has seemingly put stipulations or obstacles in the way which have been sold as reassurances for the club.

For me something doesn’t add up but we’re unlikely to ever find out. I don’t see Fenty and his chums going anywhere and perhaps that is the reason he has never sold because a buyer wants rid of the deadwood and fresh ideas...

Who knows...I just can’t see either a new ground or owner any time soon...

Quoted from moosey_club

The main man wants out, if he had received a suitable hard cash offer he would be gone wouldn't he ? I cannot remember Fenty or the board dismissing Shutes bid, plans or proposed takeover as outright poppycock but just that there has never been proof of funds to complete the transaction.
That indicates to me that what he has said to the board is of interest and plausible enough to happen....if the money is delivered or at least gauranteed.

The club have now said they have closed the doors on Shutes anyway havnt they ? as he hasnt come up with the goods and they were going to be forging ahead under their own steam before the Covid crisis kicked in.

Regardless, the only outcome now is that we arent going to be in a new ground anytime soon, certainly not in time for our Championship bow in what is it now......just 2yrs time ?

That was until Holloway came in. The sniff of success is a scent too delicious to pass up on.

Quoted from Iknowyoursecret

What I’ve heard is that funds were shown but Mr Fenty just dismisses them.Also heard that Mr Fenty wanted to stay on but the proposed new owners wanted him gone.All through the talks he kept changing the deal.ASK HIM

I dont think you're allowed to say that sort of thing you can post rumours about almost anything, but god forbid that you disparage our glorious non leader. You can expect a p.m. demanding an apology.....

Quoted from forza ivano

I dont think you're allowed to say that sort of thing you can post rumours about almost anything, but god forbid that you disparage our glorious non leader. You can expect a p.m. demanding an apology.....

I think you will find that you can say what you want providing you can back it up with facts and not just hearsay. Sadly most posts about our non-leader are hearsay or assumptions such as "I've heard...."

Fenty publicly said in an interview, that the price for him to sell had been agreed with Shutes. The fact that nothing has happened therefor, must be down to Shutes not having the money he agreed to buy the club.

Sorry if that upsets the Fenty bashers on here.

And Mr Fenty tells the truth blah blah blah
The mans a policitian that says enough

Quoted from rancido

I think you will find that you can say what you want providing you can back it up with facts and not just hearsay. Sadly most posts about our non-leader are hearsay or assumptions such as "I've heard...."

You mean he wasn't in charge of the club when we got dumped out of the League.

It all must have been a bad dream.

Quoted from rancido

I think you will find that you can say what you want providing you can back it up with facts and not just hearsay. Sadly most posts about our non-leader are hearsay or assumptions such as "I've heard...."

Remember a thread on here when notorious ticket tout Andrew Newman was outed in the Daily Record, around the same time he was being taken into the team dressing room & noted as club president or something similar? That thread magically disappeared and posters were told off for talking down potential investors.

How did that come about, GrimRob?

To be honest, if I was Shutes I’d have done exactly as he’s done...kept quiet and probably walked away.

He didn’t want to play the games the club were playing; they’ve been dressed up and sold to the fans as mechanisms to protect the club when in reality we have no proof that the club actually tried to impose them, perhaps Shutes just got fed up and felt he’d done what he needed to do.

I appreciate for some, merely existing seems to be enough. Apparently merely keeping us afloat (also seeing money go out the club without it coming off the famous benign debts) seems to be enough. For others though, existing is important but you can do that and be progressive and ambitious. Plenty of clubs have found innovative and different ways to generate income, entice players and so forth who are similar to us financially and in stature.

I’m still baffled to this day that aside from a half arsed protest which was really aimed at Slade (again because existing seems to be enough for some), the current regime have gotten away with murder. People flooded the car park when Bill Carr saw the side drop in to div 2, Fenty nearly got us relegated but for points deductions, he then made exactly the same mistakes and took us out the league. He then allowed the only manager to get us promoted since Buckley to leave without so much as a fight. Then we have the many PR blunders, fans being held in contempt and so forth yet they seem to get away Scott free.

And now Shutes is being portrayed as some time waster or ‘tyre kicker’...I mean would you go back to a club that have hardly been positive about you in the media? Would you balderdash...you’d let them struggle on...I hope he’s flipping pissing himself...

Quoted from SDUTM

REMOVED

I doubt we'll ever get to see the facts, but the story I was told is very different to what your "source" says. Probably should not post things where you're just repeating somebody else's words, who may well have made them up just because he doesn't like Fenty. There's enough of those about already.

We could form a group with Newcastle supporters, many similarities, teams play in black and white, majority of supporters not happy with their current leader,( cannot put chairman now) new owners appear ready and willing to do a takeover but for some mysterious reason doesn’t happen.

Quoted from SDUTM

REMOVED

This is entirely plausible and I've also heard this from an often reliable source of my own. Without question JF is a control freak, and being tight as a gnat's chuff, it's completely plausible that "Squeaky" would not only wish to have the honour of running GTFC for nowt for nearly twenty years, he'd also want influence over spending other people's money for the foreseeable future too. Sadly, I can't see a clean break of JF from the club in my lifetime, it's just not in his nature..

Oh dear. Can see 1 or 2 people getting threatening emails / private messages. Grim Rob and his mate really dont like these stories/ rumours being spread about our glorious non supremo

Quoted from SDUTM

REMOVED

OK, reveal this source if it is a fact!!

No point trying to decipher the truth from the words of two businessmen playing games with each other.  Shutes in theory was exactly what we needed but whether his imagination could be translated to tangible progression is immaterial now.

I've become quite tired of supporting Town's monotony but the current priority must be about survival above all else, and that means relying on our very experienced manager to find us something out of nothing.

That said, we're heading into the start of competitive fixtures in no shape at all: one friendly played; most new signings playing professional football for the first time; two central midfielders on the books - one of them being a fresh academy graduate.  Is everyone else in the same boat?  The League 2 signings thread suggests other clubs are much better prepared than we are.  Is that because they're risking too much?  Will they end up in trouble by next year?

Who knows.  If we didn't have Holloway I'd be extremely worried.  At least I can watch from behind the sofa this year.

I think all this needs to be put to bed for now. We need to all be united as one while the world is still on its head battling covid 19. Lets just concentrate on getting though this and still having a club to support at the end of it all.

Quoted from NorthLondonMariner

I think all this needs to be put to bed for now. We need to all be united as one while the world is still on its head battling covid 19. Lets just concentrate on getting though this and still having a club to support at the end of it all.

And that deserved 2 red crosses for what reason?...do we have Lincoln/Scunthorpe fans highjacking the forum??

Quoted from Northbank Mariner

And that deserved 2 red crosses for what reason?...do we have Lincoln/Scunthorpe fans highjacking the forum??

Whatever happened to the Monkey Hangers? 8)

Quoted from pen penfras

I doubt we'll ever get to see the facts, but the story I was told is very different to what your "source" says. Probably should not post things where you're just repeating somebody else's words, who may well have made them up just because he doesn't like Fenty. There's enough of those about already.

The hate issues Fenty are your own doing so don’t use this forum for complaining as you need to lay in the bed that you made!

And I presume that it’s you John that complained and had my post removed. Please someone tell me why John Fenty is running and controlling a fans message board?

This man is a complete and utter bully and his dictatorship over this board is a prime example of that.

My source was part of the process of the Shutes bid so I would say that the information is very accurate.

Shutes and his collective have demonstrated a little bit of class by not going to the press and having a slagging off match with Fenty and I for one respect that.

Quoted from forza ivano

Oh dear. Can see 1 or 2 people getting threatening emails / private messages. Grim Rob and his mate really dont like these stories/ rumours being spread about our glorious non supremo

Yep I’ve had mine, unfortunately for GrimRob I stand by my post as factual as my source is solid! So let it stand GrimRob or allow JF to continue to run this board and remove me. I don’t need to name my source nor should I have to on a public forum. If JF thinks it’s a lie he can email me with a threatening solicitor letter as I know it’s true and stand by the information posted.

Quoted from SDUTM

The hate issues Fenty are your own doing so don’t use this forum for complaining as you need to lay in the bed that you made!

And I presume that it’s you John that complained and had my post removed. Please someone tell me why John Fenty is running and controlling a fans message board?

This man is a complete and utter bully and his dictatorship over this board is a prime example of that.

My source was part of the process of the Shutes bid so I would say that the information is very accurate.

Shutes and his collective have demonstrated a little bit of class by not going to the press and having a slagging off match with Fenty and I for one respect that.

Nobody complained. The fact that you jump to the conclusion that someone did and even identify people who might have done shows how desperate you are to see demons everywhere. As I have said to you, publish your allegations in your own name elsewhere and I am more than happy for a link to them to go on the forum.

Quoted from GrimRob

Nobody complained. The fact that you jump to the conclusion that someone did and even identify people who might have done shows how desperate you are to see demons everywhere. As I have said to you, publish your allegations in your own name elsewhere and I am more than happy for a link to them to go on the forum.

A growing number of supporters already realise the demon that we have running the club and there’s nothing desperate about that!

A supporters board is for speculation, fans opinions and rumours / information that we have all heard.

No idea what has been said by SDUTM but whether a deal had been agreed between Shutes and Fenty or not.

The outcome was Ollie came on the scene and that changed things.

I for one would have been happy if Shutes took over.

BUT

I am more than happy having Ollie here and on the board.

Quoted from grimsby pete

No idea what has been said by SDUTM but whether a deal had been agreed between Shutes and Fenty or not.

The outcome was Ollie came on the scene and that changed things.

I for one would have been happy if Shutes took over.

BUT

I am more than happy having Ollie here and on the board.

I agree that Ollie has most definitely had a very positive effect on the club however he has a very difficult task right and and I most definitely support and applaud his efforts.

The same manager who was threatening to leave a few weeks ago until a board member of Grimsby town fc calmed the situation.Seem that the board have BIG GOB or at least one of them has.

Quoted from Iknowyoursecret

The same manager who was threatening to leave a few weeks ago until a board member of Grimsby town fc calmed the situation.Seem that the board have BIG GOB or at least one of them has.

More baseless speculation/ rumour which ,given the precedents should be removed by Grim Rob immediately. However since it doesnt involve Our Glorious Non Leader, no doubt it will remain untouched

The whole thing is speculation, even the tyre kicking comments from the club. They haven’t told us the truth, they’ve told us their version of events.

I remember messaging a GTFC supporting mate the day holloway got the job and said he wouldn’t last a calendar year...COVID has somewhat intervened but i wouldn’t be surprised if it happens at some point.

I suspect we may have missed the boat on a genuine opportunity to sell the club and move forward and develop. Time will tell but our current incumbents are sadly here to stay.

I for one was all in favour of Tom Shutes, his design and improvement to the Docks seemed to be a really good proposition to 'clean' up the Town and give us the football ground we so badly need. I dont know much detail as to what discussions evolved between Mr.Shutes and GTFC, but i reckon we may of missed out on a good deal. I would of preferred this against the Freeman Street ground, which has died off a bit, and by all accounts from what i have seen, Freeman St., seems to be mainly Polish and Rumanian territory, no disrespect to them. Mr.Shutes wouldnt go this far into getting architectual plans drawn up for nothing, he seemed really involved in his plans. What happened since, we may never know the truth. GTFC, you have missed out on a very good opportunity i reckon.

I apologise if this was mentioned before, but the railway line would have implications for access if Shutes gets his way. There are trains scheduled to depart Grimsby Town for Cleethorpes at 1434 and 1440. I think the level crossing barriers are down for around two minutes each time.

A train leaves Cleethorpes at 1655, so there are likely to be thousands of fans waiting after the final whistle.

I will say it again: it is MADNESS to go to the trouble and expense of filling in the dock when there is a brownfield site just 300 metres away. Build the stadium in the heart of the community at Freemo and use the Murray Street quayside for matchday parking.

Quoted from White_shorts

I apologise if this was mentioned before, but the railway line would have implications for access if Shutes gets his way. There are trains scheduled to depart Grimsby Town for Cleethorpes at 1434 and 1440. I think the level crossing barriers are down for around two minutes each time.

A train leaves Cleethorpes at 1655, so there are likely to be thousands of fans waiting after the final whistle.

I will say it again: it is MADNESS to go to the trouble and expense of filling in the dock when there is a brownfield site just 300 metres away. Build the stadium in the heart of the community at Freemo and use the Murray Street quayside for matchday parking.

Back under your rock Fentyite.

Edit: my mistake, you’re just adamant on Freeman Street and completely against anything Shutes is going for.

I am not a fan of Fenty. He should have resigned after we got back into the league in 2016. There had to be something rotten at the club for Amond to leave us for flipping Hartlepool.

I searched the net for "dock infill cost" and found this article that suggests £18m for a similar scheme at Tyne Dock:

https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2014/12/15/local-civils-firm-beats-majors-to-18m-tyne-dock-infill/

Maybe Shutes thinks he can get that sort of money from a Government grant.

Has the ownership of the Freemo flats site been established? Some people here heard rumours of the council using the community stadium office space. Is that still the case?

18 million not a chance

Quoted from Simon

18 million not a chance

How much do you estimate?
I would say if they can do it for 18 million they are getting a bargain.

Is this the longest ever wait for a reply?

Quoted from White_shorts

I am not a fan of Fenty. He should have resigned after we got back into the league in 2016. There had to be something rotten at the club for Amond to leave us for flipping Hartlepool.

I searched the net for "dock infill cost" and found this article that suggests £18m for a similar scheme at Tyne Dock:

https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2014/12/15/local-civils-firm-beats-majors-to-18m-tyne-dock-infill/

Maybe Shutes thinks he can get that sort of money from a Government grant.

Has the ownership of the Freemo flats site been established? Some people here heard rumours of the council using the community stadium office space. Is that still the case?

That article was written 6 years ago

Quite possibly adding things like inflation, material and labour costs etc, I would ‘guess’ you can probably add £10m on top

Quoted from RexFannies

Is this the longest ever wait for a reply?

Coming by 2nd class post. :)

White Shorts - are you one of the Freemen by any chance? What do you stand to gain from having the development at Freeman Street?

Quoted from White_shorts

I searched the net for "dock infill cost" and found this article that suggests £18m for a similar scheme at Tyne Dock:

https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2014/12/15/local-civils-firm-beats-majors-to-18m-tyne-dock-infill/

Maybe Shutes thinks he can get that sort of money from a Government grant.

BillO investigated this possibility around 1998. I think the outcome was that the tides would undermine something as big as a football stadium. Nick Osborne went onto the North wall to have a look I recall. In any event, it was dismissed for construction reasons, not the money.

I don’t recall any mention by Shuteses of filling in the dock. The plan showed the stadium built by the dock not in it.

Quoted from KingstonMariner

I don’t recall any mention by Shuteses of filling in the dock. The plan showed the stadium built by the dock not in it.

There you go, being all sensible.

https://mobile.twitter.com/waughthistleton/status/1258356809145999361?lang=en

Not great resolution but you can make out where they are planning for the ground to be in this picture:

[img]https://i2-prod.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/news/grimsby-news/article4117152.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_woodenset.jpg[/img]

- taken from this article:
[url]https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/news/grimsby-news/new-hope-grimsbys-derelict-ice-4117174[/url]

Quoted from Cayman_mariner

Not great resolution but you can make out where they are planning for the ground to be, in this picture:

[img]https://i2-prod.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/news/grimsby-news/article4117152.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_woodenset.jpg[/img]

- taken from this article:
[url]https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/news/grimsby-news/new-hope-grimsbys-derelict-ice-4117174[/url]

Looking at that some of the dock would require infilling?..still think Freemo will win in the end, although personally I'd love it to be on the Dock..

Quoted from Northbank Mariner

Looking at that some of the dock would require infilling?..still think Freemo will win in the end, although personally I'd love it to be on the Dock..

I'm not sure Northbank. I don't know the docks area well enough myself but hopefully that pic will give someone on here an idea. I'd love the idea of the stadium being on the docks too.

Give the contract to Extreme again. I’m sure a massive company like ‘Extreme’ could overcome the small problem of the tides etc.
I guess they’d just change the orbit of the moon slightly. Surely with all the resources they have at their disposal it would only take a couple of weeks at most 😉

That model indicates that the stadium would be built straight opposite the ice factory, which I believe is intended to be redeveloped into something similar to the Printworks in Manchester, and would be where the old Pneumonia (I think) pontoon used to stand. This would require some, if not all of the basin behind it to be filled in, with the rest made into a marina, as shown on the model.

Quoted from Cayman_mariner

I'm not sure Northbank. I don't know the docks area well enough myself but hopefully that pic will give someone on here an idea. I'd love the idea of the stadium being on the docks too.

It's what was called "pneumonia" or South Quay.. definitely will require half the old dock being filled in and as you can guess by the coloquelism it'll be flipping freezing pin there!..

Surely any water front land would be prime real estate for housing, unless there is an identified future flood issue.

If it's not fit for housing, it's certainly not fit for a football stadium with the potential to accommodate up to 20,000 people!

Quoted from Stadium

https://mobile.twitter.com/waughthistleton/status/1258356809145999361?lang=en

I can't be the only one who thinks this stadium looks naff? I really hope we get a new stadium but I hope it doesn't look like this!

Quoted from mariner91

I can't be the only one who thinks this stadium looks naff? I really hope we get a new stadium but I hope it doesn't look like this!

At the end of the day its 3 cheap indentikit stands with a fourth stand of similar design but with a fancy roof.

However .......we aint getting another ground from anybody else so can beggars be choosers ?

Think it's more of a concept than a finished design at this stage. An artists impression.

They do say they will consult with the people of Grimsby, but unless you have a spare billion like Tottenham, you are a bit limited to basic structures of some sort.

Whilst beggars can’t be choosers, I find this design so uninspiring. It’s just a flat pack box, with a floating roof bolted on.

I realise that nobody would build a new ground with different stands, but there is just no character in these newer grounds.

I would take any new stadium.

Yeah I don’t think they’re planning an inaccessible levitating upper tier either, so you can probably relax gents

[img]https://i.postimg.cc/jdtTR7Mz/1-C967-A4-B-0-CE4-43-ED-B660-CFF7-BB317-FAF.jpg[/img]

Quoted from ska face

Yeah I don’t think they’re planning an inaccessible levitating upper tier either, so you can probably relax gents

[img]https://i.postimg.cc/jdtTR7Mz/1-C967-A4-B-0-CE4-43-ED-B660-CFF7-BB317-FAF.jpg[/img]

Well I'm out then. Would rather stay at BP.

As I see it, It doesn't look like anything needs to be filled in. It sits right behind the pontoon with number 1 fish dock shown as a marina and the ice house off to the right. No where near the south quay. A stadium there would be great for me, but I think it will finish up in Freemo.

Quoted from GY1

As I see it, It doesn't look like anything needs to be filled in. It sits right behind the pontoon with number 1 fish dock shown as a marina and the ice house off to the right. No where near the south quay. A stadium there would be great for me, but I think it will finish up in Freemo.

Traffic will be murder, trying to get past the ABP gatehouse one car at a time ;D

Engineering has advanced a lot in the last 20 years since we last looked at using the docks. We could probably be the first stadium to also house a submarine pen!

Quoted from Cayman_mariner

Not great resolution but you can make out where they are planning for the ground to be in this picture:

[img]https://i2-prod.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/news/grimsby-news/article4117152.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_woodenset.jpg[/img]

- taken from this article:
[url]https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/news/grimsby-news/new-hope-grimsbys-derelict-ice-4117174[/url]

Actually looking at that it does look like a chunk of the dock has to be filled in. The half of the dock behind the marina has gone.

I take back what I said earlier.

Do we know what the scale is, or even if it is to scale? It looks like an artists impression to me. If they have to fill in the dock, or part of it, I think it would drive up the price beyond viability - unless ABP take care of it!! ::)

Quoted from Cayman_mariner

Not great resolution but you can make out where they are planning for the ground to be in this picture:

[img]https://i2-prod.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/news/grimsby-news/article4117152.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_woodenset.jpg[/img]

- taken from this article:
[url]https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/news/grimsby-news/new-hope-grimsbys-derelict-ice-4117174[/url]

Can’t wait to come to the match in my speedboat

Quoted from louth_in_the_south

Can’t wait to come to the match in my speedboat

Maybe on that note, we could canvass ex bullseye contestants for season tickets

Quoted from louth_in_the_south

Can’t wait to come to the match in my speedboat

As long as it's not Speedo's.

I think you could fit a stadium on there without filling in part of the dock.

https://www.google.com/maps/@53.5744049,-0.066073,15.08z

Look at BP on the map and then the docks.

Quoted from Northbank Mariner

And that deserved 2 red crosses for what reason?...do we have Lincoln/Scunthorpe fans highjacking the forum??

I find it amazing some will even be bothered to red cross a RIP.i ignore them unless I get many, 60 plus for one post, I consider it a badge of honour. Imagine 60 plus provoked. Perhaps we should have post of the week with most red crosses.

Quoted from ska face

White Shorts - are you one of the Freemen by any chance? What do you stand to gain from having the development at Freeman Street?

No, I'm not connected to the Freemen and would gain nothing financially. It just annoys the fook out of me that there's been a stadium-sized brownfield site staring us in the face for two and a half years and the club has shown no interest in it.

Did Shutes and Stockwood actually have any discussion with ABP about filling in the dock? There must be someone here with a friend of a friend who works for the port authority.

Quoted from moosey_club

Traffic will be murder, trying to get past the ABP gatehouse one car at a time ;D

You say that in jest, but the reality wouldn't be much different even if the gatehouse was moved. Let's say there are 2,000 cars pulling out onto Murray Street at a rate of one per second. It would take over half an hour for everyone to get away. Imagine the chaos at full time when thousands of fans are pouring across the road and one inevitably gets run over by an LGV.

Contrast that with the ten minutes it takes to walk from Freemo to Freshney Place car park. Surely some arrangement can be made for parking at Asda, whereby match ticket stubs could be used as store vouchers.

Sorry but you clearly don’t understand the definition of “brownfield site”.

A brownfield site is a previous developed site that was used for either industrial or commercial purposes and may or may not be contaminated.

The land you are talking about was residential and into reality should be redeveloped fot the same purpose.

Also there’s no way Asda would allow their car park to be taken up by football parking on a Saturday afternoon.

And Freshney Place would be even worse to get out of than the docks for cars. At least the docks exits straight on to the A180.

Quoted from GollyGTFC

Sorry but you clearly don’t understand the definition of “brownfield site”.

A brownfield site is a previous developed site that was used for either industrial or commercial purposes and may or may not be contaminated.

The land you are talking about was residential and into reality should be redeveloped fot the same purpose.

Also there’s no way Asda would allow their car park to be taken up by football parking on a Saturday afternoon.

And Freshney Place would be even worse to get out of than the docks for cars. At least the docks exits straight on to the A180.

Okay, forget the term "brownfield site". Let's just say "stadium-sized plot of land".

If a Freemo stadium was four separate stands, we could copy Leyton Orient and have apartment blocks in the corners.

I'm not sure how Asda would stop fans using their car park, unless they have attendants and you have to pay and display a ticket. I haven't been to the store since the pandemic started.

Most home fans would not head out onto the A180. Anyway, Shutes has bought the Ice Factory and made no mention of a docks stadium, so I guess it is not happening. I imagine ABP told him they don't want thousands of fans milling around an operational port.

Quoted from White_shorts

Okay, forget the term "brownfield site". Let's just say "stadium-sized plot of land".

If a Freemo stadium was four separate stands, we could copy Leyton Orient and have apartment blocks in the corners.

I'm not sure how Asda would stop fans using their car park, unless they have attendants and you have to pay and display a ticket. I haven't been to the store since the pandemic started.

Most home fans would not head out onto the A180. Anyway, Shutes has bought the Ice Factory and made no mention of a docks stadium, so I guess it is not happening. I imagine ABP told him they don't want thousands of fans milling around an operational port.

I don’t live in Grimsby, but in Grantham all the supermarkets have NPR cameras and time limits when parking. If you park for over 90 mins/2 hours depending on which supermarket it is you get a ticket sent through the post.

So to answer your question Asda will enforce it the same way they enforce parking in their car park now.