- Print Topic - Archive

When you actually think about it, Immingham addresses concerns from some fans that our training ground should be out of town, whilst also meeting the board requirement of remaining in North East Lincolnshire. Grimsby has quite a lot for young people to do compared to Immingham, and the club want the training ground to be at the heart of a community.

In terms of distance, Google Maps says it takes about 40 minutes from the services at the top of 180 to get to Immingham Golf Club. Cheapside is 55 minutes, without congestion. That's saving players 30 minutes a day, 2+ hours a week (based on 4 days training).

Quoted from WOZOFGRIMSBY

I think was rumoured just before Christmas. Would be a good option if true. Must be one hell of a big space to fill though.

Keep the back 9 and give the players a private golf course, a la Leicester’s new facility. I’m not even joking; when you’re an unfashionable club stuck out on a limb on the east coast, you’ve got to take every marginal gain you can get.

It would take some serious money to recover the back 9 . The site is pretty much an overgrown field now

Quoted from jimgtfc

The smell of pure sulphur from the refinery will do wonders for the players lungs

Ive lived in Habrough for 40 years and the smells are a thing of the distant past.

Immingham itself has improved enormously over the years and this would be another fillip if true.

Quoted from jimgtfc

The smell of pure sulphur from the refinery will do wonders for the players lungs

Get them in an extra day after a loss, we'd shoot up the table.

Quoted from ginnywings

Hardly a community hub for GY, if it's to be in Immingham.

Doesn't make sense to me.

It looks good but it is not what we have been led to believe. 1878 said they wanted a training ground in Grimsby. This would be for the club and community. This site is not within the Grimsby boundary and is a fair distance for Grimsby folk to travel. Also we we were led to believe that a Parish Council was holding the job up, Immingham has a Town Council.

Maybe we could persuade Gareth Bale out of retirement.

Quoted from Poojah

Keep the back 9 and give the players a private golf course, a la Leicester’s new facility. I’m not even joking; when you’re an unfashionable club stuck out on a limb on the east coast, you’ve got to take every marginal gain you can get.

Cant be done pal, the front 9 is private and up for sale, the back 9 is council owned land.

Does it really matter if it’s not in the town? I mean it’d be great if it was and that was obviously their first choice, but if that isn’t possible at a reasonable cost I think Immingham is a great compromise between those wanting it in the town and those wanting it further afield.

Not sure why it's relevant that it wasn't what they first said. Things change, circumstances alter, prices go up and we haven't heard a single piece of confirmation or reasoning yet. Personally I don’t care where it is, as long as it’s good quality. Let’s all just wait and see first though.

If it is the most viable site then Immingham is perfectly fine as far as I am concerned. The concerns in the past was when suggestions were made that the training site should be as far afield as Sheffield, etc

Quoted from Poojah

Keep the back 9 and give the players a private golf course, a la Leicester’s new facility. I’m not even joking; when you’re an unfashionable club stuck out on a limb on the east coast, you’ve got to take every marginal gain you can get.

9 of the holes are council owned, the other 9 private...
Apologies just seen other post

Quoted from Oly1987

As a Town fan living in Immingham im conflicted. On the one hand it would be nice to have the lads training close by but on the other hand I'd rather see the site used for the Immingham community as the youngsters don't have an awful lot in Immingham.

Surely any plans could include training facilities for the Immingham community, a bit like the facilities at Bradley or King George Stadium?

I wonder if the grant funding at Clee Fields makes it difficult to get any further grants in town?

My guess is part of the area to be made into the training facility the rest into houses to fund the building of the training centre cos it will not be cheap £6 million was spoken about at the forum

Quoted from promotion plaice

Get them in an extra day after a loss, we'd shoot up the table.

in a few more years with the Humber zero project it will hopefully improve even further too,

Quoted from DB

It looks good but it is not what we have been led to believe. 1878 said they wanted a training ground in Grimsby. This would be for the club and community. This site is not within the Grimsby boundary and is a fair distance for Grimsby folk to travel. Also we we were led to believe that a Parish Council was holding the job up, Immingham has a Town Council.

If i'm honest, Grimsby doesn't need another hub for football. Bradley and Clee Fields will both serve a purpose for that within Grimsby. It's a training ground first and foremost and the primary target should be about the playing side and making it easier for players to travel to and maximising potential and facilities. Our academy uses Oasis Academy Wintringham for training and educational purposes.

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

Ive lived in Habrough for 40 years and the smells are a thing of the distant past.

Immingham itself has improved enormously over the years and this would be another fillip if true.

That’s good to hear! I work in healthcare and the amount of people with respiratory conditions in the Immingham and Killingholme area compared to Grimsby and Cleethorpes is quite staggering.

Hmmmm guess that ends the Barretts link that was previously suggested? Wonder if that was the original site that run foul of something?

Quoted from jimgtfc

That’s good to hear! I work in healthcare and the amount of people with respiratory conditions in the Immingham and Killingholme area compared to Grimsby and Cleethorpes is quite staggering.

Cheap bacci coming into Immingham docks 😬

Wasn't the original plan of it sitting in Grimsby to serve as a community hub the one that didn't happen because agreements couldn't be made?

Can't hang 1878 out to happen if they couldn't get the purchase/planning/whatever over the line and have had to adjust.

Said at the time when training ground was originally raised that I didn't think trying to have it in Gy/Clee was the best approach, both in terms of saving players time travelling and also the lack of options available. Immingham still ticks a lot of local boxes but is that bit further down the 180 to make it much, much more accessible for anyone travelling in (without making it too far a trek for local lads). I still think 1878 will want some sort of community hub though in Gy/Clee and I don't think it has to sit hand in hand with a training ground, although a second one in Immingham (as part of the training ground) wouldn't be too radical really.

Interesting comment regard us not using all the site and redeveloping some of it, could be a huge money spinner/funding source?

Just to point out that Immingham and it's immediate environs has a population of 15-20,000, so that's quite a lot of people who seem to have very little access to these sort of facilities

As long as it gives us the potential for top training facilities so it's more attractive to players and gets the best out of folk. They spent most of their time here. This will be their view of what employment is for Grimsby Town FC and is going to underpin morale.

I think the out of town sites are better for the commuters also, and as we progress, many higher earners aren't going to want to live in Grimsby (I'll be bashed for that comment, but sorry, it's true).

Quoted from forza ivano

Just to point out that Immingham and it's immediate environs has a population of 15-20,000, so that's quite a lot of people who seem to have very little access to these sort of facilities

Build houses next to St Andrews Church, and the training ground nearer the storage tanks.
The flair offs save on floodlights, but you might need oxygen masks :) :D

Miming ham is within N E Lincs
That’s near enough for me….

Hope it happens and please give credit to a Board working their nuts off for progress ,,,plus Debbie of course.

Poojah has cleverly appropriated landscape from another project. Locals will already have spotted that the fields, houses and roads do not align with the environs of Church Lane! St Andrews Church is safe for now.

Many happy memories of playing in the fields and lanes around there pre Golf Club days. Sixty five years have flown by since I fired an arrow through a stained glass window. ::)

Quoted from diehardmariner

Wasn't the original plan of it sitting in Grimsby to serve as a community hub the one that didn't happen because agreements couldn't be made?

Can't hang 1878 out to happen if they couldn't get the purchase/planning/whatever over the line and have had to adjust.

Said at the time when training ground was originally raised that I didn't think trying to have it in Gy/Clee was the best approach, both in terms of saving players time travelling and also the lack of options available. Immingham still ticks a lot of local boxes but is that bit further down the 180 to make it much, much more accessible for anyone travelling in (without making it too far a trek for local lads). I still think 1878 will want some sort of community hub though in Gy/Clee and I don't think it has to sit hand in hand with a training ground, although a second one in Immingham (as part of the training ground) wouldn't be too radical really.

Interesting comment regard us not using all the site and redeveloping some of it, could be a huge money spinner/funding source?

I'm really not sure why a training ground also needs to be a community hub anyway, surely the important thing here is finding adequate land and improving the facilities, we don't need a community centre and leisure centre complex or whatever on top of it. A football club training ground doesn't really spark a feeling of community to me anyway, not everybody in the community cares about sports or this football club, what else are they expecting to use it for?

I've also never felt the need to drive over to Cheapside and lurk around watching the players train either so maybe I'm missing the appeal of needing the training ground to be accessible to anybody other than the players and staff.

Good idea if you ask me.

It'll cut the out of town players commute down by at least half an hour each way.
The cost of the land will be cheaper than buying in Town
Immingham has always been home of many Town supporters and we're a North East Lincs club so it's still serving our community.

Quoted from Kris2

I'm really not sure why a training ground also needs to be a community hub anyway, surely the important thing here is finding adequate land and improving the facilities, we don't need a community centre and leisure centre complex or whatever on top of it. A football club training ground doesn't really spark a feeling of community to me anyway, not everybody in the community cares about sports or this football club, what else are they expecting to use it for?

I've also never felt the need to drive over to Cheapside and lurk around watching the players train either so maybe I'm missing the appeal of needing the training ground to be accessible to anybody other than the players and staff.

I've long advocated for a training facility to have all the things that, in a perfect world, you get with a new stadium on a large site. Community pitches, meeting rooms, business hub - all the things we say we can never have at BP because of the lack of room, and the astronomical cost of a new stadium.

If we can secure a large enough site then we can develop it over time to include things that can be used 7 days a week.

I don't know if that is the plan for this particular site, or whether the new training ground will be just for the players, but if you can't get what you ideally want (a super duper all encompassing new stadium) then you have to look at other and cheaper options.

Quoted from Kris2

I'm really not sure why a training ground also needs to be a community hub anyway, surely the important thing here is finding adequate land and improving the facilities, we don't need a community centre and leisure centre complex or whatever on top of it. A football club training ground doesn't really spark a feeling of community to me anyway, not everybody in the community cares about sports or this football club, what else are they expecting to use it for?

I've also never felt the need to drive over to Cheapside and lurk around watching the players train either so maybe I'm missing the appeal of needing the training ground to be accessible to anybody other than the players and staff.

Irony at it's best.

Quoted from Kris2

I'm really not sure why a training ground also needs to be a community hub anyway, surely the important thing here is finding adequate land and improving the facilities, we don't need a community centre and leisure centre complex or whatever on top of it. A football club training ground doesn't really spark a feeling of community to me anyway, not everybody in the community cares about sports or this football club, what else are they expecting to use it for?

I've also never felt the need to drive over to Cheapside and lurk around watching the players train either so maybe I'm missing the appeal of needing the training ground to be accessible to anybody other than the players and staff.

Quite right, I've passed Cheapside on numerous occasions and there are no hordes of onlookers.
If Town can build a better facility which helps/improves the team, whilst offsetting costs on other non-footballing projects (if that is the plan) then why not?
If the facility can be used by others why not? Immingham is a community and Mariner Fans live/work there. What's the fuss about?

Grew up in Immingham. The town has been crying out for training facilities, particularly all-weather ones, since the leisure centre was bulldozed. My nephews' junior teams often travel through to Gy to access the facilities at Bradley so it would be fantastic if they give community access, which i'm sure they would want to. For those that don't know the area, it would be situated next to the 13th century St Andrews church and the Pilgrim monument park, a cute little area by local standards. They'll just have to make sure they bring any potential new players in to town at Stallingborough end and not Docks end! 😄 Two very different impressions of the place

Seems a good location , hopefully we can raise the substantial monies for it . If it could benefit Immingham and surrounding areas will it open up more potential grants , funding etc ?

Could be a real benefit to their town and potentially attract a few more fans from that way on ?

Quoted from immariner

Grew up in Immingham. The town has been crying out for training facilities, particularly all-weather ones, since the leisure centre was bulldozed. My nephews' junior teams often travel through to Gy to access the facilities at Bradley so it would be fantastic if they give community access, which i'm sure they would want to. For those that don't know the area, it would be situated next to the 13th century St Andrews church and the Pilgrim monument park, a cute little area by local standards. They'll just have to make sure they bring any potential new players in to town at Stallingborough end and not Docks end! 😄 Two very different impressions of the place

Is The Bluestone still there ? Have not been that way on for about 20 years

Quoted from Mappers

Is The Bluestone still there ? Have not been that way on for about 20 years

It is. Still lively by all accounts. Not spent much time in there myself as The Station in Habrough was my regular, and I haven't had a pint in the Bluey for the best part of 10 years but Gally was in there on one of the few times I did (of course)

Quoted from jamesgtfc

In terms of distance, Google Maps says it takes about 40 minutes from the services at the top of 180 to get to Immingham Golf Club. Cheapside is 55 minutes, without congestion. That's saving players 30 minutes a day, 2+ hours a week (based on 4 days training).

Well... that's fair enough, I suppose.

A few months ago someone here said they'd heard a rumour about Novartis. I assumed they were referring to the industrial site, but it has occurred to me that the club might just have been looking at the sports ground on the other side of Moody Lane. Presumably there wouldn't have been an issue with planning permission, as a training facility is an almost identical use. Very close to the A180, too.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.5828781,-0.1165456,311m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu

Unless they have enquired, i am a bit surprised the club haven't considered the Novartis sports ground, good location
west side of town for commuting players, perfect size field with a nice clubhouse/ changing rooms and with the closure
of the plant i would have thought the purchase cost would have been reasonable.

Quoted from Kris2

I'm really not sure why a training ground also needs to be a community hub anyway, surely the important thing here is finding adequate land and improving the facilities, we don't need a community centre and leisure centre complex or whatever on top of it. A football club training ground doesn't really spark a feeling of community to me anyway, not everybody in the community cares about sports or this football club, what else are they expecting to use it for?

I always assumed Stockwood and Pettit's plan was for the players to use the pitches and gym fitness equipment in the morning, and then open the facilities to the public in the afternoon and evening.

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

I've long advocated for a training facility to have all the things that, in a perfect world, you get with a new stadium on a large site. Community pitches, meeting rooms, business hub - all the things we say we can never have at BP because of the lack of room, and the astronomical cost of a new stadium.

If we can secure a large enough site then we can develop it over time to include things that can be used 7 days a week.

I don't know if that is the plan for this particular site, or whether the new training ground will be just for the players, but if you can't get what you ideally want (a super duper all encompassing new stadium) then you have to look at other and cheaper options.

I've been to meeting rooms at Old Trafford and Leeds and the ones we used were smaller than McMenemy's.

I've also visited BP a few times in the past few weeks and on a couple of occasions the car park was packed with meetings going on.

Immingham is probably the best of both worlds and it’s an easy commute from Leeds, Sheffield, Lincoln and Hull so location wise is great might persuade a few more to sign.
As it’s an old golf course there will be a more mature setting with trees and grounds so way better than just an open field.

Quoted from Yoda

Immingham is probably the best of both worlds and it’s an easy commute from Leeds, Sheffield, Lincoln and Hull so location wise is great might persuade a few more to sign.
As it’s an old golf course there will be a more mature setting with trees and grounds so way better than just an open field.

possibly the only sensible post you've ever made.Good, interesting point about the mature setting - nicer place to be, but also should provide shelter from the wind, so making training more productive & pleasant

https://arsenalcolumn.wordpress.com/2009/01/15/arsenal-style-of-play-shaped-in-part-by-the-wind/

Quoted from jimgtfc

The smell of pure sulphur from the refinery will do wonders for the players lungs

You don't know a lot about refinery processes Jim, do you?

Quoted from forza ivano

possibly the only sensible post you've ever made.Good, interesting point about the mature setting - nicer place to be, but also should provide shelter from the wind, so making training more productive & pleasant

https://arsenalcolumn.wordpress.com/2009/01/15/arsenal-style-of-play-shaped-in-part-by-the-wind/

So instead of asking if a player could perform on a cold night in Stoke they should instead ask if they could do it on a windy day in Cleethorpes?

Quoted from White_shorts

I always assumed Stockwood and Pettit's plan was for the players to use the pitches and gym fitness equipment in the morning, and then open the facilities to the public in the afternoon and evening.

There are already plenty of facilities like that locally and I don't know of a single professional club that offers such a thing at their training ground. I'm sure somebody will name one though...Just leave out if it's some semi-pro club where all the staff are volunteers and they are desperate for money because those don't count.

Is this another one of those boomer pipe dreams people have where local kids will flock to the pitches and they'll magically discover local talent that will fill the team with local players who have that good ol Grimsby grit that will surely take us back to former glory? Otherwise I think the Trin and other such facilities already provide all that for kids.

Quoted from Kris2

There are already plenty of facilities like that locally and I don't know of a single professional club that offers such a thing at their training ground. I'm sure somebody will name one though...Just leave out if it's some semi-pro club where all the staff are volunteers and they are desperate for money because those don't count.

Is this another one of those boomer pipe dreams people have where local kids will flock to the pitches and they'll magically discover local talent that will fill the team with local players who have that good ol Grimsby grit that will surely take us back to former glory? Otherwise I think the Trin and other such facilities already provide all that for kids.

Not as uncommon as you think. St George’s Park is open to the public and is the training ground for the national team. Most these facilities will often have facilities used by the pros and youth team and then facilities used by the general public. It’s a revenue stream and we should be maximising every single one we have.

Quoted from Kris2

There are already plenty of facilities like that locally and I don't know of a single professional club that offers such a thing at their training ground. I'm sure somebody will name one though...Just leave out if it's some semi-pro club where all the staff are volunteers and they are desperate for money because those don't count.

Is this another one of those boomer pipe dreams people have where local kids will flock to the pitches and they'll magically discover local talent that will fill the team with local players who have that good ol Grimsby grit that will surely take us back to former glory? Otherwise I think the Trin and other such facilities already provide all that for kids.

I still see the idea of such facilities being a legacy of Fenty’s “community hub”, or whatever the hell he called it. Everyone knew that was just a ruse so he could get someone else to pay for a stadium - “but it’s not just for GTFC, it’s for everyone”, type of thing.

It sure why it’s so hard to get your head around that the training facility (should/when it happen) will cost so much, owners don’t have bottomless pit or investors/sponsors yet - and said training facility if only used by club/youth/women’s/academies would be sat vacant for a proportion of the day. Know only too well the demand for pitches, particularly sept to April - so opening any up to public/clubs is common sense. Don’t understand why anyone would whinge at that in all honesty..

Quoted from marinerjase

It sure why it’s so hard to get your head around that the training facility (should/when it happen) will cost so much, owners don’t have bottomless pit or investors/sponsors yet - and said training facility if only used by club/youth/women’s/academies would be sat vacant for a proportion of the day. Know only too well the demand for pitches, particularly sept to April - so opening any up to public/clubs is common sense. Don’t understand why anyone would whinge at that in all honesty..

If we don't have investors yet, I can't see them coming any time soon. We've failed to capitalise on momentum and opportunities yet again.

The smug statements of refusing investments because we don't need them are going to mean Stockwood needs to put his hand in his pocket to deliver the training ground he promised.

Quoted from pen penfras

If we don't have investors yet, I can't see them coming any time soon. We've failed to capitalise on momentum and opportunities yet again.

The smug[b][/b] statements of refusing investments because we don't need them are going to mean Stockwood needs to put his hand in his pocket to deliver the training ground he promised.

urine off Pen, he wasn't ever smug with that statement, at that time we weren't looking for outside investment, the new owners were too busy sorting out the shitshow your pal JSF had left the club, ground and trying facility in!!!!..

Quoted from pen penfras

If we don't have investors yet, I can't see them coming any time soon. We've failed to capitalise on momentum and opportunities yet again.

The smug statements of refusing investments because we don't need them are going to mean Stockwood needs to put his hand in his pocket to deliver the training ground he promised.

How could you ask anyone to invest at a point in time when there was a burden of so called “benign” debt” hanging around the clubs neck to be repaid?

I can see it now 1878 saying “ we’d like you to invest but to save time cut us out & give your cash straight to John”.

After 2 decades of penny pinching & patching up it’s not like the property portfolio is worth investing in is it?

Quoted from pen penfras

If we don't have investors yet, I can't see them coming any time soon. We've failed to capitalise on momentum and opportunities yet again.

The smug statements of refusing investments because we don't need them are going to mean Stockwood needs to put his hand in his pocket to deliver the training ground he promised.

Ffs give it a rest your bed pal was super successful in bringing outside funding into the club wasn’t he Parker lasted6 months before he tried to stitch him up the lottery winner on the promise he would make him chairman (he told his wife that in the back of my taxi ) and the ideally suited fraudster a really successful packet of investment. And let’s not forget local businesses would rather pour money into clee town rather than help fenty

Quoted from HertsGTFC

How could you ask anyone to invest at a point in time when there was a burden of so called “benign” debt” hanging around the clubs neck to be repaid?

I can see it now 1878 saying “ we’d like you to invest but to save time cut us out & give your cash straight to John”.

After 2 decades of penny pinching & patching up it’s not like the property portfolio is worth investing in is it?

When you say "Investors" do you mean A) Investment is the act of allocating resources, usually money, with the expectation of generating an income or profit. You hopefully take back more than you put in. Or B) Input of money, which will be taken out in the future with no extras, or C) A Gift.

Personally, I can't see people lining up for A as we are losing money, so how do we pay back with interest Investments? Lets hope for B) and C) people.

Quoted from GrimPol

When you say "Investors" do you mean A) Investment is the act of allocating resources, usually money, with the expectation of generating an income or profit. You hopefully take back more than you put in. Or B) Input of money, which will be taken out in the future with no extras, or C) A Gift.

Personally, I can't see people lining up for A as we are losing money, so how do we pay back with interest Investments? Lets hope for B) and C) people.

I tend to agree, unless the relocation strategy changes (which I can’t see why it should ATM) any additional investment would probably come from people who are supporters who’ve made good.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

How could you ask anyone to invest at a point in time when there was a burden of so called “benign” debt” hanging around the clubs neck to be repaid?

I can see it now 1878 saying “ we’d like you to invest but to save time cut us out & give your cash straight to John”.

After 2 decades of penny pinching & patching up it’s not like the property portfolio is worth investing in is it?

Are we loosing money. According to the chair YES!!! think he said a mill this season or needs to put in an extra mill. So what kind of debt is that then?. He said he would want his money back. Are they interest bearing loans. That would increase the debt never as before.

Not having a go at all. BUT THIS

We made a profit for many years under the previous, evidenced by accounts that were a public record scrutinised by shareholders, fans and under the strict code of PLC accounting principles. I would say that’s pretty investable.

What do we really know now? Nothing except what we hear from the chair. No relo, no training ground news, no money, no investors, one out one in and we need another mill to see the season out.

Never has the clubs seen such income, fan support, promotion, great cup run, player transfer income!!! ALL THAT MONEY where has it gone. Oh and plus the 800k was it in the bank at conception.

It’s a private business but that’s progress favoured by vocals as we push up the league’s with Selwyns black and white army. Me hopes 👍👍

Should we be worried 😟 I am.

I think it’s not Magic our Morris but more smoke and mirrors

Quoted from GibMariner

Are we loosing money. According to the chair YES!!! think he said a mill this season or needs to put in an extra mill. So what kind of debt is that then?. He said he would want his money back. Are they interest bearing loans. That would increase the debt never as before.

Not having a go at all. BUT THIS

We made a profit for many years under the previous, evidenced by accounts that were a public record scrutinised by shareholders, fans and under the strict code of PLC accounting principles. I would say that’s pretty investable.

What do we really know now? Nothing except what we hear from the chair. No relo, no training ground news, no money, no investors, one out one in and we need another mill to see the season out.

Never has the clubs seen such income, fan support, promotion, great cup run, player transfer income!!! ALL THAT MONEY where has it gone. Oh and plus the 800k was it in the bank at conception.

It’s a private business but that’s progress favoured by vocals as we push up the league’s with Selwyns black and white army. Me hopes 👍👍

Should we be worried 😟 I am.

I think it’s not Magic our Morris but more smoke and mirrors

Any company can profit if it doesn't invest income back into it!!..

Quoted from GibMariner

Are we loosing money. According to the chair YES!!! think he said a mill this season or needs to put in an extra mill. So what kind of debt is that then?. He said he would want his money back. Are they interest bearing loans. That would increase the debt never as before.

Not having a go at all. BUT THIS

We made a profit for many years under the previous, evidenced by accounts that were a public record scrutinised by shareholders, fans and under the strict code of PLC accounting principles. I would say that’s pretty investable.

What do we really know now? Nothing except what we hear from the chair. No relo, no training ground news, no money, no investors, one out one in and we need another mill to see the season out.

Never has the clubs seen such income, fan support, promotion, great cup run, player transfer income!!! ALL THAT MONEY where has it gone. Oh and plus the 800k was it in the bank at conception.

It’s a private business but that’s progress favoured by vocals as we push up the league’s with Selwyns black and white army. Me hopes 👍👍

Should we be worried 😟 I am.

I think it’s not Magic our Morris but more smoke and mirrors

You’re cherry picking to creative a narrative.

Couple of bits,

- Under Fenty the accounts may have looked neat but the our position in the pyramid was lower than it had been in a century

- Under that regime loyal hard working supporters spent £££££‘s having to endure relegations, false hope, poor facilities and a match day experience that sat in the 1920s.

- Whilst we had to put up with the above JSF bullied people out of shares, alienating countless stakeholders in the process but still found the due diligence to line his pension pot.

If you think we were “investable” then your wife needs to get power of attorney over your finances I suspect.

A few other bits,

Where has a lot of income gone?

- Paying Fenty back

- Chespside that was starved of credibility due to a cheap skate

- £300K+ provision in the accounts for the Main Stand

- Other costs to patch up BP that had been denied for the best part of 2 decades.

- Building footballing expertise infrastructure that will I believe progress us.

There’s loads more to be honest.

Just a point though about the £800k in the bank, that’s arguably the biggest smokescreen as that was cash flow and not positive reserves or net assets. Technically that cash belonged to the business & couldn’t be distributed to directors anyway, if it could do you think John would have left it behind as a welcome gift?

Is it worth some form of fan trust fund share system for investing into the new location training ground development?

The youth team has the 200 club scheme that was well subscribed,

The fans are desperate for the new development to get sorted, so would some form of fan capital investment push it sooner??

Quoted from GibMariner

Are we loosing money. According to the chair YES!!! think he said a mill this season or needs to put in an extra mill. So what kind of debt is that then?. He said he would want his money back. Are they interest bearing loans. That would increase the debt never as before.

Not having a go at all. BUT THIS

We made a profit for many years under the previous, evidenced by accounts that were a public record scrutinised by shareholders, fans and under the strict code of PLC accounting principles. I would say that’s pretty investable.

What do we really know now? Nothing except what we hear from the chair. No relo, no training ground news, no money, no investors, one out one in and we need another mill to see the season out.

Never has the clubs seen such income, fan support, promotion, great cup run, player transfer income!!! ALL THAT MONEY where has it gone. Oh and plus the 800k was it in the bank at conception.

It’s a private business but that’s progress favoured by vocals as we push up the league’s with Selwyns black and white army. Me hopes 👍👍

Should we be worried 😟 I am.

I think it’s not Magic our Morris but more smoke and mirrors

Yea John

Up an hour late, fed cat but not take meds. 15 mins late to work

Quoted from GibMariner

We made a profit for many years under the previous, evidenced by accounts that were a public record scrutinised by shareholders, fans and under the strict code of PLC accounting principles. I would say that’s pretty investable.

At the expense of the infrastructure, the league position and the reputation of the football club. But at least we made a small profit each season.

Quoted from Bristol Mariner

Yea John

Wish I was a penny behind him. 😊😊

I write with concern after threading together things coming out of the club.

The fact is the club was viable and not now according to the chair.

The fact is it’s not sustainable which is not consistent with the chair’s values !! and it could be living beyond its means.

Without facts I simply put it out there based upon what comes out of the club.

Quoted from GibMariner

Wish I was a penny behind him. 😊😊

I write with concern after threading together things coming out of the club.

The fact is the club was viable and not now according to the chair.

The fact is it’s not sustainable which is not consistent with the chair’s values !! and it could be living beyond its means.

Without facts I simply put it out there based upon what comes out of the club.

The only reason the club is losing money now is because of Fenty, can you not understand that?...
New pontoon roof, essential safety works to the main stand, BP drainage, cheapside pitch n facilities dropping to bits needed major surgery!..
You see, we were sustainable because he spent nothing on the club whilst lining his pockets with a healthy pension pot and robbing shares from the trust, oh and let's not forget the £1.5m loan he wanted back!! .

Quoted from mariner91

At the expense of the infrastructure, the league position and the reputation of the football club. But at least we made a small profit each season.

Who needs to train with round footballs anyway?

Quoted from HertsGTFC

You’re cherry picking to creative a narrative.

Couple of bits,

- Under Fenty the accounts may have looked neat but the our position in the pyramid was lower than it had been in a century

- Under that regime loyal hard working supporters spent £££££‘s having to endure relegations, false hope, poor facilities and a match day experience that sat in the 1920s.

- Whilst we had to put up with the above JSF bullied people out of shares, alienating countless stakeholders in the process but still found the due diligence to line his pension pot.

If you think we were “investable” then your wife needs to get power of attorney over your finances I suspect.

A few other bits,

Where has a lot of income gone?

- Paying Fenty back

- Chespside that was starved of credibility due to a cheap skate

- £300K+ provision in the accounts for the Main Stand

- Other costs to patch up BP that had been denied for the best part of 2 decades.

- Building footballing expertise infrastructure that will I believe progress us.

There’s loads more to be honest.

Just a point though about the £800k in the bank, that’s arguably the biggest smokescreen as that was cash flow and not positive reserves or net assets. Technically that cash belonged to the business & couldn’t be distributed to directors anyway, if it could do you think John would have left it behind as a welcome gift?

To add to this list about 'no training ground news', as JS said there are legal problems which do not involve them, so they have to wait until those legal problems are sorted out by the third parties. So pretty much all of your cherry picking has been answered, I can't wait to see what your next pearls of wisdom will bring us.

Quoted from Northbank Mariner

The only reason the club is losing money now is because of Fenty, can you not understand that?...
New pontoon roof, essential safety works to the main stand, BP drainage, cheapside pitch n facilities dropping to bits needed major surgery!..
You see, we were sustainable because he spent nothing on the club whilst lining his pockets with a healthy pension pot and robbing shares from the trust, oh and let's not forget the £1.5m loan he wanted back!! .

Ok I get the narrative. But does it really fit.

The fact is the club has always maintained a safety certificate without the sensation / fuss inferred today. If the new owners chose to make investments in vanity projects like glass screens in the upper and the idea of removing a few posts in the main, which as an engineer I cannot fathom, but its their prarogative. And presumably rather than maintain the Pony roof, instead to fit the idea of none relocation, it was maybe felt good money spent for the long term . Ask the owners I prefer not to speculate.

Oh and repayment of loans doesn’t hit the balance sheet or affect profit.

Oh and by the way the pitch remains a mess JT mentioned it in a recent game and I we are not through the bad wether.

Happy to blame the previous for all-SORTS but after three years, the argument it’s all Fenty’s fault cannot be taken seriously.

We don’t even know if there is a problem because we haven seen the accounts. As mentioned in my first post I only thread together what’s coming from the chair/club. No axe to grind but remain concerned.

Quoted from GibMariner

Ok I get the narrative. But does it really fit.

The fact is the club has always maintained a safety certificate without the sensation / fuss inferred today. If the new owners chose to make investments in vanity projects like glass screens in the upper and the idea of removing a few posts in the main, which as an engineer I cannot fathom, but its their prarogative. And presumably rather than maintain the Pony roof, instead to fit the idea of none relocation, it was maybe felt good money spent for the long term . Ask the owners I prefer not to speculate.

Oh and repayment of loans doesn’t hit the balance sheet or affect profit.

Oh and by the way the pitch remains a mess JT mentioned it in a recent game and I we are not through the bad wether.

Happy to blame the previous for all-SORTS but after three years, the argument it’s all Fenty’s fault cannot be taken seriously.

We don’t even know if there is a problem because we haven seen the accounts. As mentioned in my first post I only thread together what’s coming from the chair/club. No axe to grind but remain concerned.

Surely as an engineer you'd understand the term end of life regarding the main stand columns? Also in the hundred plus years since they where installed materials and engineering practices have evolved. If the structural engineers can calculate that the roof can safely be supported by less columns thats a win for the fans too surely?

As regards the pitch. While not perfect its a damn sight better than it has been in my living memory. I'm pretty sure theres at least 1 game this season that would have been called off last season and in previous seasons due to the rain. the Findus stand side has far more grass on it than it usually does this time of year

as for the safety certificate its my understanding that at least 2 stands would have been condemned in the last couple of seasons due to lack of preventative maintenance, i cant help but feel that the sale of the club and the work needed on the stadium is not a coincidence....

Quoted from GibMariner

Ok I get the narrative. But does it really fit.

The fact is the club has always maintained a safety certificate without the sensation / fuss inferred today. If the new owners chose to make investments in vanity projects like glass screens in the upper and the idea of removing a few posts in the main, which as an engineer I cannot fathom, but its their prarogative. And presumably rather than maintain the Pony roof, instead to fit the idea of none relocation, it was maybe felt good money spent for the long term . Ask the owners I prefer not to speculate.

Oh and repayment of loans doesn’t hit the balance sheet or affect profit.

Oh and by the way the pitch remains a mess JT mentioned it in a recent game and I we are not through the bad wether.

Happy to blame the previous for all-SORTS but after three years, the argument it’s all Fenty’s fault cannot be taken seriously.

We don’t even know if there is a problem because we haven seen the accounts. As mentioned in my first post I only thread together what’s coming from the chair/club. No axe to grind but remain concerned.

Was mer fenty some sort of engineer is he not rumoured to be counting his pennies somewhere Spain way just saying that’s all

Quoted from GibMariner

Happy to blame the previous for all-SORTS but after three years, the argument it’s all Fenty’s fault cannot be taken seriously.

Of course it can. If somebody had neglected their teeth/body for 20 years you can't snap your fingers and fix it all straight away. And there will always be ramifications from that time of neglect.

Quoted from paulmblythe

Surely as an engineer you'd understand the term end of life regarding the main stand columns? Also in the hundred plus years since they where installed materials and engineering practices have evolved. If the structural engineers can calculate that the roof can safely be supported by less columns thats a win for the fans too surely?

As regards the pitch. While not perfect its a damn sight better than it has been in my living memory. I'm pretty sure theres at least 1 game this season that would have been called off last season and in previous seasons due to the rain. the Findus stand side has far more grass on it than it usually does this time of year

as for the safety certificate its my understanding that at least 2 stands would have been condemned in the last couple of seasons due to lack of preventative maintenance, i cant help but feel that the sale of the club and the work needed on the stadium is not a coincidence....

Not seen you post before but welcome.

Not sure what you are trying to justify.

I have no axe to grind, and see no plausible evidence to think the wooden structure and related supporting posts / columns are requiring replacement, and accept that’s entirely a matter for the current administration, equally I don’t accept the ‘term end of life’. Do you have such evidence as there are no signs of subsidence or any other such failure.

Again where’s the evidance 2 stands would have been condemned but for routine anual maintenance.

If you missed it. AP acknowledged in a recent interview that they were aware of the 10 year structural report when acquiring the club.

Your final point. Was it not the case that the new owners negotiated publicly their wish to acquire / force the sale of the club to them.

However, I do understand that these facts may not fit the narrative!!!

Quoted from GibMariner

Not seen you post before but welcome.

Not sure what you are trying to justify.

I have no axe to grind, and see no plausible evidence to think the wooden structure and related supporting posts / columns are requiring replacement, and accept that’s entirely a matter for the current administration, equally I don’t accept the ‘term end of life’. Do you have such evidence as there are no signs of subsidence or any other such failure - the post, made of wood and steel, would has rotted and the steel work suffered with Chloride pitting corrosion(and before you say anything, I'm an integrity engineer in the petrochemicals so this is my bread n butter). Therefore they needed replacement/repair.

Again where’s the evidance 2 stands would have been condemned but for routine anual maintenance - see above.

If you missed it. AP acknowledged in a recent interview that they were aware of the 10 year structural report when acquiring the club - AP acknowledged the requirements for a 10 year report which they had done and they were shocked by the recommendations and requirements to get the stands and ground up to a suitable standard.

Your final point. Was it not the case that the new owners negotiated publicly their wish to acquire / force the sale of the club to them - nobody bar JSF forced the sale, Fenty copulated up trying to bring a conman into the club (and council for that matter) and was forced to sell up. Luckily AP, JS and TS put a consortium to save the club from near ruin. You must think investment into the future of the club is a bad thing and Fenty did a fantastic job, honestly, wake up and smell the coffee, the club is the best shape its been in for 25+ years!!..

However, I do understand that these facts may not fit the narrative!!!

Quoted from GibMariner

Wish I was a penny behind him. 😊😊

I write with concern after threading together things coming out of the club.

The fact is the club was viable and not now according to the chair.

The fact is it’s not sustainable which is not consistent with the chair’s values !! and it could be living beyond its means.

Without facts I simply put it out there based upon what comes out of the club.

Errrrrr getyourfactsright

Quoted from GibMariner

Ok I get the narrative. But does it really fit.

The fact is the club has always maintained a safety certificate without the sensation / fuss inferred today. If the new owners chose to make investments in vanity projects like glass screens in the upper and the idea of removing a few posts in the main, which as an engineer I cannot fathom, but its their prarogative. And presumably rather than maintain the Pony roof, instead to fit the idea of none relocation, it was maybe felt good money spent for the long term . Ask the owners I prefer not to speculate.

Oh and repayment of loans doesn’t hit the balance sheet or affect profit.

Oh and by the way the pitch remains a mess JT mentioned it in a recent game and I we are not through the bad wether.

Happy to blame the previous for all-SORTS but after three years, the argument it’s all Fenty’s fault cannot be taken seriously.

We don’t even know if there is a problem because we haven seen the accounts. As mentioned in my first post I only thread together what’s coming from the chair/club. No axe to grind but remain concerned.

To add to all the other answers to your post, the glass screens and new stand support posts were not a " vanity project". They were actioned as a response to what the fans wanted in a questionair/poll from JS and AP and also to address poor visibility from seats with restricted views.

Just about everything he has posted in this thread has been shot down, but I'm sure he will come back with some more rubbish.

Quoted from GibMariner

Ok I get the narrative. But does it really fit.

The fact is the club has always maintained a safety certificate without the sensation / fuss inferred today. If the new owners chose to make investments in vanity projects like glass screens in the upper and the idea of removing a few posts in the main, which as an engineer I cannot fathom, but its their prarogative. And presumably rather than maintain the Pony roof, instead to fit the idea of none relocation, it was maybe felt good money spent for the long term . Ask the owners I prefer not to speculate.

Oh and repayment of loans doesn’t hit the balance sheet or affect profit.

Oh and by the way the pitch remains a mess JT mentioned it in a recent game and I we are not through the bad wether.

Happy to blame the previous for all-SORTS but after three years, the argument it’s all Fenty’s fault cannot be taken seriously.

We don’t even know if there is a problem because we haven seen the accounts. As mentioned in my first post I only thread together what’s coming from the chair/club. No axe to grind but remain concerned.

Bit in bold - Correct (kind of) and actually I'm glad we paid him off quickly as it just completely disconnects him after 20 off years of stupidity.

Quoted from GibMariner

Not seen you post before but welcome.

Not sure what you are trying to justify.

I have no axe to grind, and see no plausible evidence to think the wooden structure and related supporting posts / columns are requiring replacement, and accept that’s entirely a matter for the current administration, equally I don’t accept the ‘term end of life’. Do you have such evidence as there are no signs of subsidence or any other such failure.

Again where’s the evidance 2 stands would have been condemned but for routine anual maintenance.

If you missed it. AP acknowledged in a recent interview that they were aware of the 10 year structural report when acquiring the club.

Your final point. Was it not the case that the new owners negotiated publicly their wish to acquire / force the sale of the club to them.

However, I do understand that these facts may not fit the narrative!!!

Not seen you post before but welcome.
Thank you been here a while dont post that often.

Not sure what you are trying to justify.
Just offering an alternative opinion.

I have no axe to grind, and see no plausible evidence to think the wooden structure and related supporting posts / columns are requiring replacement, and accept that’s entirely a matter for the current administration, equally I don’t accept the ‘term end of life’. Do you have such evidence as there are no signs of subsidence or any other such failure.

Not that i could publish on here. Id argue if we where at the stage of subsidence or failure of the columns we are far too late. Renewal is to prevent this. Have you noticed the temporary timber additions to the current roof supports?

Again where’s the evidance 2 stands would have been condemned but for routine anual maintenance.

Its been stated publicly that the Osmond and Pontoon had issues. i dont have the evidence to hand,

If you missed it. AP acknowledged in a recent interview that they were aware of the 10 year structural report when acquiring the club.

Your final point. Was it not the case that the new owners negotiated publicly their wish to acquire / force the sale of the club to them.

i think your forgetting a few other issues id presume its not just one thing but a combination of the groundswell of fans opinions regarding the May fiasco ontop of all the other bad feelings, the expense that was about to be incured fixing the ground etc and the new owners pushing to buy. You know those tyre kickers as they where described as...
However, I do understand that these facts may not fit the narrative!!!
[b] I think theres several narratives at play here...

Quoted from GibMariner

Ok I get the narrative. But does it really fit.

The fact is the club has always maintained a safety certificate without the sensation / fuss inferred today. If the new owners chose to make investments in vanity projects like glass screens in the upper and the idea of removing a few posts in the main, which as an engineer I cannot fathom, but its their prarogative. And presumably rather than maintain the Pony roof, instead to fit the idea of none relocation, it was maybe felt good money spent for the long term . Ask the owners I prefer not to speculate.

Oh and repayment of loans doesn’t hit the balance sheet or affect profit.

Oh and by the way the pitch remains a mess JT mentioned it in a recent game and I we are not through the bad wether.

Happy to blame the previous for all-SORTS but after three years, the argument it’s all Fenty’s fault cannot be taken seriously.

We don’t even know if there is a problem because we haven seen the accounts. As mentioned in my first post I only thread together what’s coming from the chair/club. No axe to grind but remain concerned.

Debt repayment may not impact the profit but it does have a major impact on cashflow.

Quoted from GibMariner

Not seen you post before but welcome.

Not sure what you are trying to justify.

I have no axe to grind, and see no plausible evidence to think the wooden structure and related supporting posts / columns are requiring replacement, and accept that’s entirely a matter for the current administration, equally I don’t accept the ‘term end of life’. Do you have such evidence as there are no signs of subsidence or any other such failure.

Again where’s the evidance 2 stands would have been condemned but for routine anual maintenance.

If you missed it. AP acknowledged in a recent interview that they were aware of the 10 year structural report when acquiring the club.

Your final point. Was it not the case that the new owners negotiated publicly their wish to acquire / force the sale of the club to them.

However, I do understand that these facts may not fit the narrative!!!

Are you suggesting that, because AP was aware of the issues, money wasn't needed to rectify them?

You don’t need to be an engineer, an expect in ground safety, or a club owner to notice that the bloody stand is dangerous ( fire risk) not fit for purpose and been badly starved of any love and care for a very long time

Quoted from crusty ole pie

You don’t need to be an engineer, an expect in ground safety, or a club owner to notice that the bloody stand is dangerous ( fire risk) not fit for purpose and been badly starved of any love and care for a very long time

A good reason to rebuild or relocate

Quoted from GibMariner

A good reason to rebuild or relocate

But you or your bed pal failed to do either for twenty years

Quoted from crusty ole pie

But you or your bed pal failed to do either for twenty years

😊😊 No argument from me on that. Past is one thing and now is the important.

Quoted from GibMariner

A good reason to rebuild or relocate

And are you going to provide the millions of pounds that would require? You really need to think before you post.

Quoted from 123614

And are you going to provide the millions of pounds that would require? You really need to think before you post.

No chance he didn’t find or provide it in 20 years

Quoted from crusty ole pie

No chance he didn’t find or provide it in 20 years

Lol, nice one :)

Have a read of this GibMariner, and see how a certain chairman put next to fook all into the club and walked away with millions. Most lower league club owners end up out of pocket to the tune of millions, but not this one.

https://codalmighty.com/site/ca.php?article=7977

Quoted from ginnywings

Have a read of this GibMariner, and see how a certain chairman put next to fook all into the club and walked away with millions. Most lower league club owners end up out of pocket to the tune of millions, but not this one.

https://codalmighty.com/site/ca.php?article=7977

Enjoyed that series of well thought out & written articles ,may well have a re-read . I was under the impression there was a final 1 that was never released , I guess it's probably easy to make the assumption as to why and who .

Quoted from acko338

Is it worth some form of fan trust fund share system for investing into the new location training ground development?

The youth team has the 200 club scheme that was well subscribed,

The fans are desperate for the new development to get sorted, so would some form of fan capital investment push it sooner??

Are fans desperate for the new development?

The gang I go with have never mentioned it and the talk around where we sit is why are we floundering around the bottom of Division 4, why are we getting fooked 6-1 at home and is Artell any better that Hurst.