In reference to the club/owner recognising a need to change tack I think Is quite the correct approach. Who that will benefit in the long term is quite anyone's guess but as the famous quote goes;
"...doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result."
We have stagnated so much as a club. Regardless of how they are/have doing/done it, look at many of the clubs around us, one thing has stood out. They have changed tack and developed a new stadia. Bristol City, Reading (ugh), Southampton, Bournemouth (more ugh). They've all been in the doldrums like ourselves and yet they've all managed to move on and sustained Tier two or higher. Yes all of those clubs have wealthy backers. We had a wealthy backer in Black, Arbib & co. Infact I think their personal wealth was higher than the likes of Madjeski and the fella at Bristol City. We can bang on about the Madjeski being a soulless field of plastic seats (I bloody hate it and their "fans") but they key thing is, they bring in extra revenue. It's a 24/7 facility. We have buggar all. I love this club as much as any of you here but if ever there was a time for STFC to "move on" now is the time. Otherwise I feel the club will just run itself into the ground. None of us want that, I'm certain.
We should be a tier two club, there is no doubt. Forget historically we're Tier three. I go through so many clubs that are above us that have "moved on" and I think, we can easily be where they are. Burnley, Cardiff, Swansea, Huddersfield, Brighton, Burton, Hull, Wigan, Shrewsbury. It almost sounds ridiculous how many of these clubs are thriving better than us but they all have a common factor. New ground/redeveloped ground. Pretty much all with extra revenue streams via the club facilities (gyms/5-a-side/spa/hotel/units rented to restaurants and other retail).
I can't wait for all the cunt points btw
Good post so no cunt points from me
You are reflecting the legitimate desire of our fanbase for progress on the ground as a step towards financial stability. I share that wish for progress. In my view that could
only be achieved if the Trust purchases the freehold.
Firstly let's keep clear who could (in the simplest of terms) be involved in the County Ground Freehold purchase:
STFC LTD (ie Power's loss making business))
the Trust (ie vehicle for fans' purchase of County Ground freehold)
Where appropriate I refer to STFC LTD as Power and to the Trust as the Fans
If STFC LTD buys the CG freehold then the club's Landlord becomes Power (or the owner for the time being of the STFC LTD)
If the Trust buys the CG then the club's new Landlord becomes the Fans.
On paper the Fans' ownership of the CG in place of SBC does
not adversely impact one single previously stated ambition of Power for the club. What it does do is ensure that
IF there is any future development of the CG, the Fans would be involved as its owner. If there were profits to be made from any "development" (whether as income stream or from a planning gain) then the Trust would inevitably share in them.
Otherwise, why the hell would anyone think any financial risk takers in buying the County Ground or in its development would somehow voluntarily just "give" the club a share of any gain or income stream? ie a permanent gift to enure for the club rather than to STFC LTD, solely owned at present by Power?
Why is Power suddenly interested?
IMO that would be because in ADDITION TO ownership and control of the CG, there may ALSO be a
present "hope value", ie for a
future planning gain. If so, should any planning windfall accrue to the Fans plus backers (for the permanent benefit of the Club) or to Power plus backers?
The Fans' financial backers would include those fans purchasing shares plus the Eady Estate (neither of which is likely to require a financial return for itself - unlike an STFC LTD/Power purchase).
Power is no worse off with the Trust as replacement Landlord. Any ground purchase, let alone development, will demand unascertained backers and terms. Trust ownership of the Ground could also ensure the Fans had some leverage on any future purchaser of the club. I do not see Power with or without backers as financially capable of driving the club forward.
Excepting the dream billionaire fan-owner, I see permanent progress for the club at least a decade away. The acquisition now of the CG freehold is the best opportunity to secure this for the Fans' benefit in the club's hundred year history. What's another decade now?
