New board press conference thread

[Ardiles]

Dalumpimunki, Ardiles has probably written more about ground redevelopment than anyone else on this forum and been the most vocal about a general concern (i don't think i've seen anyone seriously pursuing as a worry the concern you brought up earlier, though i stand to be corrected by a link to a comment) that if the new people don't have long term plans for redevelopment then we don't have long term plans for sustainability and the cycle of boom and bust is likely to continue.

You noticed?!  

I do worry sometimes that I may have banged on about this too much and that people are probably getting a little tired of it/want the record changed.  But your take on this and mine are almost identical.  Without a redevelopment or relocation, the only sustainable future I can see for us is one of treading water in the lower leagues...despite having a more substantial supporter base than most clubs in those leagues.  A properly thought out accommodation strategy would be the most revealing statement of intent that the new board could give.

I'll stop now.

[wigglesworth]

I have no problem with Jed, but some of the tweets directed in his direction over the weekend were cringeworthy..I know we were all on a high etc, but he's not the second coming.

Actually, I do have a grizzle about big J; I find the fact that he doesnt know the difference between 'there' and 'their' a little depressing.

  They're their, shhhhhh

To be honest its neither hear nor they're

[london_red]

But then there's also Notts County, Preston, Chesterfield, and the disasters of Rusden and Diamonds and poor old Darlington, where it didn't quite work as well.

Indeed, and you have to ensure the revenue streams come back into the club itself. While I'm not a fan of the out of town stadia, must admit I was really impressed with the setup at Coventry, it's a great stadium. Problem is they don't see a penny of the hotel/casino revenue hence why they are financially in the shit.

[jimmy_onions]

They're their, shhhhhh

To be honest its neither hear nor they're

This is nothing to do with his ability or otherwise to run the club, and I loathe to be lumped in with the Nazi grammar police, but, I just find it a little weird for someone of that age who is, as far as we all know, a relatively successful business man.

[Bukkake Regiment]

For the near future all we really need to do is build a new Townend, a la Tranmere's stand behind the goal, that could take us up to 17k/18k.

[jonny72]

Looking at our average gates, and average gates in the Championship, I can't see that we'd have capacity issues more than a couple of times a season.

Think capacity would effect attendances a lot more than twice a season. But I'm not sure it would happen enough to justify the cost of rebuilding say the Town End, especially as it would only really be an issue in the Championship and who knows how long we'd stay.

[dalumpimunki]

I guess the thing that a redeveloped townend could give us would be some more corporate facilities - boxes etc that we lack at the moment.

[jonny72]

One option is wait until we get promoted to the Championship, then rather than spending all the increased income (worth at least an extra £5m a season) on player transfer fees and salaries we put some of it towards a new stand.

Personally I'd be happy with a single season in the Championship and relegation if it meant a new stand and increased income in the future. Plus Kmac might be able to work wonders on a budget.

[Simon Pieman]

Well the new board haven't ruled out a stadium development but are trying to keep everyone focussed on the target of the championship, which is very attainable.

We didn't expect a new manager to be in so quickly after giving Ward and Miller time. I think positive stuff is taking place behind closed doors.

[BenTheRed]

One option is wait until we get promoted to the Championship, then rather than spending all the increased income (worth at least an extra £5m a season) on player transfer fees and salaries we put some of it towards a new stand.

Personally I'd be happy with a single season in the Championship and relegation if it meant a new stand and increased income in the future. Plus Kmac might be able to work wonders on a budget.

I guess not all that 5m will be profit though - loads of expenses will go up!

It would be interesting what attendances we would get in the championship - personally I think we'd surprise our selfs how big they'd be, but it should act as a business case for modernising the CG

[jonny72]

The £5m is just the increase in centrally distributed funds (ie the Football League, primarily the TV deal).

I'd guess the increases in ticket sales, merchandise, TV fees, sponsorship and so on would be a minimum of another £2m.

The wage bills of some of the Championship clubs is beyond scary, reckon Brighton's must be £15m (based on their loses and the additional income). No way we can compete with that even if we wanted to.

[random_five]

For the near future all we really need to do is build a new Townend, a la Tranmere's stand behind the goal, that could take us up to 17k/18k.

Absolutley agree, was thinking of the same stand, or maybe Stoke's away stand, Townend has to be first on the list.

[Peter Venkman]

The club have already announced it had plans drawn up for a 4,000 seat Town End a year or so ago.

But the Kop at Tranny is a very impressive stand and a similar one would be excellent, if a little smaller though as the Kop holds 5,500.

[Oaksey Moonraker]

If we were to get promoted we may have to do something short term with the Statton Bank like putting a roof on it. Bristol Rovers/Bristol Rugby put a roof on the open terrace a few years ago for under 100k. If we did something like that, we could give over to the away fans giving them 2500 seats under cover. With no immediate plans for redevelopment it could bring this part of the ground into play more regularly. Might pay for itself with larger away attendances in the Championship.

[Peter Gibbons]

If we were to get promoted we may have to do something short term with the Statton Bank like putting a roof on it. Bristol Rovers/Bristol Rugby put a roof on the open terrace a few years ago for under 100k. If we did something like that, we could give over to the away fans giving them 2500 seats under cover. With no immediate plans for redevelopment it could bring this part of the ground into play more regularly. Might pay for itself with larger away attendances in the Championship.

I understand the residents behind would probably object which is why there is talk of moving the town end back and shifting the pitch in that direction