Looks like we got lodgers for the entire season ! http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/9251117.Saracens_unveil_revised_Copthall_plans/
I've said it befor and I'll say it again - I used to be a big fan of the ground sharing idea, plus I like the idea of another top sporting team in the town, but the shabby way they treated GT & co earlier in the year was inexcusable I hope we are taking them to the cleaners
Yes untill we get pitch relaid nondown side- realy hope we are gouging them, they get refused planning permission and we kick them out
I thought the original plans were 10 games , now it seems its the whole season , so a variation on the old news ,an extension of the old news if you like!
Now that we know that there is zero prospect of a long term deal which makes sense for both clubs, and now that Bassini has stuck his neck out and said that we are relaying the pitch this summer, even I think that this summer should be the cut-off. Otherwise we will end up spending hundreds of thousands more than we need on the pitch for the sake of one season.
Let us suppose that we have a dry mild winter and the pitch holds up fairly well, the Sarries planning application is turned down or referred for further consultations prompted by Barnet FC, and the rugby club come waving fistfuls of money for another 10 games, it becomes the perfect opportunity to put off re-laying the pitch for another season. For a club that has supposedly a set of wizard owners, who despite what a number of folks on here said, still thought that they could be in new surroundings at the beginning of this season, shows a degree of naivety beyond belief. I also hope that they are having to pay through the nose after the way they treated WFC last year, but would not be surprised to see them coming back again and begging to use the ground next season.
I agree take them to the cleaners they were really shabby in their treatment of us. I cant stand Rugby and the so called gentlemans game, Mike Tindall and all. If it was footballers they would have been hung drawn and quartered. Lets say a couple of million then they can stay and they need to build us a new stand that should sort them egg chasers out. Failing that P*ss off up to the big smoke.
To his credit, Bassini has delivered on the first stage of his plan to rebuild the club, by making the funds available to beef up the squad. Preparing for life after Saracens and sorting out the pitch was very clearly earmarked as the second stage. I'm open to the possibility of delaying it french. But on football grounds the evidence is pretty clear: our form tails off as the pitch deteriorates. For a delay to be worth it from a financial perspective, the amount Saracens are offering would have to mitigate against the potential drop of revenue and transfer fees if that form costs us our place in this division. The amount I think we need to charge for an extra season for it to be worth our while would be so high that I think it would be worth Saracens' while to look at Hammersmith seriously (sorry that last sentence was a bit long winded!)
I would look at what our core business is , ie playing football, if having a good surface helps or hinders us in our main objective (staying in this division) As NNW states sarries have to pay for any potential losses caused by a dud pitch ! If they dont then its FO time for Sarries!
I have been looking at the site works program for the redevelopment of Copthall and discover that from the date of final planning approval, if given, there is a 55 week build allowed for. It would not be unusual for this program to over run, but if it could all be brought home on time they are looking at over a year when they will still be homeless. Seeing as planning will probably not be considered before November, they could be looking for somewhere to play until January 2013 or beyond.
I have also found this: "The reality in professional rugby is that clubs who operate their own home grounds, rather than rent from football clubs, are the clubs who make the most progress towards commercial viability. This search became more urgent in 2010 when Watford Football Club, our landlords at Vicarage Road since the 1997/98 season, exercised a clause in our rental contract, ending our tenancy at the end of the 2010/11 season. The Championship football club have since agreed to a one-year extension, but their Board have made it clear they will not consider a further extension beyond the end of the 2011/12 season." I don't think that WFC ended their tenancy. They chose not to pay a more realist rental charge and so ended it themselves.
Laughable so are we expected to have them as tennants at costprice! They were offered a partnership where we would developed the ground together which they rejected. We should offer barnet fc as much support in their fight as posibble
There is nothing wrong with the South Africans! There are many people who would benefit from a short stay in that country to learn the meaning of hard work and respect for the fellow man and belongings.
You talking about the same place I went to? granted they work hard , but they are nearly as arrogant as the noggies and respect for fellow man , dont make me laugh ! the townships are still there you know , the vast majority of the blacl population are below the poverty line because they are from a different tribe to the ruling black classes ! To see what will happen in SA you only have to go over the border to Zimbabwe!
I may never have been there, but i am very close to a few South Africans and they are anything but arrogant! They have more respect for each other than you will find here. You walk into luton and you risk being stabbed, if you wear a suit its cos you might have money, if you are in chav clothes its cos you might be a chav. People here will not help each other or go out of their way for anything! However, the family i know would go out of their way to do anything for me, including driving half the county to get me home on time and paying for me to eat with them at a restaurant just so i could spend time with their daughter my friend. There are plenty of people in this country who are below the poverty line because they wont work and cba to do anything. In SA people will work 12-13 hour days to put food on their tables and then still have time to do the house work (much like yourself). Whilst i admit that as a nation they are not perfect, nor is anyone else.
