As reported elsewhere it has now reached the WO. http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/9017371.Saracens_will_be_staying_at_Vicarage_Road/ There has been some doubt about them ever getting planning permission from the day they announced where they would be going. The London Mayor has already opposed it on the grounds that it is green belt land.
It looks unlikely that anything will be done about the pitch, so I guess that nothing will happen to the SW corner. I think that we need a statement from the club that not only deals with Saracens playing in Watford again, but something to give some idea of what the overall plans for the club are now that Mr. B has control.
I can't see any positive's coming out of this, unless they have given us a very large amount that hasn't been reported, which will mean cash for Malky! If they're going to stay for most of next season, at least make a deal they replace the pitch!! Makes you wonder what deal has been struck... and if we will ever find out!!
Not good news. The pitch seriously inhibits good football and, given the number of promising young players we have, will inhibit their progress.
Would like to the know the details of the financial arrangement between Baz and Sarries , But as he has been very economical with his words ,I wont be holding my breath!
After all the bad words about the rugby club moving they are back. I hope a very good deal was made by Watfrod FC but I think whatever there is the rugby club, far more important than the stadium owners and residents for 90 years and more, will honour nothing.
I have never been opposed to Saracens playing at Watford, providing that there is a proper surface that will take the wear and tear of both clubs and they make an appropriate payment that covers all costs and gives a profit to Watford. Due to the total miss-management of the finances the pitch was not re-laid three years ago when it was needed,if not before. Due to the manner in which the rugby club dealt with the break clause in the contract, I would have thought that they would be very much on the back foot when asking if they can come back. I hope that they will have to pay a great deal, but seeing as they have been searching for a new home for some months and have come back to Watford, suggests that they know we need the money more than most. As for the Saracens fans who came onto the 606 boards complaining about Vicarage Road and crowing about their shiny new stadium, I assume they will not wish to support their team any longer.
We are not really in a position to drive a hard bargain with Sarries, so I would expect a short term or per game contract , to be played on our current pitch. Already the portents for next season are looking ominous---the division is not likely to be less competitive, our squad is not likely to be stronger, the physical infrastructure will not be better, the finances are not more sustainable, the new owner remains a riddle wrapped in a mystery....how long will Malky stay in these circumstances?
On a match by match basis I would think the Saracens would have to pay considerably more - after all WFC cannot have budgeted for it so are in the driving seat. I would not relay the pitch till they are finally gone though
i had it in my head that we weren't playing any pre-season matches at home because they wanted to sort the pitch out..i guess that's gone out the window now...
It is still possible that we will relay the pitch, the only problem being that sarries still have home play- off games. But these will be dealt with quite quickly and is they are smart (which is doubtful) they would try to play these at wembley if they can, generate more revenue and attract far more interest.
This is an interesting (if slightly amusing) development. I am pleased that Sarries have not been able to secure planning permission in their original timescale as many said they were taking the P. I believe the site won't be ready for a year, so Sarries clearly need a whole season solution. Larry and the Grannies might see this as "new cash", how much will they be paying compared to the previous ã482k? I would have paid big money to be at the "grovelling" ............err Hello this is Sarries, you know we said Goodbye on bad terms, well .......err can we say Hello again? Make them pay, and pay up front.
First of all, this is my first post on not606 so hello to all As both a Watford and a Saracens fan, I think I can honestly approach this from a neutral viewpoint. Politically, I'm not particularly pleased with how the Saracens board have approached this whole idea of moving to a new stadium. They handed in their planning permission far too late to have any hope of the Copthall stadium being ready in time for the new rugby season, which makes the idea that the Saracens board ignored the Watford FC deadlines all the more strange. I think Watford were in a much stronger position at the point of re-negotiation than we give credit for. What were the alternatives for Saracens considering they couldn't drift too far from the Watford/Barnet area? MK Dons? Loftus Road? Underhill? All not exactly feasibly, with Wembley only having a few match-days free a season.
I agree with Lenny. Miffed that Saracens are staying, because we desperately need a new pitch right now, and the fact that we are delaying is surely down to the fact that we can't afford the same one we have now. But I've long said that Saracens staying was a foregone conclusion. If we have any sense whatsoever (unlikely), we will have fleeced them for enough to be able to afford to relay a new pitch once they've gone.
The actual business dealing with Saracens would be within Julian Winter's remit, so there is a glimmer of hope that we have got a good deal. Of course, whether Dasani will allow us to use the proceeds to relay the pitch once they've gone is another matter entirely.
