Out of the many nicknames for Lazarus that I have read so far, Dasani has to be one of the best. For those not ITK - Dasani isn't really what it purports to be.
They should be paying us double what they used to for sure. That's the only way that it benefits us......and they are desperately in need of a pitch all season so I don't think it's unrealistic for us to make them pay that.
A club needing cash and another needing a ground ! Money can be borrowed , Grounds could be harder especially with their timescales ,make them pay!!!Up front and legally obliged to re turf the ground when they leave!!!
I wouldn't be surprised if they stayed even longer. You'd like to think we have got some where the Sarries pay some cash up but who knows!
From what I read and know of planning procedures, I think that there is only a fifty/fifty chance that they will get permission to develop the new site. If it is turned down they will appeal and may get it then, but it all takes time. The money that they paid Watford just about covered costs according to Julian Winter. I guess that something better has been agreed, but then the expected statement has not been made.
Whatever the outcome it can't be negative for Watford - we either get more money or don't have our pitch ruined
Pitch is knackered anyway, so what the hell ,take the money and make sure we are not getting ripped off this time ,maybe a game by game review of whether we want them there or not!!!
Statement from the Official Site; http://www.watfordfc.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10400~2357673,00.html An agreement for 10 games on "Enhanced terms" with the option of more games on a game-by-game basis. Guess that's all the info we'll get....
From a purely financial point of view, this is good news - its revenue we hadnt previously budgeted for. In terms of the pitch, something needs to be made clear - the surface is awful because its past its sell-by date, NOT because rugby is played on it every other week. Due to the age of the pitch it certainly it hasnt helped, but its not the cause. Wigan and Hull both share their ground with rugby teams, and the playing surface at both grounds is very good from what ive seen. You could even say the same about Wembley, despite all the initial problems. So now there are 2 clear scenarios which will be dictated by finances: (1) we get a brand new, shiny playing surface which is serviceable and can easily be repaired after the egg-chasers have had their way with it, or (2) the playing surface isnt replaced and its as you were - whether Saracens play on it or not is irrelevent, itll be awful either way. Sorry but i cant see the negative side of this, no matter how, erm... "unprofessionally" Saracens go about their business.
I can well see Saracens being with us the whole of next season and should they fail to get planning permission what then? We could be having the same discussion this time next year.
I agree that it is more down to how old the pitch is rather than rugby being played on it... but it also doesn't get the recovery time in between games it would if only Watford's first team played on it. Yes the pitch still wouldn't be great, but it would be better if only football was palyed on it. We also don't know how much is being paid, where this money is going to etc. Maybe Bas intends to use it to pay off some debt quicker, maybe Malky will get some, maybe they are 'ring-fencing' it until Sarries are gone and re-do the pitch then - Maybe we will be told, but no information has been provided yet... if it will. Yes it is great to get extra income we weren't expecting. if it means keeping John Eustace for instance... I just think we all would like to know but we seem to be getting a recurring theme of much of the information being withheld.
Trouble is the Saracens will complicate the planning over re-laying the pitch - if they were gone then there is no argument other than money -but with them here some will prefer to wait till they are gone so they don't ruin a new surface
I have a feeling the pitch wasnt going to be relaid anyway ! So get sarries in and take there money maybe on a month by month contract !
