Like others I witness on the news last night the issues Coventry are having with their new stadium. How they went from having a stadium the club owned to now renting an over priced stadium just to have a new luxery stadium with more seats. I witness a few years ago at times the away fans out number the home fans as Coventry believed having the new stadium would help move the club forward. Unfortunately the revenue hasnt been there and now there is legal action being taken over the club not paying rent which is more than 10 times more than the average rent paid by other league one clubs. It makes me wonder if we could end up in the same position if we leave Ashton Gate to move to Ashton Vale, in to a stadium that will NOT be owned by the club. The new stadium would be owned by a group that SL is on but with the cost they will have to pay for the stadium how much will they be charging City to use the site, will we get enough revenue in the cover the costs and make a profit? as most fans are fickle that they will only come if the club is winning. currently we wouldnt even sell half the ground if we had a 30k seater stadium. If we got in to the Prem it would be sold out each week for fans who want to see the big teams play. The more I think about it the more I would be in favour of staying at the Gate and looking to redevelop which could be rebuilding each stand from scratch and if they were able to build a stand a season (or two) I'm sure we would have a new ground sooner than moving to Ashton Vale which wont be ready for 10+ years by the times you have gone through these courts and if we win the locals will likely then go to the European courts etc. I know its SL legacy to have a new stadium but maybe whats best for the club is to stay put and rebuild but thats the issue we face, whats best for us as a club and whats best for SL may be two different things.
We need to get a lot of other things sorted out before we move to the new stadium. Moving in before we sort out the overall club finances could prove disastrous so let's prove that we can put a product on the pitch and fill the seats at Ashton Gate first. The stadium must wait.
It would be good for finances Mike, but NOT if we're relegated. The stadium (done properly!!) could generate a lot on income through corpoarate events etc. Like you said though, the position the club finds itself in now compared to just a few years ago, I think I would stay well clear.. If we are unable to appoint a decent manager to run a football team, can you imagine what would happen if we did the same for the stadium???
Give it a rest Onefor I'm bloody fed up with going round and round and round in circles with these manager issues I got on my soapbox when the fans wanted Johnson out (still a disasterous decision in my opinion), and then again when Millen started to lose a few. What was he guilty of ? Bringing in Caulker, Woolford, Haynes, I applauded with everyone else when Coppell arrived, then found out that he was an unwilling participant. You can lead a horse to water etc, but at least he left us with Cisse and Adomah Now we have the much lauded McInnes, who couldn't put a foot wrong at the start of the season, but committed the cardinal sin of a losing run. What did you think ? Was he going to lead us right back to the promised land from a standing start. It took Dicks 9 years to put us there, what makes us so different that we can expect instant success ? As for relegation, frankly I doubt it and will continue to until January when things begin to get real. One common denominator with all the above managers is that NONE OF THEM have had the wisdom to upgrade our lucid defence, and that is why all but McInnes have ultimately failed. So the bottom line with me is.. 1) Dont expect miracles because when you do they rarely happen 2) McInnes will have my LOYAL (look it up in the dictionary guys) support until January 3) IF and only if McInnes goes and buys a couple of excellent Central Defenders in the window, he will continue to get my support. You cant build a house on quicksand... 4) If the above happens I will wait and support until the bad run of form and results turns and McInnes BEGINS
Oh, and the stadium IS a brilliant idea, but then so is developing AG. As long as we are developing I dont mind which. Either will ultimately stand or fall by the success of the team (and by extension, depending on the calibre of youngsters in the academy. That is why the academy is so important to our future)
It's up to you if you prefer to sit there happy clapping, I can't do that if I feel strongly that something is not right. I too didn't want GJ sacked and always quoted "he was the best manager we had since AD".....but that's gone. I'm not gonna go through all the "it took AD 8 years bit" as it seems like you are unable to see that the game has moved on since the 60s & 70s. But reading a report from last nights AGM at Ashton Gate, it confirms to me that Del is clueless with anything apart from a 442 formation. Which when we get injuries to certain players we're stuffed. There are too many excuses, the football is dire and we are 3rd from bottom with one win in god knows how many games.... And you are willing to back that are you? I hope everyone that gives Del their loyal support don't come on here shouting the odds like "he should have gone ages ago" if we get relegated. Or "it was bad luck because of injuries etc"
I would have been more than happy to redevelop Ashton Gate instead of moving. But then the numpties in Ashton Vale got involved, and took things far from a peaceful demonstration of a developer building on land near their homes. For this reason alone I hope Steve Lansdown sticks with this to the very end, and if we do get our stadium I hope the builders make as much ****ing noise as they want. Hell, if they give us the stadium in the beginning of next year I'll run down to Ashton Vale and start myself. It's a risk, but Lansdown wouldn't **** us over. He is the guy who wanted the new stadium because of its new revenue streams. It's also a stadium that would open the club up to investment elsewhere, leading to a decent payout for Lansdown's support.
1For - the only thing you've been wrong about lately is Lansdown's fortune - you said he's worth £300 million. Apparently it's now £750 million - he made £298 million last year alone (and I thought I had a good year !). He won't be worried about the £35 million we owe him - A lot to us but a drop in the ocean for him. Wait till the Revolution mate ...................
'to sit there happy clapping' Just to think 1For - you, your boy Redside and BJA were all in the same happy clapping gang about Junior and his Dad. Ironic that Redside, who told us all how brilliant an appointment McInnes would be, has gone missing from the EP site (BinRelegated on there). And BJA was your best pal on 606 and now calls you all sorts. R/S and BJA have deserted you - wouldn't want their sort in the trenches.
You can see Why I was happy clapping now Redprintt....looking whats gone on since the LJ & GJ bit it wasn't all that bad!! Yeah, don't know what happened to Redside, or Hanu...lol wonder what he thinks of what's gone on.....he was one of those that DEMANED better entertainment..and also felt we'd be better off in League 1 if needs must........seems like he will get his wish.. I've just said to Wiz on a different thread, that I'm taking a back seat for a few weeks....I think by now, everyone knows my views on the current management, most seem to be content!! I quite understand those being fed up or bored of seeing my anti Del comments all the time.......so it's a good idea I leave them to it for a while...... I can't wait to see the "Del should have gone a long time ago" comments in a few months time!!!!! NB. I wonder what LJ is thinking of our situation???? Glad to be away from all I imagine!!
"R/S and BJA have deserted you - wouldn't want their sort in the trenches" Thats strange? You all but disappeared when Delboy was doing well (like Onefor) yet your both out posting like the worlds gonna end any minute! (its the 20th dec apparently so no need to rush)
Not true Banksy, I said I would keep quiet and give him pre season plus 12 games of the new season to see if I was wrong about appointing him last October..
Having a go at me Redprintt...you naughty little boy. Watch Del prove you doubters wrong...I have every faith in him !!
'You all but disappeared when Delboy was doing well' 55 from Gillingham till end of Sept. 56 1st November till now. Let's not get facts get in the way of a good story.
"Let's not get facts get in the way of a good story" It doesn't seem to bother any one else on here, so I might as well jump on the bandwagon..
