SUFC: The Future Consortium and Ron exchange contracts... so when will they be signed??

[sufc4life21]

Correct, Tom said the plan was to have the New training ground open, for the beginning of pre season training.

Might be plan but if by then situation regarding the club ownership isn't resolved I can't see how they can. Currently there isn't any actual facilities.

 

[Wise Head]

Incidentally the report is quite interesting. Changes are not just moving housing from RH to FF. The financials are changing as well - leases increasing to 55yrs for example. I really hope council can agree to the changes, but the more thats changing the more chance the council cannot agree

https://democracy.southend.gov.uk/documents/s59698/Report%20of%20Exec%20Director%20Envt%20and%20Place%20and%20Exec%20Director%20Fin%20and%20Resources.pdf

I am slightly concerned that there are changes to the length of the leases before Southend Council own the housing at FF. If they are being changed from was it 25 years to 55 years that it a significant change as the council will be paying probably in excess of £500,000 a year to rent them. Every year over the original agreed lease term is a large cost to the council. With this issue plus the details not yet fully agreed on the mix of housing to move from RH to where the stadium was going to be built at FF, we are some way off this all going ahead. I now understand why the council are doing their DD.

 

[Holy Joe]

I am slightly concerned that there are changes to the length of the leases before Southend Council own the housing at FF. If they are being changed from was it 25 years to 55 years that it a significant change as the council will be paying probably in excess of £500,000 a year to rent them. Every year over the original agreed lease term is a large cost to the council. With this issue plus the details not yet fully agreed on the mix of housing to move from RH to where the stadium was going to be built at FF, we are some way off this all going ahead. I now understand why the council are doing their DD.

Agree, this isn't a simple change. Serious financial implications, and Govt, local authorities don't exactly have a great track record with pfi type deals

 

[The Late One]

I heard that not only does the Rat want to move the properties from RH to FF but he also wants to add additional units (to the ghetto)

 

[Holy Joe]

I heard that not only does the Rat want to move the properties from RH to FF but he also wants to add additional units (to the ghetto)

I would imagine he'll be asking for all sorts, especially at the start, ask for way more than you want/need and then compromise to what you want/need if you get pushback.

 

[Wise Head]

I worry on timescales as this could take many months, possibly a year plus of negotiation between the council and Ron if he is doing his usual brinkmanship of keep asking for more and more. With him still owning the club, how long will the consortium keep putting in money without owning the club?

 

[Cricko]

I am slightly concerned that there are changes to the length of the leases before Southend Council own the housing at FF. If they are being changed from was it 25 years to 55 years that it a significant change as the council will be paying probably in excess of £500,000 a year to rent them. Every year over the original agreed lease term is a large cost to the council. With this issue plus the details not yet fully agreed on the mix of housing to move from RH to where the stadium was going to be built at FF, we are some way off this all going ahead. I now understand why the council are doing their DD.

It comes as no surpise to me that he wants to change the plans to benefit him more. He has held all the cards for far to long and once again is holding all parties to ransom.

I feel we are in for a long ride here because of that ****.

 

[Rob1920]

Tell you one thing, I am sooo pleased we won’t end up in Ron’s block of flats / stadium plan. That design really depressed me. Give me a revamped Roots Hall any day.

 

[bazzashrimper]

I was just thinking a similar thing - why on earth did Ron start the training ground construction when it must've been obvious he wasn't in a position to start the housing. What a waste of money

Exactly. And to think people asked a question to the JR of how he can put the club on a more stable footing. Planning permission again and again and legal fees are expensive. For me though, Ron would spend £100k in a month rather than £50k tomorrow. Whether he had too many plates spinning I don’t know, but it has seemed for many years that he has the financial brain of either a small child or a spend thrift billionaire.

 

[jnl]

It comes as no surpise to me that he wants to change the plans to benefit him more. He has held all the cards for far to long and once again is holding all parties to ransom.

I feel we are in for a long ride here because of that ****.

What happens if SCC and RM do not agree?

 

[Hadleigh Blue]

What happens if SCC and RM do not agree?

I would think that the deal enters a stage of uncertainty and could possibly falter, and Ron and Jack will need to look for a home outside of Essex.

 

[Billy Bests boot laces]

I worry on timescales as this could take many months, possibly a year plus of negotiation between the council and Ron if he is doing his usual brinkmanship of keep asking for more and more. With him still owning the club, how long will the consortium keep putting in money without owning the club?

Good & valid point. On a lot lesser scale 2 years ago i had to use a Solicitor for a scenario i was getting screwed on ( not literally! ).
He advised me to set an amount i was prepared to spend, & if not sorted by then ( it was ) to call it a day.
Obviously the consortium have a lot more capital than me, but there must be a limit they are prepared to spend, before walking away if the 'Rat' continues to 'change the goalposts'?.
And IF that happened, i dread to think of the implications him & his pack would face?.

 

[RHB]

Right! I've emailed all three of my local Councillors with the template, and even it it only brasses them off, I feel a bit better. So if you are in the Council's voting areas, then get sending the template, what have we got to lose?

Disappointingly I have only heard from one of my local councillors. The one that has responded has provided some further info for us, so it's not all bad, but I would have thought I would have at least been given an acknowledgement of my emails.

Has anyone else asked their councillors for an update?

 

[Mr Browns Ghost]

It comes as no surpise to me that he wants to change the plans to benefit him more. He has held all the cards for far to long and once again is holding all parties to ransom.

I feel we are in for a long ride here because of that ****.

But but but everyone told me I was a silly boy when I dared challenged the deal ? Remember folks only 6 weeks and another 6 weeks January turns to February 2024 turns to 2025

 

[Mr Browns Ghost]

Good & valid point. On a lot lesser scale 2 years ago i had to use a Solicitor for a scenario i was getting screwed on ( not literally! ).
He advised me to set an amount i was prepared to spend, & if not sorted by then ( it was ) to call it a day.
Obviously the consortium have a lot more capital than me, but there must be a limit they are prepared to spend, before walking away if the 'Rat' continues to 'change the goalposts'?.
And IF that happened, i dread to think of the implications him & his pack would face?.

Yep there will be

 

[fbm]

I'm not holding my breath on this one. I don't think the deal is in danger (yet), but it isn't going through any time soon in my opinion.

 

[kentblues]

I am slightly concerned that there are changes to the length of the leases before Southend Council own the housing at FF. If they are being changed from was it 25 years to 55 years that it a significant change as the council will be paying probably in excess of £500,000 a year to rent them. Every year over the original agreed lease term is a large cost to the council. With this issue plus the details not yet fully agreed on the mix of housing to move from RH to where the stadium was going to be built at FF, we are some way off this all going ahead. I now understand why the council are doing their DD.

You do understand that the council then rent the units to residents- so if the rent covers the lease cost (which presumably over a longer period is a reduced annual amount) then the council is net net not paying out anything, fixing a housing crisis, and ultimately owning significant social housing stock? What am I missing?

And by the way heads of terms were agreed so why would SBC have a problem with it now?

Look I understand a combination of the Martins and SCC brings immediately to mind a festival of incompetence but headline terms such as this are agreed?

 

[Mr Browns Ghost]

It's a good question. I imagine it will cost a **** load of money to fix the training ground. The pitches themselves look dead and obviously the site needs water and electricity connecting, plus the portakabins as a minimum. That will be more eye watering sums for the Consortium when they currently own nothing.

Do you remember the hammering I got when I suggested there was no mains water or power

 

[wakes123]

It comes as no surpise to me that he wants to change the plans to benefit him more. He has held all the cards for far to long and once again is holding all parties to ransom.

I feel we are in for a long ride here because of that ****.

There has to be a point where someone calls his bluff, and says ‘take it or leave it’. He in theory holds all the cards, but if the council doesn’t give him planning permission he is bankrupt. It’s just whether he would be willing to take the club down with him out of spite.

 

[ace]

There has to be a point where someone calls his bluff, and says ‘take it or leave it’. He in theory holds all the cards, but if the council doesn’t give him planning permission he is bankrupt. It’s just whether he would be willing to take the club down with him out of spite.

Based on recent history, I think we all know the answer to your last sentence.