Breaking News D Day for Blues Stadium

[mrsblue]

Problem is James his companies are so far in debt is there a realistic way of him getting out now ?

You have to wonder how much profit is to be made and whether that will clear the debts as it is.

So his firms are in trouble and his football club is in trouble,Someone is having a laugh somewhere.

 

[Rob1920]

It wasn't long ago that your new stadium adventure was suppose to be finished roughly the same time as the Amex was.

I still remember that silly countdown counter you had on this forum to get fans really excited.

Time flies eh? I mean this is our second season already at our new home and already we are expanding the capacity to over 30k.

Good luck with yours.

At least ours will be newer than yours when its built.

And our pier's longer.

 

[Angell Delight]

It wasn't long ago that your new stadium adventure was suppose to be finished roughly the same time as the Amex was.

I still remember that silly countdown counter you had on this forum to get fans really excited.

Time flies eh? I mean this is our second season already at our new home and already we are expanding the capacity to over 30k.

Good luck with yours.

Ah the legendary Spartan is back - fair enough he may be our biggest ever village idiot but my God he used to make me laugh with his hilarious witterings. :smile:

 

[Suffolk Blue]

I'm trying to reconcile the facts as they've been reported (or were already known), with the hysterical outbursts on this forum once again.

Fact 1: SUFC ask the council to consider changing the financial terms under which planning permission was originally granted to reflect changing economic times.

Fact 2: The council oppose the notion that they aren't going to get as much money out of this as they had planned.

Fact 3: The council decide to consider the matter further before making a decision.

None of the above facts seem to support demand for RM to sell the club. Nor do they indicate that he can't afford to build the stadium. Nor do they indicate any change in RMs stated position regarding timing and financing of the Main Stand.

I really do wonder if some of the posters on this forum would rather we went belly up than see RM succeed in delivering on his commitments to build a new stadium.

I do have concerns over where the funding is coming from. I do worry about our long-term future after a ground has been built and RM can disappear over the horizon with pockets full of cash (if any cash is left). I also worry that we have a professional game that is unsustainable with current wage and income levels.

None of the facts that have emerged at this meeting with the council make me worry any more than I already was though.

On the subject of S106 agreements; I was talking last week to a senior civil servant with responsibility for planning legislation in this country, who surprised me by stating that S106s are virtually never honoured in full, and that most councils end up accepting whatever they can get their hands on on the basis that S106s are effectively money for nothing and ought is better than nought. He said the chances of S106 money being ring-fenced for spending on the item it was demanded for were close to zero and that it'd just be used to plug gaps in the council's budget.

 

[Rattus Norvegicus]

Some interesting poins of view in amongst the chaff and some excellent insight into the world of local politics. The fact this delay may assist the council in getting some funds in another financial year without there being a reduction in the money coming from central government should not be over looked.

And perversely those councillors arguing for a delay may be actually supporting the club if this approach had been agreed with Ron Martin prior to the meeting.

The only thing I seem to be able to do to assist is support the XI on the pitch and just hope that promotion leads to a slightly better financial picture.

 

[Jam_Man]

Some interesting poins of view in amongst the chaff and some excellent insight into the world of local politics. The fact this delay may assist the council in getting some funds in another financial year without there being a reduction in the money coming from central government should not be over looked.

And perversely those councillors arguing for a delay may be actually supporting the club if this approach had been agreed with Ron Martin prior to the meeting.

The only thing I seem to be able to do to assist is support the XI on the pitch and just hope that promotion leads to a slightly better financial picture.

Firestorm made the same point earlier that it would be of benefit to the council to defer it until next year. Does make you think....

 

[fbm]

I'm trying to reconcile the facts as they've been reported (or were already known), with the hysterical outbursts on this forum once again.

Fact 1: SUFC ask the council to consider changing the financial terms under which planning permission was originally granted to reflect changing economic times.

Fact 2: The council oppose the notion that they aren't going to get as much money out of this as they had planned.

Fact 3: The council decide to consider the matter further before making a decision.

None of the above facts seem to support demand for RM to sell the club. Nor do they indicate that he can't afford to build the stadium. Nor do they indicate any change in RMs stated position regarding timing and financing of the Main Stand.

I really do wonder if some of the posters on this forum would rather we went belly up than see RM succeed in delivering on his commitments to build a new stadium.

I do have concerns over where the funding is coming from. I do worry about our long-term future after a ground has been built and RM can disappear over the horizon with pockets full of cash (if any cash is left). I also worry that we have a professional game that is unsustainable with current wage and income levels.

None of the facts that have emerged at this meeting with the council make me worry any more than I already was though.

On the subject of S106 agreements; I was talking last week to a senior civil servant with responsibility for planning legislation in this country, who surprised me by stating that S106s are virtually never honoured in full, and that most councils end up accepting whatever they can get their hands on on the basis that S106s are effectively money for nothing and ought is better than nought. He said the chances of S106 money being ring-fenced for spending on the item it was demanded for were close to zero and that it'd just be used to plug gaps in the council's budget.

There are absolutely several posters and fans who actively want Ron Martin out so much that if the club went belly up then it would be the lesser of the evils. In fact there was a discussion a couple of seasons ago about trying to take action which would force the club into administration, just so someone else could buy the club from the Administrator. If we got the 10 point penalty and relegation, well, everything has a price. It seemed back then that the objective to save the club was overshadowed by the objective to get RM out.

Personally I would worry as soon as Ron wants out. That to me says there's nothing left worth keeping and then we are really in trouble.

As for the state of football generally... that's another story. But it's rotten.

 

[Rattus Norvegicus]

Firestorm made the same point earlier that it would be of benefit to the council to defer it until next year. Does make you think....

Yes - full credit to Firestorm.

 

[GodblessArthurRowley]

Any chance we could revive the plans for a stadium in Sutton Road?
Its been getting on for 40 years that we have been trying to move to a new stadium, in that time such football heavyweights as Morecambe,Burton,Chesterfield,Yeovil etc etc have new grounds.I'm afraid its all so much pie in the sky and the Council may finally be coming to the same conclusion.
Being charitable to Ron he has tried and looks like failing, the question is what next?

 

[Suffolk Shrimper In Dorset]

I keep saying this but I have got the main stand. Its free if Ron just wants to come up to Suffolk and collect it.

Sorted.:smile:

 

[Firestorm]

Delete....

 

[Kent Shrimper]

Surprised there has been no comment from the club on this. From the AGM didn't Ron say it was going to be very detrimental? I would of thought there would of been a statement

 

[Jam_Man]

I keep saying this but I have got the main stand. Its free if Ron just wants to come up to Suffolk and collect it.

Sorted.:smile:View attachment 2008

You fool, thats clearly and end stand, we need a main stand! :smile:

 

[OldBlueLady]

Today's Echo, Master Bates is sticking his oar in again.....nowt on the online site, but it's in the copy of the Echo I bought today.

 

[Kent Shrimper]

Today's Echo, Master Bates is sticking his oar in again.....nowt on the online site, but it's in the copy of the Echo I bought today.

What does it say Kay?

 

[Mick]

What does it say Kay?

It says he's being very unreasonable by wanting people who have made agreements to stick to them. The cheek of the man.

 

[OldBlueLady]

What does it say Kay?

"A deal crucial to the Blues getting their new 100m stadium could be heading for the rocks as a New Year's Eve deadline looms.

Sainsbury's was due to buy the Prospects College site, in Fairfax Drive, Southend, with the sale to complete by December 31.

Planning permission for Southend United's stadium plans has now lapsed and a decision on their renewal was last week deferred until March.

As a result, Prospects had offered to extend the sale deadline until April - provided it was agreed by next Monday. However, chief executive Neil Bates says he has had no contact from the retail giant, so will terminate the agreement and seek alternative uses of buyer for the site. He said: "They have not responded to any of our attempts to make contact and we are forced to conclude that they are no longer interested in reaching agreement with us. We will therefore terminate the agreement on December 31 and this key and vital part of the retail store development will be thrown back into uncertainty along with the new stadium development."

The Prospects building is at the heart of Sainsbury's plans to redevelop Blues' Roots Ha;; ground. In return for the land, the supermarket chain has agreed to bankroll the majority of the new 22,000 seat stadium at Fossetts Farm.

Mr Bates said that Prospects had done all it could to get the deal through. He added: "Deadline after deadline has come and gone and the result now is Prospects, which is a charity, is left holding a blighted site, caught in wrangle between a retailer and a property developer."

But Blues chairman, Ron Martin, said if necessary it will use the compulsory purchase order it has with Southend Council to force the sale. Mr Martin said: "Sainsbury's may not have responded as yet, but it's Christmas. We'd be disappointed if Neil Bates chose to withdraw from the discussion. There is no need to rescind the agreement. It may necessitate the club to request the council to CPO Prospects College, which we have refrained from doing. We'd go down that road if contact is not maintained."

Mr Martin added: "I expect Neil Bares will receive a reply imminently (?!) after Christmas. We're all aware of the urgency, it's for that reason we were trying to get a resolution to the renewal of the application last Thursday. Unfortunately it did not happen. But it's not beyond any of us resolving it if we're all on the same page."

 

[OldBlueLady]

I do think Master Bates is being a little unreasonable saying he's going to terminate an agreement that's not due to expire until Monday, surely, with all that's gone on, he didn't expect to hear anything until the last possible moment?

 

[Smiffy]

I do think Master Bates is being a little unreasonable saying he's going to terminate an agreement that's not due to expire until Monday, surely, with all that's gone on, he didn't expect to hear anything until the last possible moment?

I don't think he is being unreasonable at all Kay.

There has been numerous deadlines the club/Sainsbury have failed to meet over the last couple of years.

I suspect he is getting more than a little ****ed off about the whole thing.

That said, I would bet this is just more posturing and something will be sorted soon with regards to Prospects. Whether that is an amicable agreement or a long drawn out CPO process, we will have to wait and see.

One thing is for sure though. We are no nearer to getting this project started.

It is becoming more evident that the plans are a tad ambitious and the man behind it all, just does not have the funds to see it through, let alone get it started. I suspect the Council are now more than a tad concerned as well.

 

[TJC]

I don't think he is being unreasonable at all Kay.

There has been numerous deadlines the club/Sainsbury have failed to meet over the last couple of years.

I suspect he is getting more than a little ****ed off about the whole thing.

That said, I would bet this is just more posturing and something will be sorted soon with regards to Prospects. Whether that is an amicable agreement or a long drawn out CPO process, we will have to wait and see.

One thing is for sure though. We are no nearer to getting this project started.

It is becoming more evident that the plans are a tad ambitious and the man behind it all, just does not have the funds to see it through, let alone get it started. I suspect the Council are now more than a tad concerned as well.

Personally, I think Bates is panicking a bit. What was a key part of a large development is now fading as the whole project must be in doubt and he knows its value is substantially less if it all falls through. Wasn't there some kind of offer to extend until April from Bates?