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141  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Blackpool away 28/11/23 on: November 28, 2023, 18:38:54 pm
Was going to be an unchanged line up but Brough got injured in the warm up  Roll Eyes

AK replaces him...
142  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Redevelopment Closer Than Ever? on: November 28, 2023, 16:40:37 pm
The Trust Board have written to WNC requesting an update on the land sale etc.

Councillor Jonathan Nunn
Leader of West Northamptonshire Council One Angel Square
Northampton
NN1 1ED

By email

Dear Councillor Nunn and fellow West Northamptonshire councillors,

24 November 2023

As agreed at our last board meeting on 9 November, we are writing to you on the eighth anniversary of the acquisition of the Northampton Town Football Club by David Bower and Kelvin Thomas, through the vehicle of the club’s holding company Northampton Town Ventures Ltd.

While the Supporters Trust will always be grateful to the former Northampton Borough Council for waiving the debt which threatened the club’s existence in 2015, eight years later the unfinished East Stand remains an embarrassing and significant scar on the Northampton landscape.

It stands testament to the failure of the predecessor authority to make the Memorandum of Understanding between club and council legally binding and that situation has persisted to this day.

At the time of writing it is now 20 weeks since the High Court judgment was delivered in favour of the council - but nothing has been heard from the council about any progress towards completion of the land sale.
Sixfields is yet to appear on any committee agendas and, with just one cycle of meetings remaining in December, it seems unlikely that the sale will come before the council this year.

We find this strange, the more so when in the period February to March 2022 the council was seemingly in a hurry to move its preference for the bid of County Developments (Northampton) Ltd, which includes the area behind the East Stand registered as an Asset of Community Value (ACV).

All the land in question stands empty, the titles to the land are registered at HM Land Registry and the surrender of the leases should be a straightforward matter.

Therefore, the continuing delay raises questions about the intentions of the parties and what is preventing completion from taking place.

Are the commercial terms outlined in the Heads of Terms attached to the WNC Cabinet’s papers for 8 March 2022 still not agreed?

We believe it is reasonable on behalf of our members 🤣 to request that the council provides a full and meaningful update on the current position.

In connection with this request, we also have a number of related questions to which your detailed response would be appreciated.

The full list of questions is as follows:-

 When do you expect a finalised contract to go to council or the cabinet?

 Is the area of land behind the East Stand, designated as part of the ACV, to be built on as part of a private development?

In the indicative plans submitted to the council by consultants to CDNL a warehouse of 137,750 square feet is proposed (height unspecified) for part of that site, the largest of nine warehouses proposed for the entire site with no other type of development submitted. The next largest warehouse will occupy 73,125 square feet.

 In the WNC Cabinet papers for 8 March 2022 it states that the council will have an option to buy back the Running Track Lease land for £1 if the East Stand is not completed with five years. How will this be effective if within that period of time a warehouse of 137,750 square feet is built on a large part of the same land? Does the creation of an option effectively prevent any development taking place on that land for as long as the option exists?

The NTFC chairman’s most recent interview on BBC Northampton was deeply concerning – the disclosure that the debt to the owners has now increased to £8 million must bring into question whether, after the sale and possible development of the CDNL land, there will be any proceeds left to fund the completion of the East Stand. And a real risk of the buyback having to be invoked.

 On 3 November 2021, Council Leader Jonathan Nunn, in a WNC press release, announced an agreement in principle to sell the land at Sixfields to CDNL for £890,000. He said: “A crucial prerequisite of that (allowing CDNL to buy the land) has always been that the East Stand needs to be completed first.”
In the same release he stated: “We are minded to agree a deal in principle, whereby CDNL will be able to buy the land for £890,000, but only when work on the stand is finished.”

In terms of the clear commitment made by Cllr Nunn on that date and on previous occasions, including a speech he made to an open forum of the Trust on 24 July 2019, how does the council explain the abandonment of this condition?

  Is it the case that the contractual obligation to complete the East Stand will be an obligation of NTFC and not CDNL or its owners in a personal capacity? And if the latter, how does the council plan to enforce that obligation?

 We have no reason or information to believe that there have been any material changes to the deal approved by the WNC Cabinet on 8 March 2022. Does the council therefore agree that – notwithstanding today’s announcement by NTFC of an agreement with a contractor to complete the stand - the structure of the deal allows for the possibility that the current owners of NTFC may sell CDNL and NTFC separately, or uncouple CDNL from ownership by NTFC, so allowing the owners to depart without finishing the stand?

 If the land deal is not completed before 11 April 2024 is it the intention of the council to invoke its termination rights under the lease of the main site and place that area of land on the open market?

 While no discernible progress has been made since 2015 as regards Sixfields, the uncompleted East Stand and the completion of the sale of the adjoining circa 22 acres of land, football clubs elsewhere are making significant improvements to their stadiums and infrastructure, not least at Exeter and Plymouth where similar land issues exist.

Closer to Northampton, Peterborough and Cambridge have ambitious plans for ground improvements and Luton and Oxford are working towards the construction of new stadia.

The stagnation we continue to experience with the Sixfields site, a key gateway to the town, is a major disappointment and much to the detriment of the club, its brand and the town as a whole.

The population of Northampton is fast approaching 250,000 and with its large catchment area it possesses huge but unfulfilled potential for hosting a much larger football club. Football remains the pre-eminent national sport. Where does this land deal sit in the strategic vision for West Northamptonshire and the council’s aim to establish this an area of sporting excellence?

Is the council satisfied that a deal sought in the name of the football club will guarantee the generation of the required level of investment benefit to grow the club, strengthen its asset base, create more jobs, increase local spend and so boost Northampton’s visitor economy?

The Supporters Trust wants only what is best for the football club, the town and the surrounding area.
That includes a stadium of which the people of Northampton can be proud. In our view the adjoining land, which remains an asset of the football club for the time being, should only be sold and developed for the long-term benefit of the football club (and not principally the owners of its holding company, Northampton Town Ventures Ltd), the residents and council taxpayers.

Any other outcome we would consider to be unacceptable and would be a serious and fundamental failure by the council to make good and positive use of a community asset.

As a matter of courtesy we wish to advise you that we will be releasing this letter to our membership.
Yours faithfully

The Board of Directors NTFC Supporters Limited
143  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Free Agents and Loans on: November 26, 2023, 23:38:13 pm
More of the former. There are a few more details but I’m hesitant to divulge in public, so apologies for being evasive.

So, yet again, we've knowingly signed a player who's already injured!? Just like Eppiah the second time & Harrop (who's contract we actually extended even though he never played for us during his initial short term contract!)

Absolutely bizarre if true...
144  The Hotel End / Other Football & Sport / Re: Chantelle Cameron v Katie Taylor on: November 25, 2023, 22:50:50 pm
An absolutely fantastic fight with both giving their all...

KT the deserved winner tonight...

Hoping for a third fight!
145  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: The 'Clare Balding' POTS Cambridge Utd (h) November 25th 2023 on: November 25, 2023, 20:48:01 pm
McGowan
146  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Cambridge United at home 25.11.23 on: November 25, 2023, 20:46:23 pm
A very welcome & deserved 3 points in the end but that was a tough last 15 minutes to watch...

As soon as Simpson came on our pressing game went awol...

When he had the opportunity to run into the corner & use his supposed strength to hold the opposition off, but instead chose to put in a pathetic cross with absolutely no one in the box summed up his appalling cameo...

I just hope the club can agree with Huddersfield in January to terminate his season long loan as it's just not working...best for both parties if this can happen.

Ironically, McWilliams made the same run a couple of minutes later & did exactly what Simpson should have done ie run into the corner...granted he failed to win the throw/corner but at least he made the correct run.

Still, very happy with the 3 points going into two very tough games.
147  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Injury Updates.... on: November 25, 2023, 20:25:48 pm
I know it was already a rumour but heard Ben Fox Tell someone in the directors box at half time he's unlikely to play again this season

Real shame as when fit looked a decent player, will no doubt be released in the Summer...

At least he turned up to watch the club that's paying him, unlike Hylton, who was again at Kenilworth Road!  Angry
148  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Redevelopment Closer Than Ever? on: November 13, 2023, 09:41:57 am
NEWS FROM THE SUPPORTERS TRUST…
 
Sixfields stand and land deal
 
• There has been no further news on the stand and land deal provisionally agreed by the club and West Northamptonshire Council and the Trust will shortly be writing to the council to establish the current position.

KT was on the Cobblers show just recently giving an update....ie meeting with the council shortly & legal documents in their final stages....speaking to 4 building companies regarding finishing the stand stand...

Still available here...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0gqgcqr

How are the Trust ever going to try to repair their relationship with the club, when they continue to dig & go behind the owners backs?!  Roll Eyes

They really don't represent their members whatsoever & are doing more damage with every press release!  Angry
149  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: The ‘Clare Balding’ POTS Burton Albion November 11th 2023 on: November 11, 2023, 22:36:38 pm
Leonard...the number 10 we've been missing all along!
150  The Hotel End / Other Football & Sport / Re: Football Managers on: November 10, 2023, 07:46:54 am
Nobody seems to have mentioned Graham Alexander going to Bradford

Tabasco Kid did on 06/11  Wink
151  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Brady out! on: November 08, 2023, 19:28:52 pm
Anyone who thinks Hylton is gonna be the answer to our striking problem needs to seriously give their head a wobble...

He's completely shot & was when we signed him on a ridiculously lucrative 2 year contract!!!

Great work by the recruitment committee there  Roll Eyes
152  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Burton (h) on: November 07, 2023, 13:23:57 pm
I thought we had a committee?

Was have/did...Headed by CC who's since left...

Not really worked imo looking at the signings...

Just bin it & get a proper head of recruitment like we did with Foyle...

Ironic that we'd all now rather have Kabamba over Simpson!
153  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Brady out! on: November 05, 2023, 00:22:48 am
Saying JB got Hilton and Simpson horribly wrong is easy in hindsight but so did most of us.
Hilton signing was greeted with universal appreciation on here and was being called for in previous transfer windows.
After Simpson’s successful loan at Swindon 2 years ago many were urging us to sign him and when we did it was positively received.
We can hardly criticise JB for signings we were asking for and if these players had gone elsewhere it would be said that we should have been in for them.

Brady still signed both Hylton & Simpson, knowing full well they would not fit into the system he wants to play whatsoever, so what was the point in signing either of them?

It's all about the high press which is why Appere, Hoskins & Bowie work...Hylton & Simpson don't & never will!
154  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Injury Updates.... on: November 04, 2023, 19:54:33 pm
If I heard correctly earlier, Lee Burge is out for 4 to 5 weeks. If correct I'd play James Dadge in goal ahead of Max Thompson.

Must be the most injury prone goalie we've ever had...

Thankfully, we never extended his contract, so at least that's one we can release in the summer...

I'd definitely play Dadge over Thompson moving forward...
155  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Brady out! on: November 04, 2023, 19:28:03 pm
I honestly don't think they're even looking for an assistant...just hoping Sammo can fill the gap left by CC!...perhaps ntfclad can clarify

Is at a coincidence that the last 2 performances since CC left have been nothing short embarrassing...

I can't see the results picking up anytime soon but don't think JB will be sacked after listening to KT the other night...

I do think he'll end up walking though...

He sounded a broken man after today with no idea how to fix it!

Obviously, I hope JB somehow turns this form around but L1 is relentless...

Does make you wonder if there is any point in ever getting promoted as it's groundhog day every bloody time!
156  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Away at Derby on Tuesday night 31/10/23 on: October 31, 2023, 22:56:15 pm
Derby weren't even at full strength but absolutely battered us...

Embarrassing performance bar Hoskins...

Koiki looked clueless in an unfamiliar position...

As for Simpson, great assist for their 4th goal by losing possession!

We had absolutely nothing off the bench either...

I like Brady but he needs to take responsibility for the injury plagued squad he's assembled...

Can't see the owners throwing any money at the squad in January, seeing as they didn't want to in August!
157  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: The 'Clare Balding' POTS Derby County (a) October 31st 2023 on: October 31, 2023, 22:37:22 pm
Absolute horror show...nothing off the bench either....

Hoskins never gave up!
158  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Calderwood to Southampton on: October 31, 2023, 13:19:19 pm
Are we due any compo from Soton, for CC?  If so, it could go towards paying off a Luton Town fan, and getting him off of the books.

Should get something...

https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/sport/football/jon-brady-and-cobblers-coaching-staff-all-sign-new-contracts-at-sixfields-3985164
159  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Bristol Rovers (a) on: October 29, 2023, 11:51:12 am
Do you not ask yourself why they don't? and never have?

we have had two relegations and not a million miles away from a third and they employed a manager who in 20 years had never achieved promotion

Last time we only needed a keeper, who are much cheaper than strikers!

They have no interest in developing our football club, they have sold it once, tried on at least 3 other occasions and basically are waiting for the land deal to get out the door.

KT said developing the matchday experience offers no ROI, doesn't that worry you?  You didn't bother to ask over what period they used when coming to that assessment and shouldn't it be their duty to improve the matchday experience

They have virtually done nothing in this regard in 8 years and £45m going through their hands.

I and others question how and why do not see this?

If you think I'm (and some at the Trust) wrong, then PLEASE show me the evidence of action that shows I am wrong.

BTW imho, Hylton was a marquee signing made at the exact time that KT needed the support of the fans as the Trust had been forced by club and council to bid for the whole 22 acres. Just like the appearance (and then disappearance of Tom Packer)

Listen to the podcast 'what the footie'.  They is an hour long interview with the Port Vale CEO. When they got promoted to L1 after Wembley she said that they needed to get the club Championship ready  !   Port Vale today are 16th and not won in last 6 games but I bet they finish higher than we do .


So, what would you & your best mates Cilldara have done differently...without asking any of the actual trust members obviously!  Roll Eyes

Also, why didn't you put yourself up for fans representative btw, too embarrassed by having 0 votes perhaps  Grin

I'm not pro owners btw, it's who we currently have at the helm, with no viable alternative rushing to take over the reigns so pointless worrying...

We have club & have always flittered between L2 & L1 in my 40+ years supporting so don't expect anything else tbh...

Obviously, would love a season or 2 in the Championship, but without some serious funding I can't see it happening unfortunately.
160  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Bristol Rovers (a) on: October 28, 2023, 22:10:09 pm
Heard a rumour today we’ve signed Leshabela and he’ll be announced within a couple weeks….


Honestly so pissed we’ve not backed Brady

Agree about the owners not backing JB, but surely we could have just signed this fella in the Summer when he was on trial!

Have to remember JB spunked a large chunk of the budget on the injury prone Hylton & the so far ineffective Simpson, who both aren't the high pressing forwards our game plan requires so he's not totally blameless...

Replacing Simpson (even though he looked poor again today) & throwing Haynes up front was nothing short of embarrassing. Surely throwing on the young striker would have been a better option...seeing as he's an actual striker.

Can see us being well adrift by January & don't think the owners will even strengthen then tbh
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