Redevelopment Closer Than Ever?

[Steve Massive Massey]

Well said gentlemen, I do agree many here prefer long and well constructed sentences to a well constructed action plan.

I'm sure within The Trust, affiliates, friends, Romans and Northamptonians there are architects, engineers, procurement specialists, IT geeks, PR consultants, financial advisors (loads on here) builders, hospitality, publicans, media gurus, who else do we need?

Forget the east stand, let them continue their decade long saga and put together plans for a new north stand incorporating all the necessary facilities for the Trust and supporters. Make your list now.

Get some captivating plans out there with a positive and clear message with how to donate and contribute, you may be surprised who's out there. No one can block it and it will probably embarrass others into action when it gets to national press, "The supporters fed up with waiting so they're building a stand themselves"

Or continue to sit on your hands and argue over the owners, board members, peeling paint, land issues, the way forward forever? Fed up waiting? Do it yourself. We cant influence what happens around the stadium but we can influence the stadium itself.

I've openly said I would've donated a grand a year or more for such an initiative and I'm skint, there are many others out there in a better position than me. If we had started such a project ten years ago we would have £3m in the kitty now. Only need another 299 who feel the same as me.

[1971cobbler]

Forget the east stand, let them continue their decade long saga and put together plans for a new north stand incorporating all the necessary facilities for the Trust and supporters. Make your list now.

Get some captivating plans out there with a positive and clear message with how to donate and contribute, you may be surprised who's out there. No one can block it and it will probably embarrass others into action when it gets to national press, "The supporters fed up with waiting so they're building a stand themselves"

[/quote]

IMO, exactly this!

[random]

Well said gentlemen, I do agree many here prefer long and well constructed sentences to a well constructed action plan.

I'm sure within The Trust, affiliates, friends, Romans and Northamptonians there are architects, engineers, procurement specialists, IT geeks, PR consultants, financial advisors (loads on here) builders, hospitality, publicans, media gurus, who else do we need?

Forget the east stand, let them continue their decade long saga and put together plans for a new north stand incorporating all the necessary facilities for the Trust and supporters. Make your list now.

Get some captivating plans out there with a positive and clear message with how to donate and contribute, you may be surprised who's out there. No one can block it and it will probably embarrass others into action when it gets to national press, "The supporters fed up with waiting so they're building a stand themselves"

Or continue to sit on your hands and argue over the owners, board members, peeling paint, land issues, the way forward forever? Fed up waiting? Do it yourself. We cant influence what happens around the stadium but we can influence the stadium itself.



I've openly said I would've donated a grand a year or more for such an initiative and I'm skint, there are many others out there in a better position than me. If we had started such a project ten years ago we would have £3m in the kitty now. Only need another 299 who feel the same as me.

Awesome post Steve. Thank you and you too 1971

[Zen Master]

I watched some of the Mufc v MCFC women’s game yesterday on bbc1. They played the game at Leigh Stadium which has a 12k capacity. Tidy ground and just how I think that Sixfields could be like. A nice big terrace behind one goal (North) and the other stands similar heights to feel enclosed and compact.
 The game against Sutton we were a bit late arriving and it was lashing down. Out of desperation for a beer we went into Carr’s Bar which I often avoid and normally go in the other pubs nearby.
 The tinpot nature is summed up in this place alone. Tiny bar, slow service etc etc.  I can never quite work out why you cant have more bar staff on a modest hourly rate generating higher sales and therefore covering the cost plus profit on the increased sales. Am I missing something?

Don’t doubt the Saints fans drink in the pubs on the Weedon Rd but I’d have little doubt they capture the vast majority of the beer and food takings on match days where as we are the complete opposite. These same facilities are the ones that are most likely generating them income across the year for various events.
 The club did get permission for a marquee behind the north but nothing happened.

If there was a dedicated fund to rebuild the North or similar I would donate a regular amount even if only modest.  

[Carton Lid]

There was a group set up a few months ago called "the new Hotel End" about expanding the North with facilities underneath. Now, because certain people accuse me of being anti NTFC, despite being a supporter for 60 years and a STH for 40 years, I have to stated that this is a rumour, and that the organisers of the said group approached NTFC and asked for a grant of less than a grand to get some drawings done but were turned down. Like I say this is a rumour that I heard, I cant say if it's true or not.

[DrillingCobbler]

Forget the east stand, let them continue their decade long saga and put together plans for a new north stand incorporating all the necessary facilities for the Trust and supporters. Make your list now.

Get some captivating plans out there with a positive and clear message with how to donate and contribute, you may be surprised who's out there. No one can block it and it will probably embarrass others into action when it gets to national press, "The supporters fed up with waiting so they're building a stand themselves"



IMO, exactly this!

Well it had been started, with the 'new hotelend' social media/website stuff and it was gaining a bit of traction. Then the guys who were steering that initiative 'put it all on hold'.

I've no idea why, a real shame imo.

[DrillingCobbler]

There was a group set up a few months ago called "the new Hotel End" about expanding the North with facilities underneath. Now, because certain people accuse me of being anti NTFC, despite being a supporter for 60 years and a STH for 40 years, I have to stated that this is a rumour, and that the organisers of the said group approached NTFC and asked for a grant of less than a grand to get some drawings done but were turned down. Like I say this is a rumour that I heard, I cant say if it's true or not.

Beat me too it...just!!

[west stand oap]

I don't post on this thread as I do not see it achieving anything, the board will do whatever they want when they want. The wasted man hours on this thread must be colossal, time better spent tending the allotment or polishing smart car (no I don't have one).

[Zen Master]

Why not approach the Trust for the grand? How much £ is in the reserves?

[MCHammer]

Well it had been started, with the 'new hotelend' social media/website stuff and it was gaining a bit of traction. Then the guys who were steering that initiative 'put it all on hold'.

I've no idea why, a real shame imo.

They released a statement on Twitter a few days after the Trust announced they were withdrawing support for the development deal back in June.  I can't find it now but from memory it mentioned something along the lines of that in the current climate and the relationship between club and trust it felt it was not something they could look to pursue at that time in that environment.

I agree big shame as it sounded like a great idea, had indeed gained a lot of traction and most of all it was great to see people actually doing something rather than just talking about it.

[Steve Massive Massey]

Don’t doubt the Saints fans drink in the pubs on the Weedon Rd but I’d have little doubt they capture the vast majority of the beer and food takings on match days where as we are the complete opposite. These same facilities are the ones that are most likely generating them income across the year for various events.
 The club did get permission for a marquee behind the north but nothing happened.

If there was a dedicated fund to rebuild the North or similar I would donate a regular amount even if only modest.  

I was the last landlord of The Red Rover when under Scottish & Newcastle so I can confirm how much was to be made from The Saints.

When I ran the place I had free reign as it had been destined to an ill-fated redevelopment by upper management in Nottingham so therefore could run it as I wished. I separated the bar to Cobblers and the lounge to The Saints, we even sold programmes on match days. Sadly I only had Saints players come to visit me Paul Grayson, who left me his soiled shorts to put up, Tim Rodber, Harvey Thorneycroft and the like.

This had never been done previously and I posted record profits until its closure and ridiculous transformation into one of our then theme pubs, “Big Hand Mos” There is a story to all of this I simply cannot go into now!

My point, as mentioned above by MC, I did see the ideas submitted recently to make the north into a fans stand and I have huge admiration for whoever submitted this idea and gained some initial traction, so let that be the catalyst and off the back off this the Trust should finally make a huge statement of intent, show some balls.

I can’t even find what the Trust are truly about or their intentions even coming on here, so how on earth are the public going to understand them by hiding in darkened rooms?

I can only see one reason for The Trust to not take on such a project and that is fear of failure as it is certainly possible to raise the necessary finance and to make the north stand a viable and profitable enterprise for The trust and more importantly NTFC.

[Zen Master]

I remember a few drunken experiences in Big Hand Mo’s after having a few decent nights in the Rover which was better.  Equally I remember the Malt Shovel being Barney Rubbles unless I’m mistaken?  I think these nights often ended up in the Stars & Stripes or Top of the Town or most likely barred so had to go to Panache.

[Steve Massive Massey]

Thanks Zen, Of course having Cobblers shirts on the wall was better than baseball gloves FFS!

I'm sure I would've picked you up, dusted you down and make you look respectable again before hopefully pointing you in the right direction, as was my job sir.

I left the brewery over the Mos debacle, they gave it to a guy from Peterborough 

[EB Claret]

Just wanted to speak to the silent majority out there, I hope you are able to see that my only concern is to make NTFC better and move us forward away from owners whose only focus is land development.

The Council believe that the Trust is relevant, and as they hold the freehold to the development land, they are the important ones.

Others will mock and try to derail any progress for whatever their own personal reasons are - our owners have had 6 long years and we are going nowhere on the pitch and nowhere off it, they have had long enough.

Either build the East stand like you said, out of your own funds, or do a deal that involves others and move on. Stand first or Infrastructure Foundation, its up to you KT / DB.

Time for action, action that involves investment, hence why I am at least trying to come up with some ideas that will move the redevelopment forward.

I am proud to be involved with the Trust and I am proud to be one of those who are looking at the Infrastructure Foundation.

I was voted supporter of the Year, I have earned and save the club tens of thousands, I have helped many many supporters on matchdays in the past etc etc etc

I want a better NTFC and I do not apologise for that, and I won't let the naysayers win.

If anyone wants to speak with me directly, to either support or complain, then please PM and i will give you my number, be very happy to talk and listen.

Fine words and I admire your passion even if I don't always agree with everything you say.

However I really think you need someone from the Trust to shout out this message in public and to the wider fan base.
I'm afraid constantly berating us few old crusties on this forum ain't getting you anywhere.

All Cobblers fans dream of a brighter future so I wish you well.

[GrangeParkCobbler]

Why not approach the Trust for the grand? How much £ is in the reserves?

They did....and it was agreed by The Trust Board that they would pay their proposed share of the costs of producing detailed drawings and for the feasibility study. It all sort of fell down when one of the other parties did not wish to partake, indeed they presented their own vision of their own fans village as part of their East Stand plans......

[Manwork04]

They did....and it was agreed by The Trust Board that they would pay their proposed share of the costs of producing detailed drawings and for the feasibility study. It all sort of fell down when one of the other parties did not wish to partake, indeed they presented their own vision of their own fans village as part of their East Stand plans......

Oh dear, so the club put the stop on the fans wanting to improve sixseats.
There you have it our progressive chairman in action.

[Tabasco Kid]

I was the last landlord of The Red Rover when under Scottish & Newcastle so I can confirm how much was to be made from The Saints.

When I ran the place I had free reign as it had been destined to an ill-fated redevelopment by upper management in Nottingham so therefore could run it as I wished. I separated the bar to Cobblers and the lounge to The Saints, we even sold programmes on match days. Sadly I only had Saints players come to visit me Paul Grayson, who left me his soiled shorts to put up, Tim Rodber, Harvey Thorneycroft and the like.

Were you ever known as "Spud"?

[MCHammer]

They did....and it was agreed by The Trust Board that they would pay their proposed share of the costs of producing detailed drawings and for the feasibility study. It all sort of fell down when one of the other parties did not wish to partake, indeed they presented their own vision of their own fans village as part of their East Stand plans......

"The bird **** on the seats really should be cleaned".

Sorry mate but you are going to have to be a bit more detailed than that because you are making it sound like the club(KT) killed the plans.  That's not the impression anyone from either side gave when they made their public statements. 

How much did the Trust agree to contribute and did they actually hand it over?  How much were the club asked for and what was their actual response?  Was anyone else chipping in?  Did the club reject the proposals in favour of their own East Stand Plans?  When you say they did not wish to partake what do you mean....at all, just financially or plans wise.  What did they ACTUALLY say when it was presented to them?

The club said at the time they released their East Stand Plans....

"It was decided that any capacity increases would be more prudent at the North or South ends of the stadium and with this in mind we look forward to furthering discussion with The New Hotel End project being introduced by the fans."

Was that a blatant lie?

I ask all this because it's important.  Because the very next post after yours unsurprisingly says "Oh dear, so the club put the stop on the fans wanting to improve sixseats.  There you have it our progressive chairman in action."

And with that it becomes yet another "fact" that will get repeated ad infinitum.

[random]

Oh dear, so the club put the stop on the fans wanting to improve sixseats.
There you have it our progressive chairman in action.

No I don't think you can really say that.

The Trust certainly agreed to pay around £1k I believe, but as GPC said, it got "shelved" for the time being as the the club launched it East stand development day and the relationship between the club and the Trust worsened.

[GrangeParkCobbler]

"The bird **** on the seats really should be cleaned".

Sorry mate but you are going to have to be a bit more detailed than that because you are making it sound like the club(KT) killed the plans.  That's not the impression anyone from either side gave when they made their public statements. 

How much did the Trust agree to contribute and did they actually hand it over?  How much were the club asked for and what was their actual response?  Was anyone else chipping in?  Did the club reject the proposals in favour of their own East Stand Plans?  When you say they did not wish to partake what do you mean....at all, just financially or plans wise.  What did they ACTUALLY say when it was presented to them?

The club said at the time they released their East Stand Plans....

"It was decided that any capacity increases would be more prudent at the North or South ends of the stadium and with this in mind we look forward to furthering discussion with The New Hotel End project being introduced by the fans."

Was that a blatant lie?

I ask all this because it's important.  Because the very next post after yours unsurprisingly says "Oh dear, so the club put the stop on the fans wanting to improve sixseats.  There you have it our progressive chairman in action."

And with that it becomes yet another "fact" that will get repeated ad infinitum.

The Trust were asked for £750 + VAT (£900) and agreed by vote at a monthly board meeting that they would pay..... the money did not change hands though. The club was asked for the same, and as far as I know it was not paid., nor was it agreed to be paid.

The club also said
"• Potential Fan Zone
Space for a Fan Zone project has been earmarked behind the new East Stand and further consultation would be planned to decide on the best usage. More discussions are also planned with the New Hotel End project to ensure that the potential Fan Zone areas behind the East and North End complement each other."

The project coordinators and KT will know what was said, if any money was offered, or indeed if there have been any further discussions.