Redevelopment Closer Than Ever?

[meccanostand]

In my opinion you will only get a guarantee of a morally well run club if it is owned and run by the fans. However, that comes with its own set of problems like trouble with investment or paralysis by consensus to name but a few. This will probably lead to the club at best stagnating. As we all know, the alternative is an investor who may have a variety of motivations that rarely include love of the club? This may lead to success but it seems to me big guns aside (but not always, Rangers, Leeds etc etc) it can often lead to bankruptcy ruination and a downward spiral to oblivion. The way I see it it’s either A or B, there is no C. Anybody up for A, we were the first to be owned by a supporters trust. Could we be pioneers again at some point and be a club wholly and solely run by the fans, how great would that be, seriously? No, you’re right, I’m back off to the bottom of the garden with the fairies, cheerio.

I think in Lomax's time there was no shareholder in  the club with more than 20% which makes it difficult for any problematic influence leading us to ruin.

The ideal situation would probably be 51% fan ownership as is standard in Germany with local investors taking up the slack. We could have a sustainable club in this light but it would change the fan experience. A lot of people just wanna pay their money and watch a game and not deal with the hassle of running a club.

[Deepcut Cobbler]

I think in Lomax's time there was no shareholder in  the club with more than 20% which makes it difficult for any problematic influence leading us to ruin.

The ideal situation would probably be 51% fan ownership as is standard in Germany with local investors taking up the slack. We could have a sustainable club in this light but it would change the fan experience. A lot of people just wanna pay their money and watch a game and not deal with the hassle of running a club.

There would be a few on here who I am sure would love the hassle of running a club and know that they would do a much better job than the current incumbent.

[Terryfenwickatemyhamster]

As Ive said many times KT should tell the fans what he wants to do with Sixfields, this would put more pressure on the inept council to either say yes or no.
KT comes across as very arrogant with his PowerPoint presentations, his last update was quite frankly embarrassing and told us nothing.

So here goes.

KT: Gareth, can you call another open forum where I will finally tell all of the support my plans for the East stand.

GW: Are you sure Kelvyn? After all, we have no idea how long it will be before we know the extent of the boundary and what we can actually service to build?

KT: I was just thinking I could run a few ideas by our support, safe in the knowledge that they'll be ultimately sensible with that information.

GW: Oh dear, oh dear, I'm not feeling well.

KT: Can somebody call an ambulance, Gareth's collapsed.

PA: What did you say to him?

KT: I was just saying that I was going to tell our support about my thoughts on the East stand. I told him I'm sure that would be fine.

Loud crashing noise..

KT: Make that two ambulances

[JollyCobbler]

So here goes.

KT: Gareth, can you call another open forum where I will finally tell all of the support my plans for the East stand.

GW: Are you sure Kelvyn? After all, we have no idea how long it will be before we know the extent of the boundary and what we can actually service to build?

KT: I was just thinking I could run a few ideas by our support, safe in the knowledge that they'll be ultimately sensible with that information.

GW: Oh dear, oh dear, I'm not feeling well.

KT: Can somebody call an ambulance, Gareth's collapsed.

PA: What did you say to him?

KT: I was just saying that I was going to tell our support about my thoughts on the East stand. I told him I'm sure that would be fine.

Loud crashing noise..

KT: Make that two ambulances

It's all well and good making belittling comments towards anyone making (what are deemed to be) negative comments, (and in all fairness to you some are obsessive beyond healthy reason) but you know full well that KT stated he was optimistic work would be underway before seasons end, therefore you know full well there are completion plans in place. Now, obviously, these plans are unable to be instigated because of the boundary issues, but laying out those plans in the public arena, whilst emphasizing exactly which (always) poorly run body is responsible for the holdup, would give the council the negative publicity they loathe. This is, of course, assuming the plans reflect something like the amount of (East Stand) investment previously promised.

[guest1269]

As Ive said many times KT should tell the fans what he wants to do with Sixfields, this would put more pressure on the inept council to either say yes or no.

Despite my irritation with some on here I don't disagree - KT does surely have enough skill as a words smith to say a little more without cast iron guarantees (minor transgressions of which will lead to random and beds calling for the gallows) - even a slightly more detailed statement of intent would surely galvanize public opinion and sadly public opinion and retaining position is what motivates the vast majority of our inept council.

[BedsCobb]

Despite my irritation with some on here I don't disagree - KT does surely have enough skill as a words smith to say a little more without cast iron guarantees (minor transgressions of which will lead to random and beds calling for the gallows) - even a slightly more detailed statement of intent would surely galvanize public opinion and sadly public opinion and retaining position is what motivates the vast majority of our inept council.

If he ever feels free to tell us what he intends to do with our  ground redev and states its only subjected to getting whatever he needs from the council, I doubt anyone one would hold it against him should he not deliver as long as its not a pile of s***e.
If he fails to get any enabling land then he could go to a plan b that delivers some affordable and sustainable development  with the clubs supporters giving full backing.. No man is an island and Sixfields is on the bones of its arse.

[rebelspawn]

Despite my irritation with some on here I don't disagree - KT does surely have enough skill as a words smith to say a little more without cast iron guarantees (minor transgressions of which will lead to random and beds calling for the gallows) - even a slightly more detailed statement of intent would surely galvanize public opinion and sadly public opinion and retaining position is what motivates the vast majority of our inept council.

I am coming around to this viewpoint myself now. The 'leaked' email was the first step, and i was saying only weeks before that the fanbase needed to be told more than the previous 'the decision is currently with NBC' in order to get some positive progress.

But now, if KT wants the fanbase to mobilise and put pressure on NBC then the fanbase should be told exactly what we (fanbase, NTFC) are asking for. this doen't have to be final plans, but i would like to know...

Does the lease issue affect the stand being completed in its current form? NBC has said it does not.

If that's the case then why exactly does KT need the lease situation sorting? are the club asking for more land so that the stand can be extended, or so more facilites can be put behind? Or is it simply a Health and safety and access issue?

I would have a hard time actively supporting KT and or trust in any action without knowing this information, and the whole time feel we need to be very vigilant against a situation similar to the Oxford/Kassam one.

[guest1269]

If he ever feels free to tell us what he intends to do with our  ground redev and states its only subjected to getting whatever he needs from the council, I doubt anyone one would hold it against him should he not deliver as long as its not a pile of s***e.
If he fails to get any enabling land then he could go to a plan b that delivers some affordable and sustainable development  with the clubs supporters giving full backing.. No man is an island and Sixfields is on the bones of its arse.

Once again your reasonable point is somewhat negated by your failure to accept/discuss/even mention lack of clarity from the other party - this party is in fact directly accountable to you, rightly or wrongly KT is not.

[meccanostand]

You'll get few fans mobilising behind any redevelopment plans. Not after we marched in support of Cardoza. Cringe.

[meccanostand]

If he ever feels free to tell us what he intends to do with our  ground redev and states its only subjected to getting whatever he needs from the council, I doubt anyone one would hold it against him should he not deliver as long as its not a pile of s***e.
If he fails to get any enabling land then he could go to a plan b that delivers some affordable and sustainable development  with the clubs supporters giving full backing.. No man is an island and Sixfields is on the bones of its arse.

He's said there's a Sixfields masterplan which suggests it's pretty big.

[guest49]

even a slightly more detailed statement of intent would surely galvanize public opinion and sadly public opinion and retaining position is what motivates the vast majority of our inept council.

I think even this is optimistic. 'Public opinion' would amount to a handful of Cobblers fans. The others either aren't that interested or embarrassed following the missing millions to even point a pinkie at the council. The 'We Want Answers' campaign showed us all we need to know about the disconnect and apathy within the masses.
Plus, I think a fair number just must be bored of the topic and glad to have a seat with a decent view every game.

In terms of the actual public, we'll never get past that question and finger pointing regarding the missing millions of 'our tax payers money', whilst they continue to moan about the need for a proper bus station.

[lodgeadam]

Am I reading this thread right, our fans are actually against our owners making money?

[everbrite]

I personally think something is really wrong at Cobblers.

You "think" but don't know? Any chance of any clarification on "you think" please?

[The 12th Marquis of Sixfields]

All these people demanding KT tells them his plans.

Not one with the bottle to even send him an email asking about them let alone turn up to one of the forums to ask him face to face.

It's why you're viewed as clowns on here that aren't worth listening to, that and not one of you seemingly knowing what the word "fact" means or why using them in support of your arguments is generally considered essential.

[Zen Master]

I personally think it'll be about trying to get the full area of what was the athletics track back in club control for developing. After all this is what was divided midway through the debacle of development in its former guise. The rest is gone and never coming back. Either way there is still the large grass area at the bottom of the main car park which if I remember rightly was where a hotel may have been planned for.
Would any of it benefit the club and playing side of things? Who knows.
Hopefully the stand gets finished (using the £4 million sitting in a ringfenced account?) and if they make some money when they move on, then good for them provided they leave us in better shape than when they got the club. Probably hard to leave it in worse shape!  Hopefully it'll be more than that and we still are in this division and thriving.

What is often true is that the wheels of local government move incredibly slowly and require a large number of committee meetings just to decide what the purpose of the meeting is. Add in missing millions and those wheels get slower still.

[guest2487]

You "think" but don't know? Any chance of any clarification on "you think" please?

It's what I think.

[guest2677]

So here goes.

KT: Gareth, can you call another open forum where I will finally tell all of the support my plans for the East stand.

GW: Are you sure Kelvyn? After all, we have no idea how long it will be before we know the extent of the boundary and what we can actually service to build?

KT: I was just thinking I could run a few ideas by our support, safe in the knowledge that they'll be ultimately sensible with that information.

GW: Oh dear, oh dear, I'm not feeling well.

KT: Can somebody call an ambulance, Gareth's collapsed.

PA: What did you say to him?

KT: I was just saying that I was going to tell our support about my thoughts on the East stand. I told him I'm sure that would be fine.

Loud crashing noise..

KT: Make that two ambulances

You appear to have a very low opinion of the sensibilities of your fellow fans Terry.

[Mathius]

I've no doubt KT is acting in the Club's best interests. He took over a legal minefield with the land ownership.

I might have some [mildly] positive news. I had to hang around after the game on Saturday. Our Chinese investors walked up the hill and stopped to view the stadium. They stood looking through the gap between the stands for some time. They definitely were looking towards the east stand for some of that. I wouldn't have blamed them if they had left early after the team's performance. Shows how serious they are about us an investment. Maybe good news isn't that far away.

[TownOwl]

Shows how much negativity is around the place at the moment if that last post counts as positive news.

But I’ll take it anyway!

[The 12th Marquis of Sixfields]

I've no doubt KT is acting in the Club's best interests. He took over a legal minefield with the land ownership.

I might have some [mildly] positive news. I had to hang around after the game on Saturday. Our Chinese investors walked up the hill and stopped to view the stadium. They stood looking through the gap between the stands for some time. They definitely were looking towards the east stand for some of that. I wouldn't have blamed them if they had left early after the team's performance. Shows how serious they are about us an investment. Maybe good news isn't that far away.

I saw James Whiting helping them with their cases into a taxi outside the ground today. Presumably parted with a cheery "It'll be better next time, I promise"