Redevelopment Closer Than Ever?

[Vintage Cobbler]

As I wrote, we will see, and may I be wrong because I don't see anyone rushing to but the club anytime soon.  But I don't agree with your arguments. There has been more than enough time for KT/DB to be open and transparent about the owners plans.  The last 12 months have been an exercise in the complete opposite.

[Vintage Cobbler]

Some pretty unpleasant comments on James Whiting and co. Its no good telling KT to move on when there is nobody yet to step into his shoes. Unless of course you will be heading a consortium or planning yourself to complete the takeover yourself? Which one is it El Financial Whiz Kid?

Everbrite - Should we combine our pensions and see where it takes us?

[claretparrot]

I think you're missing the point I was making. For me it has nothing to do with how long they've been here. In their shoes, even with workable plans in place, I wouldn't release them publicly until I knew I could implement them.

You think they are duty-bound to be open and transparent, whereas I wouldn't blame them for being prudent and keeping quiet. Anyway, agree to disagree I guess!

[guest2487]

Genuine question....

What other clubs owners are open and honest about their plans? The Accrington chairman does a good job of it....who else?

[everbrite]

Everbrite - Should we combine our pensions and see where it takes us?

Just answer the query directly even a yes or no will do. Its no good being a big shot on the keyboard unless  you have the means to justify your comments. In other words shut up or put up - which is it;again?

[Vintage Cobbler]

You write such crap, Everbrite. This is a fans' forum for supporters to express opinions not an investment bankers' convention.  To voice an opinion it is not a pre-requisite that you need a few million in the bank account.

PS. It would be a pleasant surprise if you would one day dare to venture an opinion other than just having a dig at other posters who like me appear to get under your thin skin.

[BedsCobb]

On the other hand should KT stay and develop the ground I'm very curious as how you will react to that news - gracious and conciliatory I hope........

Sadly, having hung on to his every word, body language  and actions in regards to being the man to unify the club with its supporters, the trust and the public of Northampton in general to help build up the club in a steady sustainable manner in order for us to escape the continual mothballing.
Sadly not one thing gave me any hope of him having any inclination to oversee growth especially in light of his most recent relevation as to his wish to spend more time living in the US.
I would've loved them to have had a working plan that showed steady growth that didnt require them to spend a single penny of the profit made from picking the club up for a song.. but work with the above aforementioned to make things finally happen.
3 long years tells me its not ever going to happen with this lot.

[Deepcut Cobbler]

Sadly, having hung on to his every word, body language  and actions in regards to being the man to unify the club with its supporters, the trust and the public of Northampton in general to help build up the club in a steady sustainable manner in order for us to escape the continual mothballing.
Sadly not one thing gave me any hope of him having any inclination to oversee growth especially in light of his most recent relevation as to his wish to spend more time living in the US.
I would've loved them to have had a working plan that showed steady growth that didnt require them to spend a single penny of the profit made from picking the club up for a song.. but work with the above aforementioned to make things finally happen.
3 long years tells me its not ever going to happen with this lot.

And what has brought you to that conclusion?

[Coolcat]

This argument has a few holes in it too, IMO.

If I were KT and I had genuine plans, I'd hold them back too. Why spend a load of money getting them drawn up and get the supporters excited if they may not come to anything for some months or years? It drove people on here crazy when DC released plans and then continually altered them whilst nothing actually happened.

More importantly, there was no guarantee as to how the lease situation would be rectified. This was up for debate until the last minute, remember. He may have had to bin or at least significantly alter plans if it didn't go how he anticipated.

Again, I'm no KT apologist, I'm on the fence. Like Hamster, I just wish people would be a bit more patient/reasonable and judge the bloke once he's actually had an opportunity to act!

Two holes in this post imo...
"get the supporters excited". Really? How long is this thread?

"...wish the fans would be more patient" Really again? See above! 

[meccanostand]

Genuine question....

What other clubs owners are open and honest about their plans? The Accrington chairman does a good job of it....who else?

Privately owned clubs not many. Fan owned clubs do.

[meccanostand]

Really going around in circles but that is going to happen with the lack of information.

Beds just seems to want something more than a club that bumbles along via regular financial catastrophies. Seems fair enough.

The North and South Stands could be expanded Beds and there could be provision for standing. There are various funding routes. Really no point in discussing that much more unless you want to urge the owners into producing which is up to you.

Whether there is a cast iron business case to do it is open to debate but the club is more than a business.

What is crucial in the short term is that the club is solvent after the failure of the Chinese investment. Thomas and Bower have made significant improvements in the way the club is run but their next moves are crucial.

Bar a visionary wealthy chairman in the mould of Holt at Accrington it seems that only a fan ownership % will deliver the infrastructural progress that is at the heart of all this squabbling.

[Manwork04]

Genuine question....

What other clubs owners are open and honest about their plans? The Accrington chairman does a good job of it....who else?

The Mansfield Chairman has just poured £2m into a new training ground for them.

[Manwork04]

You may laugh but 130 per home game is approx an extra £50k p/s

Hello Evers old chum, I take your point it's £60k pa, enough for KT to enlarge that Florida pool.

[Manwork04]

A new season dawns, this thread continues and, rather like the East Stand, with no end in sight.  I am readying myself for yet another season looking across at the East Stand mess. It does not make for good viewing.  Hopefully, Dean Austin has a sufficiently strong squad into which he has instilled some belief and organisation and that we can look forward to better viewing on the pitch. 

The “debate” on this forum goes hither and thither but to my mind one thing remains clear and in that I remain consistent and unchanging. That is that under our current ownership there is no prospect of anything happening to the East Stand in the near future.  Our owners can fall back on the legal side that the boundaries are still being sorted out by a painfully slow moving and inadequate Council. But that will run its course and then KT will have nowhere to hide and the heat on him will increase.  Knowing that, he has already played the card of his family being in the USA etc. etc. meaning we can expect less of his presence in Northampton.  Step forward the bag carrier, James Whiting who is adept at carrying out his masters’ orders, whoever they may be from time to time.  Dear old Gareth will provide the PR spin to convince us all is well.

I don’t go with the notion that you have to have a good ground to have a successful team.  That has to be a nonsense. Consider Sunderland who will be entertaining the likes of AFC Wimbledon, Burton and Walsall this season at the Stadium of Light.  But what any club needs is a stadium and an underlying infrastructure that (a) produces a good income stream 7 days a week and (b) attracts quality players willing to commit their careers to the club.  We lack both the income and the infrastructure and that is part of the reason we are where we are.

My hope is that new owners will arrive soon who are more interested in developing NTFC as a football club than viewing NTFC as a property development opportunity.  KT has had his time and needs to move on.  His credibility (where is that £4million) is on the line.  All he has done is tinker at the edges with the ground with the minimum of expenditure, spun a good story to the media as a “football man” and, hey ho, we find ourselves back in the basement division. 

Best post for a long time, how anyone can disagree is beyond me.

[BedsCobb]

And what has brought you to that conclusion?

When they got Adam wyatt (Ian beal from Eastenders) to cut the ribbon at the official bog door opening ceremony....This.

[EssTeeFree]

Best post for a long time, how anyone can disagree is beyond me.

I'd only really take issue with the following;

"under our current ownership there is no prospect of anything happening to the East Stand in the near future"

A fair number of fans (myself included) will wait for the legal wrangling to be complete before fully signing up to that view. What I don't think can be argued with is;

"But that will run its course and then KT will have nowhere to hide and the heat on him will increase"

which I think is fair enough!

[EssTeeFree]

Bar a visionary wealthy chairman in the mould of Holt at Accrington it seems that only a fan ownership % will deliver the infrastructural progress that is at the heart of all this squabbling.

Regarding the fan ownership % Meccano, I know you have put forward some Infrastructure funding options before, could similar routes be used to raise funds for buy out of the club, partial or otherwise? As the club is for sale is this something that we could be looking into now?

[Terryfenwickatemyhamster]

it seems that only a fan ownership % will deliver the infrastructural progress that is at the heart of all this squabbling.

Is there a single fan owned club above league 1 ? Also, what fan owned clubs have seen significant investment in the infrastructure?

I genuinely don't know.... I've met a few times with the Wycombe guys. Might be worth a few on here chatting with them. They're certainly not pessimistic. But they are 100% more realistic about the challenges they face than the pie in the sky spouted by some on this thread.

Anyway. The real important bit starts tomorrow. Get a few wins under our belt, all the miserable fcukers will soon disappear...

[claretparrot]

Two holes in this post imo...
"get the supporters excited". Really? How long is this thread?

"...wish the fans would be more patient" Really again? See above! 

Not sure what you're getting at with your first point.

On your second, you've twisted my argument somewhat. I said "people", not "the fans" - I was referring to specific individuals not the fan base as a whole. We're all desperate to see this mess come to a conclusion, that goes without saying. The impatience I refer to is those who are hammering KT on here.

In my book, expecting someone to do something before they're legally able to is pretty impatient...

[Deepcut Cobbler]

When they got Adam wyatt (Ian beal from Eastenders) to cut the ribbon at the official bog door opening ceremony....This.

I can understand your continued grievance against KT now, being overlooked for Adam Woodyatt at this prestigious occasion must have been devastating for you...