chelstongull
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Post by chelstongull on Aug 29, 2017 11:58:06 GMT
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Jon
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Post by Jon on Aug 29, 2017 19:48:07 GMT
I'd guess it's quite possible to have a plan to move into a new stadium by 2020 while also realising that more than likely the objective will in reality take a little longer to reach. So I think it's important to differentiate between what was actually said i.e 'that's the plan' and how it's being spun i.e 'Here is my cast iron guarantee that we WILL be in the Osborne Arena by 2020'....... In my capacity as unofficial G.I spokesman on TFF, this is the best I could do with Clarke's 2020 plan announcement back in mid July..... 'It's a plan not a promise' You are quite right to point out that Osborne's words were that they "plan relocation" NOT that they will actually build the stadium that they plan to relocate to: "we plan relocation to a new purpose-built stadium by 2020, with improved entertainment facilities, catering options and all that comes with a modern stadium" I had to pick Rob up for saying that Bill Glass had said that building stadia was GI's modus operandi whereas what he actually said was that TRYING to build stadia was their modus operandi. They always try just hard enough to get the profit-making "enabling development" done, but never quite hard enough to enable them to actually build a stadium. Now here I am making the same schoolboy error. Assuming that the plan has any substance to it may be an assumption too far. And the plan to completion ratio currently stands at 0.00%.
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Jon
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Post by Jon on Aug 29, 2017 19:56:16 GMT
It has been suggested on another forum that GIs exit strategy is to rebuild the footballing infrastructure of the club (ie youth teams etc) and sell the club as a capital investment. This I would presume is the best possible outcome for the club. I am always searching for a straw to clutch at, so could you please expand on what you mean by "sell the club as a capital investment". I don't really understand what this means.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2017 21:05:35 GMT
Jon There's generally a bit of leeway given, even to opponents, when accuracy isn't entirely all it could be. I certainly make that allowance for a star contributor such as Rob and am certain he often returns the favour, given the good nature of debate on TFF. However, if you ever want to pick Rob up on an favourite oft-used inaccuracy loosely connected with misquoting, then just notice how often ........no, actually I'll tip you off about that over a curry one day . Rob will likely know the answer to this, but would I be right or wrong in saying that G.I have not been involved with the building of the 'enabling development' housing at Swindon, and if anything, have been inconvenienced by the problems encountered with the housing, that meant further progress with the stadium couldn't be made, due to the importance of stage by stage completion running in the necessary order ? I won't push my luck by asking if 'drainage issues' are just with the housing or now with both the housing and also the stadium site, but if anyone has been keeping a far closer eye on matters Swindon, it'll be Comrade Rob That completion ratio looks rather similar to the Gulls win ratio for the season so far....but no excuse to give up the fight for improvement .
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2017 21:17:17 GMT
I was only reflecting earlier on the fact that, despite our disappointing League position etc, G.I's magnificent stewardship of the club has already paid dividends in the form of a good selection of experienced managers queuing up and hoping to be chosen as King Kev's successor. On the field, things didn't look quite so bleak when Paul Cox departed, but other than Kev saying he'd do it for £50 a week, I'm led to believe the quality of additional applicants left a lot to be desired. Once that academy facility is up and running, not to mention the spanking new, state of the art Osborne Arena, I can just envisage in a few years someone coming along, looking at all that potential and asking Clarke Osborne if Torquay United would, for a prospective purchaser, now make a good investment ?. And Clarke answering: 'Capital old fellow...capital !' Of course this might not be exactly what Pete meant, but I don't think I'm far off .
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Aug 29, 2017 21:31:35 GMT
My understanding is that money was made from enabling development as ever and then it was claimed they may have been behind drumming up objections to the new stadium. Don't know if that helps, AJ. It was merely something I read and I cannot claim to have any Swindon 'Sauces'. Just an interest in Speedway, even though my club got its stadium knocked down by Osborne and no longer exists.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2017 22:37:17 GMT
Thanks Rob, doesn't sound as if there's much happening at the moment for whatever reason. It's noticeable that with the dreadful start Torquay have made to the season fans are naturally additionally complaining about every other side issue connected with the club as well. Perhaps with Swindon Robins enjoying a good season, then other considerations melt away somewhat, and preoccupation with the building site has lessened.
Hope the new place does get built given the interminably long wait for it, but who'd be in a rush to leave The Abbey when you can't stop winning there ?
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simonb
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Post by simonb on Aug 31, 2017 10:34:20 GMT
Just wondering if GI ever thought about running breweries but upon reflection I suspect they would most likely struggle with that concept!
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Post by plainmoorpete on Aug 31, 2017 14:36:59 GMT
Just wondering if GI ever thought about running breweries but upon reflection I suspect they would most likely struggle with that concept!
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Post by loyaltygull on Aug 31, 2017 16:29:26 GMT
Just wondering if GI ever thought about running breweries but upon reflection I suspect they would most likely struggle with that concept! I like that alot lol
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Jon
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Post by Jon on Aug 31, 2017 23:24:45 GMT
Rob will likely know the answer to this, but would I be right or wrong in saying that G.I have not been involved with the building of the 'enabling development' housing at Swindon, and if anything, have been inconvenienced by the problems encountered with the housing If you know anything about the Swindon fiasco that casts GI in a slightly less bad light, please do share! I could so with a straw to clutch at. I thought the housing was a joint venture but don't have the time or patience to work out the details. Thistle Land, Abbeyfields..... The names seem to have come and gone over the years. Are you suggesting that someone else has bagged all the profit from the houses and left poor old GI with nothing? Was that Tommy Lawrence I saw sat next to his old team mate Ronnie Moore?
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Sept 1, 2017 9:40:43 GMT
Rob will likely know the answer to this, but would I be right or wrong in saying that G.I have not been involved with the building of the 'enabling development' housing at Swindon, and if anything, have been inconvenienced by the problems encountered with the housing If you know anything about the Swindon fiasco that casts GI in a slightly less bad light, please do share! I could so with a straw to clutch at. I thought the housing was a joint venture but don't have the time or patience to work out the details. Thistle Land, Abbeyfields..... The names seem to have come and gone over the years. Are you suggesting that someone else has bagged all the profit from the houses and left poor old GI with nothing? Was that Tommy Lawrence I saw sat next to his old team mate Ronnie Moore? I haven't looked at the development in detail and don't know if it relates solely to the Speedway land but the planning application where GI is a party is for 450 residential units, substantial light industrial usage and a care home! Barretts were recently advertising for new 3 and 4 bed houses in the area from 272k and where the land component traditionally accounts for around a third of the final development value then we are talking about a deal worth in the tens of millions! Surely enough for a new stadium which was the centre piece of the planning application and a decent profit?
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Sept 1, 2017 22:33:46 GMT
A few bob left over from some flat pack prefab stadia kit that is yet to go up over 10 years on, you'd think.
Said it before, but reckon Swindon will complete (albeit pre fab kit) as the local populace have worked hard to keep the pressure on what they have seen as a willing developer of housing plots not stadia.
Anyone but a fool of the like parodied by AJ on here is aware after the briefest of searches, that promises have had a habit of not being fulfilled over the years. Was sorry to hear the 'stadium' issue being raised again today while we are languishing. They can wreak havoc without the freehold. Have done before. Swindon and Reading both leases.
Anyway - I reckon we will nick a point or possibly a win against Chester tomorrow. Maybe.
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Post by plainmoorpete on Sept 3, 2017 8:37:38 GMT
It has been suggested on another forum that GIs exit strategy is to rebuild the footballing infrastructure of the club (ie youth teams etc) and sell the club as a capital investment. This I would presume is the best possible outcome for the club. I am always searching for a straw to clutch at, so could you please expand on what you mean by "sell the club as a capital investment". I don't really understand what this means. It has been suggested elsewhere that GI may be investing in the club's infrastructure so that in the event of failing to obtain the plainmoor freehold they will sell the club on as a going concern. The drawback in this as far as I can see is that GI would have to sell at close to a million to recoup their investment and make a tidy profit.
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Sept 3, 2017 9:03:54 GMT
I am always searching for a straw to clutch at, so could you please expand on what you mean by "sell the club as a capital investment". I don't really understand what this means. It has been suggested elsewhere that GI may be investing in the club's infrastructure so that in the event of failing to obtain the plainmoor freehold they will sell the club on as a going concern. The drawback in this as far as I can see is that GI would have to sell at close to a million to recoup their investment and make a tidy profit. I suppose to be worth something substantial the club would have to consistently make a profit of note and I am pretty sure that the club has only just made it into the black a couple of times in its history as any transfer windfalls etc are generally reinvested into the playing side. A substantial redevelopment with lots of income streams to offset the loss making football side may do the trick but the cost of development will be substantial and any fan would be entitled to ask how this would ultimately benefit the club?
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