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Post by Forever Blue on Jul 28, 2019 2:26:22 GMT
I was just reading the Q&A with David Harrington-Wright on CheshireLive www.cheshire-live.co.uk/sport/football/qa-chester-fc-chairman-david-16644325We are very restricted on what we can do with that donation as we don't own the ground and 1 million would be swallowed up quite easy. Yeah it's ok people saying resurface the car park or extend the blues bar but we don't have the fan base to make more money on those ideas and I fail to see the way they would generate more income for the club. I have asked myself the question for a while now and maybe the sensible option would be to see if the council would sell us the land and stadium ? I am not sure how much rent they charge us but it makes sense if we want to move on securing the stadium comes first. If we pay a minimal rent then perhaps we can strike a deal with the council, that way we could apply for grants and licences for other events and move things on that way.
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Post by geoff on Jul 28, 2019 7:42:13 GMT
Thanks for the link forever blue. I tend to agree with you that it would be worth enquiring whether the Council would be prepared to sell the stadium and car park area. Not sure how much it would cost us but I suspect the land is more valuable than the stadium. At least we would then have a tangible asset and, as you say, be more able to apply for grants and we could borrow wisely with the security of ownership if we so wished.
I can see the problems in using Stuart’s injection of funds wisely as, unless we own the asset, it would not be wise to spend vast sums which in the longer term would only benefit our landlord! It would also be unwise to blow the lot on first team players......so where could the money be best invested?
Any views?
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Post by oldboneze on Jul 28, 2019 7:53:00 GMT
I was just reading the Q&A with David Harrington-Wright on CheshireLive www.cheshire-live.co.uk/sport/football/qa-chester-fc-chairman-david-16644325We are very restricted on what we can do with that donation as we don't own the ground and 1 million would be swallowed up quite easy. Yeah it's ok people saying resurface the car park or extend the blues bar but we don't have the fan base to make more money on those ideas and I fail to see the way they would generate more income for the club. I have asked myself the question for a while now and maybe the sensible option would be to see if the council would sell us the land and stadium? I am not sure how much rent they charge us but it makes sense if we want to move on securing the stadium comes first. If we pay a minimal rent then perhaps we can strike a deal with the council, that way we could apply for grants and licences for other events and move things on that way. Council ownership of the land and stadium was a key factor in enabling CFU to obtain a lease and create our football club.
If Vaughan or one of our earlier owners had been able to separate the club and the ground, then we may not have had a football club today. There are too many clubs who have had their ground mortgaged to the hilt to pursue 'the dream', protect the owner's other businesses or to strip the assets.
I've no problem with seeking a longer lease if this will open up new income streams but private ownership of the ground? No thanks.
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Post by billyw on Jul 28, 2019 9:44:32 GMT
I was just reading the Q&A with David Harrington-Wright on CheshireLive www.cheshire-live.co.uk/sport/football/qa-chester-fc-chairman-david-16644325We are very restricted on what we can do with that donation as we don't own the ground and 1 million would be swallowed up quite easy. Yeah it's ok people saying resurface the car park or extend the blues bar but we don't have the fan base to make more money on those ideas and I fail to see the way they would generate more income for the club. I have asked myself the question for a while now and maybe the sensible option would be to see if the council would sell us the land and stadium? I am not sure how much rent they charge us but it makes sense if we want to move on securing the stadium comes first. If we pay a minimal rent then perhaps we can strike a deal with the council, that way we could apply for grants and licences for other events and move things on that way. Council ownership of the land and stadium was a key factor in enabling CFU to obtain a lease and create our football club.
If Vaughan or one of our earlier owners had been able to separate the club and the ground, then we may not have had a football club today. There are too many clubs who have had their ground mortgaged to the hilt to pursue 'the dream', protect the owner's other businesses or to strip the assets.
I've no problem with seeking a longer lease if this will open up new income streams but private ownership of the ground? No thanks.
Agree there would be dangers in another Vaughan type on the scene but as owners of the club the destiny would be in our own hands.
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Post by Si on Jul 28, 2019 9:47:38 GMT
Realistically, I can't see CWCC using that site for anything other than football, so it would make sense to negotiate a long term lease and then we know whatever is invested is safeguarded. CWCC have been supportive of the club since reform, so hopefully something can happen with this money soon.
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Post by superman on Jul 28, 2019 10:05:45 GMT
Stuart’s money was initially £1 million over 3 years, and covered by a legal agreement. What happens when the 3 years are up if the money hasn’t been used?
If the land and stadium could be acquired by the CFU without incurring debt ( not allowed by our constitution?) then we would be even more in control of our own destiny. The counter argument that we would become victim to an incompetent or unscrupulous asset stripper only becomes reality if we muck things up ourselves, which we nearly did!!
Think the longer term lease idea is a more likely outcome. Good debate.
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Post by jimgreen on Jul 28, 2019 10:06:42 GMT
Realistically, I can't see CWCC using that site for anything other than football, so it would make sense to negotiate a long term lease and then we know whatever is invested is safeguarded. CWCC have been supportive of the club since reform, so hopefully something can happen with this money soon. Exactly. CFU was granted a five-year lease in 2010 which was extended to a 50-year lease in 2015 so we are in a good position. I’ve found the council nothing but supportive of the football club and can see no reason why this shouldn’t continue for many years to come. The KGV Sports Hub scheme is further evidence of this. The council owning the stadium/land provides safeguards and I’m sure there is scope for us to work in partnership with the council as our landlords to develop/improve the stadium and its surrounds.
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Post by gezzer on Jul 28, 2019 10:08:16 GMT
A few questions answered that people have been asking re BB, LL and Car Park and a good honest round up of where we are currently at by DHW who continues to impress as a Chairman who has his finger on the pulse.
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scott
Junior Member
Posts: 63
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Post by scott on Jul 29, 2019 20:25:58 GMT
How easy would it be to get the lease extended so we have a 100 years lease?
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Post by Arthur's Carpet slipper on Oct 2, 2019 11:26:04 GMT
Does anyone have any news on the longer term proposals Stuart and the team were working through?
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Post by bluemission on Oct 2, 2019 16:30:23 GMT
Does anyone have any news on the longer term proposals Stuart and the team were working through? Was mentioned at the last CFU meeting that Stuart was leading on this with the Club, as part of a bigger project, and conversations were ongoing with the council.
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Post by avfo on Oct 10, 2019 12:47:22 GMT
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Post by Churton Blue on Oct 10, 2019 13:36:12 GMT
I was just reading the Q&A with David Harrington-Wright on CheshireLive www.cheshire-live.co.uk/sport/football/qa-chester-fc-chairman-david-16644325We are very restricted on what we can do with that donation as we don't own the ground and 1 million would be swallowed up quite easy. Yeah it's ok people saying resurface the car park or extend the blues bar but we don't have the fan base to make more money on those ideas and I fail to see the way they would generate more income for the club. I have asked myself the question for a while now and maybe the sensible option would be to see if the council would sell us the land and stadium? I am not sure how much rent they charge us but it makes sense if we want to move on securing the stadium comes first. If we pay a minimal rent then perhaps we can strike a deal with the council, that way we could apply for grants and licences for other events and move things on that way. Council ownership of the land and stadium was a key factor in enabling CFU to obtain a lease and create our football club.
If Vaughan or one of our earlier owners had been able to separate the club and the ground, then we may not have had a football club today. There are too many clubs who have had their ground mortgaged to the hilt to pursue 'the dream', protect the owner's other businesses or to strip the assets.
I've no problem with seeking a longer lease if this will open up new income streams but private ownership of the ground? No thanks.
I totally agree with Oldboneze, especially the last bit, and am increasingly concerned that Stuart Murphy wants to buy the Stadium. I understand that the club is in a difficult position in all this but at some point we will need more transparency from all concerned.
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Post by iandychesterfc on Oct 10, 2019 15:26:52 GMT
If we were going to ask to buy land from the council, it wouldn't be down the arse end of an industrial estate
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Post by hackett on Oct 10, 2019 17:10:08 GMT
If we were going to ask to buy land from the council, it wouldn't be down the arse end of an industrial estate Shouldn't*
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2019 17:32:41 GMT
Council ownership of the land and stadium was a key factor in enabling CFU to obtain a lease and create our football club.
If Vaughan or one of our earlier owners had been able to separate the club and the ground, then we may not have had a football club today. There are too many clubs who have had their ground mortgaged to the hilt to pursue 'the dream', protect the owner's other businesses or to strip the assets.
I've no problem with seeking a longer lease if this will open up new income streams but private ownership of the ground? No thanks.
I totally agree with Oldboneze, especially the last bit, and am increasingly concerned that Stuart Murphy wants to buy the Stadium. I understand that the club is in a difficult position in all this but at some point we will need more transparency from all concerned. I would have no issue with the stadium being sold, so long as we (CFU) had a long long lease on the same or better terms than we have. The Council could insist on that as a clause for selling. They could possibly also restrict any borrowing against the bricks and mortar (if that can be done legally). Stuart probably wants to build in the car park as well as the Stands, but as a businessman he possibly won’t put money into that sort of scale development without “ownership” of the land.
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Post by Arthur's Carpet slipper on Oct 10, 2019 17:53:08 GMT
I totally agree with Oldboneze, especially the last bit, and am increasingly concerned that Stuart Murphy wants to buy the Stadium. I understand that the club is in a difficult position in all this but at some point we will need more transparency from all concerned. I would have no issue with the stadium being sold, so long as we (CFU) had a long long lease on the same or better terms than we have. The Council could insist on that as a clause for selling. They could possibly also restrict any borrowing against the bricks and mortar (if that can be done legally). Stuart probably wants to build in the car park as well as the Stands, but as a businessman he possibly won’t put money into that sort of scale development without “ownership” of the land. Having the ground and land owned by a private investor is a dangerous road to go down. The lease would quickly be voided if he bankrupt the company or changed it's entity. Any change of this nature should be subject to a full and proper review by CFU. I've lived through the dark days of the past and note what has happened to others. Look what happened to Coventry when they gave up ownership and the recent fight to get a suitable facility. Maidstone went bust in the 90's it's only the last 5 years they have a ground to call their own. One final point we should consider if we had to start the club again with no ground we automatically have a bill of at least $5-10M required to build a new one. Is it really worth it?
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Post by hackett on Oct 10, 2019 18:17:12 GMT
I'm not saying give the ground to Stuart Murphy by any stretch but for fucks sake can we not just sing his praise a little longer before we start suggesting what he might be up too?
Little over a year ago we might not have had a club without him.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2019 18:35:17 GMT
I've got a great idea lets all guess whats going on .then repeat it often enough and then we'll believe its true.only on deva chat
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Post by superman on Oct 10, 2019 18:52:09 GMT
Always grateful for Stuart’s financial input and his ideas for sustainability. What concerns me a little is when official spokesmen for the CFU/club speak in terms of Stuart’s plans and Stuart’s vision. Let us hope that they align with those of the vast majority of the “owners”. Who is steering the ship? Stuart or the board?
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Post by weareblues on Oct 10, 2019 18:52:38 GMT
I’d be more then happy for him to buy the deva knock it down and rebuild aslong as has a terrace Awful our ground is build totally wrong too
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jabber
Junior Member
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Post by jabber on Oct 10, 2019 19:16:38 GMT
They obviously have plans and don't or can't say what they are for whatever reason. I happy to just wait and see as he he must share the proposals with the membership at some point. Better than guessing and 9 times out of 10 it's wrong guess
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Post by banksy on Oct 10, 2019 21:00:29 GMT
Evening all..
Just a quick one...the stadium is not up for sale.
We have a lease on it, and that will still be the case. End of.
Just to reassure everyone on this point.
Jeff
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Post by Arthur's Carpet slipper on Oct 11, 2019 6:59:17 GMT
Evening all.. Just a quick one...the stadium is not up for sale. We have a lease on it, and that will still be the case. End of. Just to reassure everyone on this point. Jeff Thanks Jeff appreciate the response and looking forward to hearing news on this in the future
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Post by luckyblue on Oct 11, 2019 9:28:10 GMT
To reaffirm what Jeff said- original 5 year lease was extended with the council to a 50 year lease agreement circa 2015. The additional time frame and commitment allows CFC to apply for various funding and improvement grants from various authorities. eg Council, FA, Sports Councils. Lottery etc etc
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Post by iandychesterfc on Oct 11, 2019 12:20:29 GMT
If we were going to ask to buy land from the council, it wouldn't be down the arse end of an industrial estate Shouldn't* 'If we were to do something it wouldn't be that' Is a perfectly reasonable sentence. Grammar checks on a message really are odd.
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Post by geoff on Oct 11, 2019 12:48:21 GMT
Why are some of the posters so obsessed with grammar? It’s arrogant to keep correcting grammatical errors and takes us off topic. As long as I can understand the post and it does not include any foul language I’m happy😀.
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Post by 54321 on Oct 11, 2019 16:34:22 GMT
Why are some of the posters so obsessed with grammar? It’s arrogant to keep correcting grammatical errors and takes us off topic. As long as I can understand the post and it does not include any foul language I’m happy😀. Spot on Geoff just a bunch of would be school teachers that have failed!!
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Post by Imperial on Oct 11, 2019 19:31:42 GMT
'If we were to do something it wouldn't be that' Is a perfectly reasonable sentence. Grammar checks on a message really are odd. He wasn’t correcting your grammar, he was making the point that we shouldn’t be looking to buy land at the end of an industrial estate.
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Post by Frank Owen’s Paintbrush on Oct 11, 2019 20:45:14 GMT
'If we were to do something it wouldn't be that' Is a perfectly reasonable sentence. Grammar checks on a message really are odd. He wasn’t correcting your grammar, he was making the point that we shouldn’t be looking to buy land at the end of an industrial estate. Glad I wasn’t the only one who understood what he meant.
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