Breaking news he has withdrawn
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DptxsQiWwAA0jzU?format=jpg&name=900x900)
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I wonder if the Kline accusations are anything to do with this or just that the FA oldfarts are so against it. Hope its the latter and just shows how antiquated the running of football is in this country.
Great shame as it feels as if the little Englander comments and criticism he received have worn him down. The game could have done with his money and influence. Instead we are still left with a bunch of self serving blowhards running and ruining the game.
Quote from: Lighthouse on October 17, 2018, 03:24:26 PM
Great shame as it feels as if the little Englander comments and criticism he received have worn him down. The game could have done with his money and influence. Instead we are still left with a bunch of self serving blowhards running and ruining the game.
He Probably realised that he had over bid for it, knows no one else is really interested and will go back in a year or two and bid half the money. That or he realised that no one in London can be bothered to spend 4 hours every other week end watch NFL and the TV audience in the states wont be there for it due to time difference
Lets hope he will now apply all his efforts to developing Fulham.
I don't blame him not wanting to do a deal with the Dinosaurs that are the FA who want to block it!!
8 months ago we were given planning permission for The Riverside Stand,
8 months later and still no contractor to build it, despite the fact that its been designed by Populous , and theyve designed more stadiums than anybody on Earth and yet they cant suggest anybody to us , all very odd,
This delay has coincided with the potential purchase of Wembley,
Todays news is going to be either very good news for us or very bad, hopefully The Riverside plans will now accelerate as opposed to a disgruntled Chairman who has seen his NFL dream perish and now wants out !
Why didnt he buy West Ham ? That club comes with a perfect NFL stadium , he made a big mistake buying us , interesting now to see what happens next !
The Plot Thickens. !!
Quote from: Riversider on October 17, 2018, 03:56:29 PM
8 months ago we were given planning permission for The Riverside Stand,
8 months later and still no contractor to build it, despite the fact that its been designed by Populous , and theyve designed more stadiums than anybody on Earth and yet they cant suggest anybody to us , all very odd,
This delay has coincided with the potential purchase of Wembley,
Todays news is going to be either very good news for us or very bad, hopefully The Riverside plans will now accelerate as opposed to a disgruntled Chairman who has seen his NFL dream perish and now wants out !
Why didnt he buy West Ham ? That club comes with a perfect NFL stadium , he made a big mistake buying us , interesting now to see what happens next !
RIVERSIDE STAND
Update
The Trust asked for an update on the progress of the Riverside Stand redevelopment and highlighted our concern that with a lead contractor yet to be appointed the timescales may start to slip. AM confirmed that the Club were still out to tender for a lead contractor on the works and, while there was no winning bid yet, the Club were in advanced and detailed discussions with a final shortlist of potential contractors.
Timeline
The Trust pushed for an update on the timeline against that included in the London Borough Hammersmith & Fulham Council's planning documentation. AM revealed that whilst the fine detail of that timeline was no longer relevant, the Club are still operating to their original timescale of a project start in May 2019. When asked how this would be possible without confirmation of a lead contractor AM disclosed that there is "a high probability" that a preferred contractor will be in place by the end of November 2018.
The Trust asked for confirmation of the high level timeline. AM explained that the Club's current plan is to begin work in May 2019 with the demolition of the existing Riverside Stand and for Craven Cottage to operate at a significantly reduced capacity for two seasons. The plan is for the new Riverside Stand to be ready for the 2021-22 season. He revealed that he is in constant touch with Shahid Khan over the progress of the plans and that the Club want a well-thought out scheme. He added that as the project is highly complex the club are using information provided by multiple bidders to constantly enhance the offers and plans.
Best for all concerned, in my view. Interesting that he's reverted to American spellings now that he's no longer seeking to ingratiate himself with them.
The FA have lost a terrific opportunity to shift a significant and ongoing increasing debt off its books. A golden chance to fund some innovation in the grassroots game.
Khan has proved a wonderful guardian IMO for Fulham Fc in his brief tenure and I am positive he would have proved the same for the home of the English game given an opportunity.
Daniel Levy is a huge influencer in the game and desperate to pick up an Americian Franchise so his shiny new toy is the only place to watch NFL in London.
Quote from: MJG on October 17, 2018, 04:06:06 PM
Quote from: Riversider on October 17, 2018, 03:56:29 PM
8 months ago we were given planning permission for The Riverside Stand,
8 months later and still no contractor to build it, despite the fact that its been designed by Populous , and theyve designed more stadiums than anybody on Earth and yet they cant suggest anybody to us , all very odd,
This delay has coincided with the potential purchase of Wembley,
Todays news is going to be either very good news for us or very bad, hopefully The Riverside plans will now accelerate as opposed to a disgruntled Chairman who has seen his NFL dream perish and now wants out !
Why didnt he buy West Ham ? That club comes with a perfect NFL stadium , he made a big mistake buying us , interesting now to see what happens next !
RIVERSIDE STAND
Update
The Trust asked for an update on the progress of the Riverside Stand redevelopment and highlighted our concern that with a lead contractor yet to be appointed the timescales may start to slip. AM confirmed that the Club were still out to tender for a lead contractor on the works and, while there was no winning bid yet, the Club were in advanced and detailed discussions with a final shortlist of potential contractors.
Timeline
The Trust pushed for an update on the timeline against that included in the London Borough Hammersmith & Fulham Council's planning documentation. AM revealed that whilst the fine detail of that timeline was no longer relevant, the Club are still operating to their original timescale of a project start in May 2019. When asked how this would be possible without confirmation of a lead contractor AM disclosed that there is "a high probability" that a preferred contractor will be in place by the end of November 2018.
The Trust asked for confirmation of the high level timeline. AM explained that the Club's current plan is to begin work in May 2019 with the demolition of the existing Riverside Stand and for Craven Cottage to operate at a significantly reduced capacity for two seasons. The plan is for the new Riverside Stand to be ready for the 2021-22 season. He revealed that he is in constant touch with Shahid Khan over the progress of the plans and that the Club want a well-thought out scheme. He added that as the project is highly complex the club are using information provided by multiple bidders to constantly enhance the offers and plans.
That's the party line, fed out to the gullible to keep them happy, do you believe that Populous can't put forward a contractor that they haven't already worked with ?
8 months have passed now and work is due to start in just 7 , the club, for whatever reason, have dragged their heels, I have no idea why and neither do you or anybody else, hopefully now things will accelerate, if no announcement by the time of the November FST meeting then I hope that the questioning is less accepting and more forceful.
Quote from: Riversider on October 17, 2018, 04:52:36 PM
Quote from: MJG on October 17, 2018, 04:06:06 PM
Quote from: Riversider on October 17, 2018, 03:56:29 PM
8 months ago we were given planning permission for The Riverside Stand,
8 months later and still no contractor to build it, despite the fact that its been designed by Populous , and theyve designed more stadiums than anybody on Earth and yet they cant suggest anybody to us , all very odd,
This delay has coincided with the potential purchase of Wembley,
Todays news is going to be either very good news for us or very bad, hopefully The Riverside plans will now accelerate as opposed to a disgruntled Chairman who has seen his NFL dream perish and now wants out !
Why didnt he buy West Ham ? That club comes with a perfect NFL stadium , he made a big mistake buying us , interesting now to see what happens next !
RIVERSIDE STAND
Update
The Trust asked for an update on the progress of the Riverside Stand redevelopment and highlighted our concern that with a lead contractor yet to be appointed the timescales may start to slip. AM confirmed that the Club were still out to tender for a lead contractor on the works and, while there was no winning bid yet, the Club were in advanced and detailed discussions with a final shortlist of potential contractors.
Timeline
The Trust pushed for an update on the timeline against that included in the London Borough Hammersmith & Fulham Council's planning documentation. AM revealed that whilst the fine detail of that timeline was no longer relevant, the Club are still operating to their original timescale of a project start in May 2019. When asked how this would be possible without confirmation of a lead contractor AM disclosed that there is "a high probability" that a preferred contractor will be in place by the end of November 2018.
The Trust asked for confirmation of the high level timeline. AM explained that the Club's current plan is to begin work in May 2019 with the demolition of the existing Riverside Stand and for Craven Cottage to operate at a significantly reduced capacity for two seasons. The plan is for the new Riverside Stand to be ready for the 2021-22 season. He revealed that he is in constant touch with Shahid Khan over the progress of the plans and that the Club want a well-thought out scheme. He added that as the project is highly complex the club are using information provided by multiple bidders to constantly enhance the offers and plans.
That's the party line, fed out to the gullible to keep them happy, do you believe that Populous can't put forward a contractor that they haven't already worked with ?
8 months have passed now and work is due to start in just 7 , the club, for whatever reason, have dragged their heels, I have no idea why and neither do you or anybody else, hopefully now things will accelerate, if no announcement by the time of the November FST meeting then I hope that the questioning is less accepting and more forceful.
I know from speaking to the trust board it was forceful and they asked the right questions. We might not like the answers but that's what you get on record here.
In any meeting on any subject you can keep asking questions and ask others to pin people againt the wall as you would clearly want to do, but you won't get a different answer if as you say that's the party line. All the Trust Board can do is keep asking and pushing for answers
If you actually read the notes you will see they have spoken to many contractors and are not fully happy with what they are hearing. Now you can believe that or not, but that's the answer they gave.
Quote from: Fernhurst on October 17, 2018, 04:34:49 PM
The FA have lost a terrific opportunity to shift a significant and ongoing increasing debt off its books. A golden chance to fund some innovation in the grassroots game.
Khan has proved a wonderful guardian IMO for Fulham Fc in his brief tenure and I am positive he would have proved the same for the home of the English game given an opportunity.
Daniel Levy is a huge influencer in the game and desperate to pick up an Americian Franchise so his shiny new toy is the only place to watch NFL in London.
+1
As someone who was playing grass roots level football only recently, the money is needed. It doesn't HAVE to come from the sale of Wembley, but it's not forthcoming from anywhere else. In the last few years I've played on pitches so sloped a 6ft lad appeared about 4ft tall on the other wing, men have turned their ankles in divots, glass is removed from pitches by players at kick off, not to mention to dog mess. The standard of the toilets and showers (if even available) at most recs/grounds makes the bathroom scene in Saw seem like a 5 star hotel bathroom. You're lucky if you get hot water and generally you're luckier if your pre-match turnout doesn't result in you contracting TB! A real opportunity missed here.
[/quote]I know from speaking to the trust board it was forceful and they asked the right questions. We might not like the answers but that's what you get on record here.
In any meeting on any subject you can keep asking questions and ask others to pin people againt the wall as you would clearly want to do, but you won't get a different answer if as you say that's the party line. All the Trust Board can do is keep asking and pushing for answers
If you actually read the notes you will see they have spoken to many contractors and are not fully happy with what they are hearing. Now you can believe that or not, but that's the answer they gave.
[/quote]
Reading your notes I actually thought it was some of the more forceful/better line of questioning I've seen from the FST and it was to their credit.
I felt this was an interesting line: "the club are using information provided by multiple bidders to constantly enhance the offers and plans".
Quote from: Riversider on October 17, 2018, 04:52:36 PM
Quote from: MJG on October 17, 2018, 04:06:06 PM
Quote from: Riversider on October 17, 2018, 03:56:29 PM
8 months ago we were given planning permission for The Riverside Stand,
8 months later and still no contractor to build it, despite the fact that its been designed by Populous , and theyve designed more stadiums than anybody on Earth and yet they cant suggest anybody to us , all very odd,
This delay has coincided with the potential purchase of Wembley,
Todays news is going to be either very good news for us or very bad, hopefully The Riverside plans will now accelerate as opposed to a disgruntled Chairman who has seen his NFL dream perish and now wants out !
Why didnt he buy West Ham ? That club comes with a perfect NFL stadium , he made a big mistake buying us , interesting now to see what happens next !
RIVERSIDE STAND
Update
The Trust asked for an update on the progress of the Riverside Stand redevelopment and highlighted our concern that with a lead contractor yet to be appointed the timescales may start to slip. AM confirmed that the Club were still out to tender for a lead contractor on the works and, while there was no winning bid yet, the Club were in advanced and detailed discussions with a final shortlist of potential contractors.
Timeline
The Trust pushed for an update on the timeline against that included in the London Borough Hammersmith & Fulham Council's planning documentation. AM revealed that whilst the fine detail of that timeline was no longer relevant, the Club are still operating to their original timescale of a project start in May 2019. When asked how this would be possible without confirmation of a lead contractor AM disclosed that there is "a high probability" that a preferred contractor will be in place by the end of November 2018.
The Trust asked for confirmation of the high level timeline. AM explained that the Club's current plan is to begin work in May 2019 with the demolition of the existing Riverside Stand and for Craven Cottage to operate at a significantly reduced capacity for two seasons. The plan is for the new Riverside Stand to be ready for the 2021-22 season. He revealed that he is in constant touch with Shahid Khan over the progress of the plans and that the Club want a well-thought out scheme. He added that as the project is highly complex the club are using information provided by multiple bidders to constantly enhance the offers and plans.
That's the party line, fed out to the gullible to keep them happy, do you believe that Populous can't put forward a contractor that they haven't already worked with ?
8 months have passed now and work is due to start in just 7 , the club, for whatever reason, have dragged their heels, I have no idea why and neither do you or anybody else, hopefully now things will accelerate, if no announcement by the time of the November FST meeting then I hope that the questioning is less accepting and more forceful.
Riversider,I tend to go along with you!
I don't believe anything till it happens!
Quote from: Mitch on October 17, 2018, 05:55:50 PM
Quote from: Fernhurst on October 17, 2018, 04:34:49 PM
The FA have lost a terrific opportunity to shift a significant and ongoing increasing debt off its books. A golden chance to fund some innovation in the grassroots game.
Khan has proved a wonderful guardian IMO for Fulham Fc in his brief tenure and I am positive he would have proved the same for the home of the English game given an opportunity.
Daniel Levy is a huge influencer in the game and desperate to pick up an Americian Franchise so his shiny new toy is the only place to watch NFL in London.
+1
As someone who was playing grass roots level football only recently, the money is needed. It doesn't HAVE to come from the sale of Wembley, but it's not forthcoming from anywhere else. In the last few years I've played on pitches so sloped a 6ft lad appeared about 4ft tall on the other wing, men have turned their ankles in divots, glass is removed from pitches by players at kick off, not to mention to dog mess. The standard of the toilets and showers (if even available) at most recs/grounds makes the bathroom scene in Saw seem like a 5 star hotel bathroom. You're lucky if you get hot water and generally you're luckier if your pre-match turnout doesn't result in you contracting TB! A real opportunity missed here.
Even if the sale had gone through, and in a way I am glad it hasn't, as I did not feel comfortable with it.
But very little money if any would go to grass roots.
Any money would have gone to be wasted on promoting the Respect Campaign, Kick It Out, Charter Standard and Diversity, a lot of money has been wasted on these projects which has not been value for money and have been flogged to death, and what difference have they made, Jack Poo.
Because the FA and it's quangos, and jobs for the boys, and to a lesser extent the County FAs are more interested in ticking boxes and being politically correct.
At the expense of having no hot water for showers, disgusting dressing rooms and facilities and pitches that have been neglected, because councils would much prefer to spend any money available on shag pile and Axminster carpets for their offices, they don't care, and the FA never even bother to find our what is needed at grass roots.
Everyone else knows because it's dam well obvious.
So in ten years time, we will still be playing on pitches that have never been rolled, and very rarely cut or marked, 18th Century dressing rooms with no running hot water let alone cold water. With archaic Toilet facilities that are basically holes in the ground in some places.
So forget about any financial assistance, they are only interested in scoring brownie points and wasting money with their ridiculous workshops and politicaly correct administrators, who are getting lazier as each year goes by, and the real grass roots die hard supporters have no voice in the Bowels of the FA.
It would not matter whether there was £1 or £100,000,000, the money would be wasted on nonsense projects, which will keep a No Nut in a well payed job ticking boxes, because that is what they are obsessed with.
Quote from: MJG on October 17, 2018, 05:25:11 PM
Quote from: Riversider on October 17, 2018, 04:52:36 PM
Quote from: MJG on October 17, 2018, 04:06:06 PM
Quote from: Riversider on October 17, 2018, 03:56:29 PM
8 months ago we were given planning permission for The Riverside Stand,
8 months later and still no contractor to build it, despite the fact that its been designed by Populous , and theyve designed more stadiums than anybody on Earth and yet they cant suggest anybody to us , all very odd,
This delay has coincided with the potential purchase of Wembley,
Todays news is going to be either very good news for us or very bad, hopefully The Riverside plans will now accelerate as opposed to a disgruntled Chairman who has seen his NFL dream perish and now wants out !
Why didnt he buy West Ham ? That club comes with a perfect NFL stadium , he made a big mistake buying us , interesting now to see what happens next !
RIVERSIDE STAND
Update
The Trust asked for an update on the progress of the Riverside Stand redevelopment and highlighted our concern that with a lead contractor yet to be appointed the timescales may start to slip. AM confirmed that the Club were still out to tender for a lead contractor on the works and, while there was no winning bid yet, the Club were in advanced and detailed discussions with a final shortlist of potential contractors.
Timeline
The Trust pushed for an update on the timeline against that included in the London Borough Hammersmith & Fulham Council's planning documentation. AM revealed that whilst the fine detail of that timeline was no longer relevant, the Club are still operating to their original timescale of a project start in May 2019. When asked how this would be possible without confirmation of a lead contractor AM disclosed that there is "a high probability" that a preferred contractor will be in place by the end of November 2018.
The Trust asked for confirmation of the high level timeline. AM explained that the Club's current plan is to begin work in May 2019 with the demolition of the existing Riverside Stand and for Craven Cottage to operate at a significantly reduced capacity for two seasons. The plan is for the new Riverside Stand to be ready for the 2021-22 season. He revealed that he is in constant touch with Shahid Khan over the progress of the plans and that the Club want a well-thought out scheme. He added that as the project is highly complex the club are using information provided by multiple bidders to constantly enhance the offers and plans.
That's the party line, fed out to the gullible to keep them happy, do you believe that Populous can't put forward a contractor that they haven't already worked with ?
8 months have passed now and work is due to start in just 7 , the club, for whatever reason, have dragged their heels, I have no idea why and neither do you or anybody else, hopefully now things will accelerate, if no announcement by the time of the November FST meeting then I hope that the questioning is less accepting and more forceful.
I know from speaking to the trust board it was forceful and they asked the right questions. We might not like the answers but that's what you get on record here.
In any meeting on any subject you can keep asking questions and ask others to pin people againt the wall as you would clearly want to do, but you won't get a different answer if as you say that's the party line. All the Trust Board can do is keep asking and pushing for answers
If you actually read the notes you will see they have spoken to many contractors and are not fully happy with what they are hearing. Now you can believe that or not, but that's the answer they gave.
Why would Populous not be able to recommend a construction company ? They are currently working on Tottenhams new ground (potentially the best stadium in Europe) they designed Wembley, The Emirates and The Allianz Arena it's truly unbelievable to suggest they can't put forward a name for our stand,
I think the delay (for some reason) went hand in hand with Wembley, now that is no longer on the table hopefully The Riverside Stand news can accelerate.
Quote from: Lighthouse on October 17, 2018, 03:24:26 PM
Great shame as it feels as if the little Englander comments and criticism he received have worn him down. The game could have done with his money and influence. Instead we are still left with a bunch of self serving blowhards running and ruining the game.
Agreed
Although considering the value of the deal, you'd have thought Khan could have bunged TalkSport and the Daily Mirror a few hundred grand to run some stories explaining what noticeable difference him owning Wembley would make to the general public (F All), how many other national stadiums are privately owned (loads I expect), Wembley's historic and current ownership (funded by Barclays et al wasn't it?) and so on.
"Why would Populous not be able to recommend a construction company" Who says they haven't?
"They are currently working on Tottenhams new ground (potentially the best stadium in Europe) they designed Wembley, The Emirates and The Allianz Arena it's truly unbelievable to suggest they can't put forward a name for our stand"
Once again who says they haven't? I'd add those are all four brand new stadiums with plenty of room to work with. Not one stand restricted on at least two sides.
"I think the delay (for some reason) went hand in hand with Wembley, now that is no longer on the table hopefully The Riverside Stand news can accelerate"
I don't believe it was or is related. But if comes out it was then ill happily say I was wrong.
I'm not sure what to make of all this. But my net impression is that our owner is engaged more and more with this sport, with Fulham, with the future of both. Maybe he had and still has plans for Wembley that also involve NFL football. Who knows. But he's making his presence known to the English football community, people with pull and influence. And he's seemingly doing it in a polite, respectful, manner. Some how, some way, it will redound to Fulham FC's further benefit, I'm sure of it.
Some of the comments on here are hilarious about populous merely putting a name forward and hey presto we have a builder. This is not like booking a builder in for an extension to your house (who incidentally the good ones have waiting lists longerbthan a year around where I live) the tender and design process on major projects takes months. It is not just a question of showing someone the planning drawings and they puff out their cheeks and whistle and name a price it is incredibly complex. I speak with experience in development- these things take time.
I shall be quite happy and content with a new cushion on my seat.
Quote from: Woolly Mammoth on October 18, 2018, 07:50:16 AM
I shall be quite happy and content with a new cushion on my seat.
Hopefully you will be putting the provision of such article out to tender and will be incorporating ideas from said tenders into your final choice. Tricky project cushions - I'm guessing you may be comfy by 2021.
Khan has gone up in my estimation as a businessman. He has analysed the problem of the FA Council vote before it has even taken place and put his finger on the divisiveness there is within our main Football Authority. He has given the FA back its own problem of how to bring greater equality back into football in England. If Wembley is not the fund raiser then the FA must now come to terms with what is to be the fund raiser because otherwise grassroots football in England is going to sink further into the mire until it's in danger of sinking without trace.
Quote from: toshes mate on October 18, 2018, 09:32:08 AM
Khan has gone up in my estimation as a businessman. He has analysed the problem of the FA Council vote before it has even taken place and put his finger on the divisiveness there is within our main Football Authority. He has given the FA back its own problem of how to bring greater equality back into football in England. If Wembley is not the fund raiser then the FA must now come to terms with what is to be the fund raiser because otherwise grassroots football in England is going to sink further into the mire until it's in danger of sinking without trace.
I agree that it was well-judged to reconsider rather than trying to push an important decision through on a slim majority regardless of the consequences.
You don't have to look too far for an example of what happens then!
Quote from: Woolly Mammoth on October 18, 2018, 07:50:16 AM
I shall be quite happy and content with a new cushion on my seat.
I am expecting a couple 30million signings in January.......... or an expensive new coach.
Quote from: flyingfish on October 18, 2018, 07:13:06 AM
Some of the comments on here are hilarious about populous merely putting a name forward and hey presto we have a builder. This is not like booking a builder in for an extension to your house (who incidentally the good ones have waiting lists longerbthan a year around where I live) the tender and design process on major projects takes months. It is not just a question of showing someone the planning drawings and they puff out their cheeks and whistle and name a price it is incredibly complex. I speak with experience in development- these things take time.
Well they've been working on this for 5 years or so and planning permission was granted 8 months ago, but I will bow to your superior knowledge and give them more time,
Oh and one other point, Populous have no equal as far as stadium design goes, Khan and Macintosh won't be telling them the name of the construction company that they will be working with that's for sure, it doesn't work like that, Populous would have to much to lose,
Maybe we've forgotten to order the steel again ! 🤣😂😆
Quote from: Riversider on October 18, 2018, 12:00:20 PM
Oh and one other point, Populous have no equal as far as stadium design goes, Khan and Macintosh won't be telling them the name of the construction company that they will be working with that's for sure, it doesn't work like that, Populous would have to much to lose,
Steve are you getting a design company mixed up with a construction company? Explain why the construction company would not be mentioned to Populous by the club and what would they lose? They (Populous)will have to work with a company when the club pick the construction firm.
Quote from: Lighthouse on October 17, 2018, 03:24:26 PM
Great shame as it feels as if the little Englander comments and criticism he received have worn him down. The game could have done with his money and influence. Instead we are still left with a bunch of self serving blowhards running and ruining the game.
Nothing to do with Fulham, this was a bad deal with no sustainable reason to sell, I opposed it as it did not make commercial sense.
I feel some of the comment epitomise whats wrong with the day and age. When people don't get their own way they attack the people and tarnish them with the same brush, similar to Brexit - "FA old farts" "little Englanders". Its childish.
If you look at Rob Smiths - Press Associations Tweet, it included a graphic of the voters - the opinion was across the board - coaches, refs, councilors didnt want it. Not just "old farts"
Quote from: Take Me Home MAF on October 18, 2018, 01:22:17 PM
Nothing to do with Fulham, this was a bad deal with no sustainable reason to sell, I opposed it as it did not make commercial sense.
I feel some of the comment epitomise whats wrong with the day and age. When people don't get their own way they attack the people and tarnish them with the same brush, similar to Brexit - "FA old farts" "little Englanders". Its childish.
If you look at Rob Smiths - Press Associations Tweet, it included a graphic of the voters - the opinion was across the board - coaches, refs, councilors didnt want it. Not just "old farts"
I agree with you re Brexit comments FWIW
But what is the "commercial" reason for not selling Wembley?
It was built on finance on which the FA is probably paying ££££tens of millions in interest each year. After those costs and maintenance costs, I expect the next revenue generated from hosting the odd Robbie Williams concert is tiny.
It will probably take decades to generate £600m in net revenue, by which time kids will probably all be playing with hover boards instead of footballs anyway.
What's not commercial about turning a weak, volatile long-term revenue stream into a huge guaranteed lump sum that's more useful now?
Quote from: Statto on October 18, 2018, 01:33:14 PM
Quote from: Take Me Home MAF on October 18, 2018, 01:22:17 PM
Nothing to do with Fulham, this was a bad deal with no sustainable reason to sell, I opposed it as it did not make commercial sense.
I feel some of the comment epitomise whats wrong with the day and age. When people don't get their own way they attack the people and tarnish them with the same brush, similar to Brexit - "FA old farts" "little Englanders". Its childish.
If you look at Rob Smiths - Press Associations Tweet, it included a graphic of the voters - the opinion was across the board - coaches, refs, councilors didnt want it. Not just "old farts"
I agree with you re Brexit comments FWIW
But what is the "commercial" reason for not selling Wembley?
It was built on finance on which the FA is probably paying ££££tens of millions in interest each year. After those costs and maintenance costs, I expect the next revenue generated from hosting the odd Robbie Williams concert is tiny.
It will probably take decades to generate £600m in net revenue, by which time kids will probably all be playing with hover boards instead of footballs anyway.
What's not commercial about turning a weak, volatile long-term revenue stream into a huge guaranteed lump sum that's more useful now?
This. Especially when you consider that in 12 years the planet will be dead... if you believe the media...
Quote from: Statto on October 18, 2018, 01:33:14 PM
Quote from: Take Me Home MAF on October 18, 2018, 01:22:17 PM
Nothing to do with Fulham, this was a bad deal with no sustainable reason to sell, I opposed it as it did not make commercial sense.
I feel some of the comment epitomise whats wrong with the day and age. When people don't get their own way they attack the people and tarnish them with the same brush, similar to Brexit - "FA old farts" "little Englanders". Its childish.
If you look at Rob Smiths - Press Associations Tweet, it included a graphic of the voters - the opinion was across the board - coaches, refs, councilors didnt want it. Not just "old farts"
I agree with you re Brexit comments FWIW
But what is the "commercial" reason for not selling Wembley?
It was built on finance on which the FA is probably paying ££££tens of millions in interest each year. After those costs and maintenance costs, I expect the next revenue generated from hosting the odd Robbie Williams concert is tiny.
It will probably take decades to generate £600m in net revenue, by which time kids will probably all be playing with hover boards instead of footballs anyway.
What's not commercial about turning a weak, volatile long-term revenue stream into a huge guaranteed lump sum that's more useful now?
Quite simply, why did Khan buy Fulham, and subsequently why did he want to buy Wembley -
-Firstly, he purchased Fulham to get his foot in the door with the FA, nothing to do with liking us or football. In essence so he could start lobbying to get an NFL franchise in London with use of the stadium, or the Jags on a more permanent move.
-Secondly, it became apparent to Khan that Wembley was a colossus and the FA directors, through conversations, wanted to get it off their hands, quite simply because they are bricking it about the current renewal rates of club wembley and minor work that needs doing.
You have to ask yourself, why did Khan want Wembley, and the reason is because it is a miss-run commercial colossus. There is a reason why big artists perform at Wembley, and why large boxing events are being held there instead of the London Stadium. Its size, nothing comes close.
Wembley is 5 years from being paid off, and then can provide a sustainable commercial stream to pass to the Football Foundation for years to come. Not just jam today.
The FA will have to suck it up, get the right talent in to support, and make this work. If this means having to pay for the upgrades and that having impacts on the balance sheet for a bit, then the way it is
Not digging into the fact Sport England would have had their investment paid back because of the sale, the figure put on it by Khan was embarrassing when its broken down.
Quote from: Take Me Home MAF on October 18, 2018, 01:22:17 PM
Quote from: Lighthouse on October 17, 2018, 03:24:26 PM
Great shame as it feels as if the little Englander comments and criticism he received have worn him down. The game could have done with his money and influence. Instead we are still left with a bunch of self serving blowhards running and ruining the game.
Nothing to do with Fulham, this was a bad deal with no sustainable reason to sell, I opposed it as it did not make commercial sense.
I feel some of the comment epitomise whats wrong with the day and age. When people don't get their own way they attack the people and tarnish them with the same brush, similar to Brexit - "FA old farts" "little Englanders". Its childish.
If you look at Rob Smiths - Press Associations Tweet, it included a graphic of the voters - the opinion was across the board - coaches, refs, councilors didnt want it. Not just "old farts"
I don't agree that it was a bad deal on any level other than Khan was paying too much as many of the experts have commented. You say the opinion was across the board and name all the same self serving jobsworth. I have no idea what this has to do with Brexit other than the fact that clearly people were not well informed enough to make such a decision. What is a fact is there were many comments attacking the idea that Wembley should be sold to an American who didn't understand the purity of the English National game and would open the stadium up to awful money making ideas other than Football. It did and still does feel very uncomfortable that we are run by such opinion. My apologies if you think any opinion that doesn't agree with yours is childish. But that is just life.
One forms an opinion on the information presented to one at the time; in the light of new information, or it subsequently emerges that one had been misinformed, one has have every right to revisit one's decision and this is what Khan has sensibly done.
Quote from: Take Me Home MAF on October 18, 2018, 01:48:31 PM
Quote from: Statto on October 18, 2018, 01:33:14 PM
Quote from: Take Me Home MAF on October 18, 2018, 01:22:17 PM
Nothing to do with Fulham, this was a bad deal with no sustainable reason to sell, I opposed it as it did not make commercial sense.
I feel some of the comment epitomise whats wrong with the day and age. When people don't get their own way they attack the people and tarnish them with the same brush, similar to Brexit - "FA old farts" "little Englanders". Its childish.
If you look at Rob Smiths - Press Associations Tweet, it included a graphic of the voters - the opinion was across the board - coaches, refs, councilors didnt want it. Not just "old farts"
I agree with you re Brexit comments FWIW
But what is the "commercial" reason for not selling Wembley?
It was built on finance on which the FA is probably paying ££££tens of millions in interest each year. After those costs and maintenance costs, I expect the next revenue generated from hosting the odd Robbie Williams concert is tiny.
It will probably take decades to generate £600m in net revenue, by which time kids will probably all be playing with hover boards instead of footballs anyway.
What's not commercial about turning a weak, volatile long-term revenue stream into a huge guaranteed lump sum that's more useful now?
Quite simply, why did Khan buy Fulham, and subsequently why did he want to buy Wembley -
-Firstly, he purchased Fulham to get his foot in the door with the FA, nothing to do with liking us or football. In essence so he could start lobbying to get an NFL franchise in London with use of the stadium, or the Jags on a more permanent move.
-Secondly, it became apparent to Khan that Wembley was a colossus and the FA directors, through conversations, wanted to get it off their hands, quite simply because they are bricking it about the current renewal rates of club wembley and minor work that needs doing.
You have to ask yourself, why did Khan want Wembley, and the reason is because it is a miss-run commercial colossus. There is a reason why big artists perform at Wembley, and why large boxing events are being held there instead of the London Stadium. Its size, nothing comes close.
Wembley is 5 years from being paid off, and then can provide a sustainable commercial stream to pass to the Football Foundation for years to come. Not just jam today.
The FA will have to suck it up, get the right talent in to support, and make this work. If this means having to pay for the upgrades and that having impacts on the balance sheet for a bit, then the way it is
Not digging into the fact Sport England would have had their investment paid back because of the sale, the figure put on it by Khan was embarrassing when its broken down.
You seem to know a lot about Khans intentions and why he wanted to do this or that, or maybe you are just making up your own reasons without known facts.
I don't know enough about it to argue a lot with Take Me Home MAF.
If the FA are "mis-running" it then that seems to me a good reason to sell, because they're not going to magically, overnight become better managers of something they can't currently manage.
And if "the figure put on it by Khan was embarrassing" then people should have been pushing for a higher offer, rather then objecting to the sale altogether. Most of the objections I read were to a private individual, and a foreigner, owning the national stadium, rather then objections to the level of his offer.
As far as I am aware the FA had provisionally accepted Khan's bid in principle, that is the notion of selling Wembley as a fundraiser for English football generally whilst retaining their interest in Club Wembley as an annual source of considerable income. The FA Council Vote was a requirement in the whole negotiating process which may have required revisiting once negotiations had been concluded. It is possible, even probable, that Khan's original intelligence on the matter was the FA as a whole would welcome the chance to inject much needed funding to its grass roots since that was a general accepted analysis of the Lancaster Gate dilemma. What no one anticipated, within the FA or the media, was the level of rejection to the very idea of selling Wembley, in the absence of any other ready made solutions to the funding issues. It is not as if the FA have had no time to consider alternatives. Khan has simply determined that he can do better things with his money than wait around for the FA to come to its senses, which, in all probability isn't going to happen very soon.
I would have been less opposed to the sale if Khan came in with a bid with a more realistic figure. Once the FA had paid the Sport England investment back after they breached the agreement with the sale, and paid other remaining creditors, there was not a lot left over for this laughable proposal of what to do with the money.
Lighthouse - what I was saying with Brexit, is there is now a tendency to start labeling people with differing views - remoaners, gammons etc. My observation was that having a differing with view on the sale prompted the labels on this forum as - old farts, little englanders etc. Which is unjust.
Alfie - I would love to hear a better rationale why Khan purchased our club in 2013. It was obvious from the outset what the intentions were. He has not failed, as the Jags are now a regular fixture in the capital, but he did not factor in the during that period Levy would install an NFL pitch at the Sours new ground. The dream of a London based franchise did take a dent on Wednesday.
