Fans' Forum tonight

[SwalePie]

I missed the forum last night. Just tried to watch it. The link doesn't work

Here you go ...

https://www.youtube.com/live/Q9oZ1VNsEu4?si=mEUfYhKF0pN8kHgX

[The_Don_ORiordan]

We have a fantastic stadium. Yes it has its limitations, but it costs us peanuts thanks to Haydn Green.

Very few clubs pay as little for the ground each year as we do.

[Old_pie]

My observations and comments on the forum (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9oZ1VNsEu4&t=5507s)

Not properly addressed was the safeguarding of the club against owner debt contrasted to sustainability. I do not see how on earth the club is going to be self-funding and certainly not if all the plans that were talked about such as training ground, improvements to the stadium including capacity, serious improvements to the pitch, rebuild of the academy plus strengthening the squad is going to come from supporter and promotional items. I didn't hear mention sale of our star players at a profit, for instance Macca, Palmer etc which certainly could go a long way to balancing books.

Even adding 5,000 to the capacity of the ground is not likely going to make financial sense for the few occasions we might want to break 18,000 gates. The cost would not be recouped unless we were a couple of levels up, and successful there as well.

The debt is not something that particularly concerns me providing it remains owners' debt. At all times we need to be able to pay HMRC, the milkman and other clubs for any signings (yes I know there's more).

My take on it is that this is an exercise for the Bros in how "sustainably" they can run a successful football club. They chose Notts as it was affordable, marketable and had potential for growth. So I expect they've set a cost they are prepared to pay and they want to do things within that cost, and that cost is such that it will not impact any other businesses they have other than possibly as a tax relief outlet.

Regarding the pitch I've looked back on AH's "major" work in 2017 and there is a YouTube video on the Notts County video sections extalling the work done in taking 25mm (1") off the top and the work getting a stamp of approval from his golf course greenkeeper. Clearly the work mentioned at the forum is going to be much more extensive and as usual AH was bigging-up the importance of the work he had approved even if more than the RT efforts.

I think the loss of academy funding was covered on this site at the time, and of course we now know we lost youth players ("they were pillaged" were the words used), and that the impact will hit us for several seasons.

Injuries have to be a concern with what sounds like Cedwyn, Baj and Matty out for all or most of the rest of the season. There were articles in the media recently about the number of premiership players out injured. Begs the question of can they be trained like finely tuned athletes and yet take the knocks they have to endure and for a full 90mins of playing time rather than the 80mins that was probably more typical before every little break was added on. If that is going to become the norm then LW is going to have to accept that we need more squad depth and he's going to have to deal with high calibre players wanting game time.

The extent to which I think the vision for the club was promoted, even if some of it never comes off, seems to show the Bros have a long term plan and commitment to our club regardless of their motivations. They've got off to a good steady start and I can only hope that they can replicate some of the success Dunnett had whilst avoiding the flat and disappointing atmosphere that surrounded football when we finally got into the top flight for the first time im most supporters' living memory.

A couple of gripes from the video and the event which have been evident from previously too:

1) Put the camera a bit higher or re-arrange a couple of the front seats so we are not staring at someone's bald head.
2) Get the sound and the roaming mics sorted.

But all in all a good event, chance to hear the new CEO and see Luke now he feels more of the furniture rather than the new kid on the block.

COYP

[hissingdwarf]

Ground wise…it is tired and 30 years old, but we see it every other week. When I go away, apart from MKD and a few others, we’re still streets ahead of them stadium wise. Some of the away grounds so far have been shocking! Never mind the facilities for away fans, the actual home facilities are so poor and we’re blessed that they’re ’not that bad at all.’

Would we all love to have a ‘new’ stadium that’s ours on the same site at the Lane? Yep. Can’t see it myself. Longer term, I still reckon we’ll end up moving to a new purpose built stadium, away from the area totally.
But that’s a long, long way off and until then, we need to look more at what we’ve got. Get the handrails sorted. Get it spruced up with a bit of prominence and make it stand out a bit. Sort out the bogs and do what’s possible with the catering.

One thing I can’t see us doing is the area for disabled, chair based fans. Without removing a swath of seats and building all the needed access etc…not going to happen unfortunately. Would be good for those users to be higher up and under cover, but with our current stadium, we’re really restricted.

I remember after the MK Dons game the debate about their ground and setup. It all got confused with some fans saying about the ‘history and franchise fc etc…’ where for me it was never about that. It was about having the land to find a place where everything could be in one place and be totally connected. Main stadium, car parking, shopping, food outlets, transport, entertainment venues so the area is utilised all the time.

And on a final note…ffs. Haven’t they learnt to not ask John Wilmott to speak yet? As soon as he was offered a question. Boom. Switch off for ten minutes whilst he waxes lyrical without saying anything meaningful at all! ��

[Old_pie]

One thing I can’t see us doing is the area for disabled, chair based fans. Without removing a swath of seats and building all the needed access etc…not going to happen unfortunately. Would be good for those users to be higher up and under cover, but with our current stadium, we’re really restricted.

Any idea of the numbers that need to be catered for? Disabled vertical lifts don't seem to require a large footprint.

[Old_pie]

On the question of card only payments surely the club could have pre-paid cards, add £20 or so cash at the shop then use it as required? Top up in advance of need.

[marky]

On the question of card only payments surely the club could have pre-paid cards, add £20 or so cash at the shop then use it as required? Top up in advance of need.

Yeah that's a good idea as the shop and ticket office can still take cash.

[magpie_mania]

I couldn't disagree more, Meadow Lane is one of the jewels in our crown. I love the place, always have and always will, and it's where I want my ashes to be scattered when my time is done. It might not be perfect, but it doesn't need a great deal in terms of improvement to be a decent Championship stadium. We should appreciate what we've got rather than moan.

Fully agree. Still gets the hair on the back of my neck raised when I am walking down Meadow Lane.

As you say, maybe not perfect and issues with toilets etc. need sorting asap.

[the_anticlough]

I couldn't disagree more, Meadow Lane is one of the jewels in our crown. I love the place, always have and always will, and it's where I want my ashes to be scattered when my time is done. It might not be perfect, but it doesn't need a great deal in terms of improvement to be a decent Championship stadium. We should appreciate what we've got rather than moan.

With you on this. I'm proud of the ground, and remember too well what it was like before the Pavis rebuild. I stood too many years on the uncovered, stand-only kop and the County Road cow shed not to appreciate what we have now. Any decades old structure needs upgrades and maintenance, but that's as far as I'd go in criticising.

[hissingdwarf]

Any idea of the numbers that need to be catered for? Disabled vertical lifts don't seem to require a large footprint.

No idea tbh. (Fortunately) my son, who is disabled, is primarily ambulatory, so with my help can get to a normal seat. Wouldn’t want him to be out in the rain over the winter though, poncho or not from the club. In fact, when we’ve thought he needed his chair at home games, we’ve decided to give it a miss rather than get soaked through.

It’s also having a level area and seats for carers. When we wen to Wrexham last season, we used his chair then and they had a lift to their area…but we still got soaked through when it came down because, as is the tradition, wheelchair users are normally at or near the front of the stand.