15 replies to this topic

[lionsfanusa]

Can someone please let us know what happened at the meeting last night.

Please!!!

[Shizonamy]

As I went early the old man passed on in a nutshell what had been said,
This is what he sent me in a brief text message
"JK gave a report on the Agecroft position which said all was progressing well but they were asked by the council to look at other means of raising finance as well as the help they are giving the club. There was mention that a Swedish bank may be involved at some point"

[lionsfanusa]

As I went early the old man passed on in a nutshell what had been said,
This is what he sent me in a brief text message
"JK gave a report on the Agecroft position which said all was progressing well but they were asked by the council to look at other means of raising finance as well as the help they are giving the club. There was mention that a Swedish bank may be involved at some point"

Thank you!

[RIGGY]

Fans were also asked to keep promoting the club around the town.
One part of the good news was that some Blackpool fans have already commited to come and support the Lions next season (as per Spellys posting) and the club had also gained about 100 new members to the club lottery as all of the Blackpool Fans who were in their lottery have "all" transferred to the Lions lottery.

[duffymoon]

Fans were also asked to keep promoting the club around the town.
One part of the good news was that some Blackpool fans have already commited to come and support the Lions next season (as per Spellys posting) and the club had also gained about 100 new members to the club lottery as all of the Blackpool Fans who were in their lottery have "all" transferred to the Lions lottery.

The best way to promote the club in Swintonwould be a team poster that could be displayed in pubs,clubs,shops,offices etc.Ive been saying it for ages but nothing seems to materialise or are there any obvious disadvantages to my suggestion that I have overlooked?

[GLENNGARY]

Just to broaden on what Shyzonomy has stated. JK said that the were working very hard behind the scenes to get Agecroft up and running. A financial consultant as been brought on board to open up avenues to funding that Swinton were unaware of, one of these being a Swedish bank who may be interested in the project. Other means of raising the capital are also being pursued. Progress is going well and we are still on track for Agecroft 2012.

[pro]

meeting? What meeting?

[PhillH]

The bank is probably Svenska Handelsbanken.

It is good to hear that the club is finally starting to give some specific information on how a stadium at Agecroft might be funded, but still very alarming that no robust means of finding the required money has yet been secured.

Neither has planning permission been secured, or even been applied for. In itself that process can be expected to take a good slice of the 12 months that remains to the latest target date.

Either a deal has been struck to play 2012's home matches at another venue (Park Lane / Barton / The Willows / Moor Lane / Darwen FC, who knows!) and for some reason the Kidds don't want that deal to be public knowledge, or this is brinkmanship of the highest order.

[marshy1]

The bank is probably Svenska Handelsbanken.

It is good to hear that the club is finally starting to give some specific information on how a stadium at Agecroft might be funded, but still very alarming that no robust means of finding the required money has yet been secured.

Neither has planning permission been secured, or even been applied for. In itself that process can be expected to take a good slice of the 12 months that remains to the latest target date.

Either a deal has been struck to play 2012's home matches at another venue (Park Lane / Barton / The Willows / Moor Lane / Darwen FC, who knows!) and for some reason the Kidds don't want that deal to be public knowledge, or this is brinkmanship of the highest order.

Handelsbanken are quiet keen to look at funding for many varied projects as I have used them for my own clients.

If the Kidds do know what the situation is for 2012 then they are indeed keeping it close to their chests, but then why shouldn't they at this stage, after all they have always been adamant that any new stadia could be built very quickly.

In light of the current rugby league debate surrounding Championship clubs I for one am more concerned about the outcome of that than where we play in fourteen months time.

In the mean time it needs everyone singing from the same hymn sheet around the town of Swinton promoting the feasability of having our own place at Agecroft.

[PhillH]

If the Kidds do know what the situation is for 2012 then they are indeed keeping it close to their chests, but then why shouldn't they at this stage, after all they have always been adamant that any new stadia could be built very quickly.

Because the feasibility of getting Agecroft up and running in time is very questionable to say the least, and it would be better to have a contingency for 2012 in place sooner rather than later. Uncertainty on that scale is definately best avoided. It would be better to have a venue ready and agreed for 2012, then if Agecroft does happen it's a bonus. If the club ends up having to negotiate a last minute deal somewhere the scope for negotiation is reduced and that will result either in paying more rent than is necessary or having to accept second best in other ways.

Nobody with an interest in this issue should need too much reminding of the legacy of promises from various custodians of Swinton Lions over many years which all have one common denominator - zero have ever been delivered on as yet. The omens for success by 2012 are not promising.

I share an element of your concern about the RFL's consultation. Change is needed to the structure of the game outside Super League as too many clubs are not viable. Coming from the performance of the club in the last 3 years, unless Swinton Lions improves its lot generally there is a chance of falling below the RFL's line when it is drawn up. Clearly this year's squad should see a major improvement in results on the pitch at least, but it could just be that the RFL will want to see some progress off the field too. In which case progress of Agecroft is doubly important.

I also have a nagging fear that an expensive promotion campaign could be rendered a bit meaningless by a move back to one Championship division if the RFL decides to go that way, which wouldn't be the biggest surprise in the world.

[GLENNGARY]

Why do we keep getting this doomsday scenario.firstly JK knows all about the plans for our division.He mentioned this at the meeting saying he wasn't going to be one of the clubs losing out.This is why they are working hard on the Agecroft project and also why they have signed on a team capable of competing for promotion. Secondly Salford council are heavily involved in negotiations with Swinton with the aim of making Agecroft a success, there was a council official at the meeting,so why should planning permission be so time consuming? thirdly once everything is in place and we have planning permission, due to the nature of the build, the timescale is in the region of 4 to 6 months ,so come on Philh and the rest of you doubters join the rest of us and live the dream and watch that dream become reality.

[RIGGY]

Yes and we have the Blackpool Fans and their lottery onboard to help us too.
Lets get behind the club and the team, the players are all very positive and Mark Smith said the other night that the fitness level of the squad is already very high and they can't wait to get on the pitch an play some games.

[PhillH]

Its not a question of being a believer or not. Even if the club were 100% committed and poured limitless resources at the problem, much of the due process is out of the club's direct control. Is it really sensible to make such an all-or-nothing gamble with the immediate future of the club in those circumstances?

So - as Glenngary apparently thinks development of Agecroft in the required time is so certain to be roughly a 1-10on shot, would he be prepared to offer me odds of 10/1 that Swinton Lions will not stage the opening home Championship fixture at Agecroft in 2012? I'd view the latter as easy money.

If you're not prepared to offer odds at least that high that another venue will not be needed in 2012, to me it shows the level of uncertainty is a gamble with the stability of the club that should not be taken and a contingency should be put in place.

[steve wild]

At the Moorside Club event I asked John Kidd this question in open forum. John said that the "contingency" was to play outside of full membership of the RL (conference level I assume).

So as things stand there is no contingency. It's Agecroft or bust. I'm surprised no one picked up on this. It seemed quite clear at the time, although please correct me if anybody interpreted the message differently.

[Shizonamy]

Steve, absolutely correctm think John has put all his eggs in one basket (squad and stadium)and it's a case of fingers crossed. I get the feeling he feels he has taken the club as far as he can and is willing to reliquish the reins. Like Phil H I am concerned about the absolute positivity that was stated at Moorside Social Club not being shown at The Cricket Club.

By securing promotion this would hopefully attact more revenue and possibly an investor, this season will be the Lions most important ever, fact.

[PhillH]

Only this week the plans for Wakefield's new ground were called in by Mr Pickles, resulting in a delay of 6-12 months in the process of getting planning approval. These things can and do happen!