113 replies to this topic

[juliancaine]

what i want to know phil and many others is whats happening in regards to a new ground and the lack of any regular updates leads me to believe there will never be a new ground in swinton and if people know otherwise make the information public so as to keep the fans informed.

[duffymoon]

We only have two home games left at the LSV this season so I would assume we will hear something in the next few weeks.

[PhillH]

what i want to know phil and many others is whats happening in regards to a new ground and the lack of any regular updates leads me to believe there will never be a new ground in swinton and if people know otherwise make the information public so as to keep the fans informed.

About the only thing we can say with certainty is Agecroft won't be ready for the 2013 season, which will *probably* be another one at LSV.

I concur that a greater degree of openness: a.) Shouldn't hurt, and b.) Would have benefits.

Salford Reds move to Barton has been a grand example of how not to do it. It would be nice to see Swinton Lions do certain things a lot better and start a new era in a more positive fashion - the opportunity is there!

[duffymoon]

Let's hope that another season at Leigh isn't required,we have already lost quite a few fans this season who were attending regularly at The Willows last year.Above all please can we revert back to 3pm kick offs,

[PhillH]

Let's hope that another season at Leigh isn't required,we have already lost quite a few fans this season who were attending regularly at The Willows last year.Above all please can we revert back to 3pm kick offs,

Its looking like LSV again though, isn't it. Agecroft almost certainly won't be ready (no planning permission application(s) in yet) and the other options are likely to be very similar to what was looked at 12 months ago.

About the only significant change to the landscape is Sale Sharks moving in at Barton. Perhaps this might have an impact on the costs of playing there, but I'd imagine LSV will still be cheaper. Plus would the pitch take 3 teams using it when the seasons overlap?

"Hear, Hear" w.r.t the kick off time. I have found that 2pm doesn't agree with me at all; it leaves insufficient time to get other things done before the match.

Edited by PhillH, 05 July 2012 - 09:25 AM.

[marshy1]

Its looking like LSV again though, isn't it. Agecroft almost certainly won't be ready (no planning permission application(s) in yet) and the other options are likely to be very similar to what was looked at 12 months ago.

About the only significant change to the landscape is Sale Sharks moving in at Barton. Perhaps this might have an impact on the costs of playing there, but I'd imagine LSV will still be cheaper. Plus would the pitch take 3 teams using it when the seasons overlap?

"Hear, Hear" w.r.t the kick off time. I have found that 2pm doesn't agree with me at all; it leaves insufficient time to get other things done before the match.

Personally I favour the 2pm KO, it did take some getting used to but at least now I am home for just after 4pm and that then leaves a part of the afternoon available for other things to be done.

As for playing at Barton,I doubt we'd pick up any more spectators as that ground is very unaccessable, you only have to read the Salford forums to see how disgruntled some of their fans are about access links.

The answer is Agecroft but as already pointed out certainly not before the start of next season.

Edited by marshy1, 05 July 2012 - 09:56 AM.

[duffymoon]

It could transpire that the council insist on us using their facility at Barton once the planning permission for Agecroft has been submitted.They may see it that any rental income is better in their pockets than in the powers that be at the LSV.

[mark richardson]

Let's hope that another season at Leigh isn't required,we have already lost quite a few fans this season who were attending regularly at The Willows last year.Above all please can we revert back to 3pm kick offs,

The willows stands empty. We could've played there this season it looks exactly the same as last season . What a waste .

[PaulT]

Being realistic at the moment, The Wllows is the best option, but the costs of running it are too high.

When we played there last season, I believe we played there for a peppercorn rent, if not for free. (Which hurts me to admit was good of John Wilkinson to allow us!)

[PhillH]

The willows stands empty. We could've played there this season it looks exactly the same as last season . What a waste .

When John Kidd called the public meeting to announce the move to the LSV, he explained that the club had looked at the possibility of remaining at the Willows (amongst other options) but it was not feasible due to costs of maintainance, security and insurance. The economics of 2012 would have been totally different to 2011 due to the Reds moving out and the Variety Club shutting down.

In addition, I doubt Salford's directors would have been too keen to give Swinton Lions the chance to attract their former walk-on support that didn't fancy the trip to Barton. That may have led them to quote a prohibitive price.

Being realistic at the moment, The Wllows is the best option, but the costs of running it are too high.

When we played there last season, I believe we played there for a peppercorn rent, if not for free. (Which hurts me to admit was good of John Wilkinson to allow us!)

I heard that the Council provided sponsorship to the Lions that was equivalent in value to the charge Salford made to use the Willows. How true that was I don't know.

[PaulT]

That would probably make more sense Phil seeing as we had that 'In Salford' sign on our backs.

[PhillH]

That would probably make more sense Phil seeing as we had that 'In Salford' sign on our backs.

Plus, in the circumstance of Barton Community Stadium having opened, its understandable that the Council would not exactly look sensible if it repeated the deal and helped Swinton Lions play at the Willows in 2012.

So the Lions would not only have needed to foot 100% of the costs of upkeep of the Willows, but the previous income from the Council wouldn't have been available - double whammy.

[Dano]

Let's hope that another season at Leigh isn't required,we have already lost quite a few fans this season who were attending regularly at The Willows last year.Above all please can we revert back to 3pm kick offs,

from what i heard it looks likely that we are staying at LSV for another season and the discussion for the new ground are still on going with an announcement pretty soon, also to build the stadium will take approx 10 months

[duffymoon]

I think we need to hear that planning permission has been submitted ASAP! Anything along the lines of talks ongoing and another season at Leigh wil.not go down well in my opinion.

[PhillH]

I think we need to hear that planning permission has been submitted ASAP! Anything along the lines of talks ongoing and another season at Leigh wil.not go down well in my opinion.

On the other hand we definitely don't want more unrealistic bold statements designed to grab a headline and raise interest, but unlikely to be delivered on. Each time you do that and fail to go through with it, credibility of the scheme gets damaged. Next time around people will be less inclined to believe the promises - like the boy that cried "wolf".The message we need is one of positive and tangible progress, but also a healthy dose of realism - particularly in plans for the immediate future. As things stand it would not be sensible to plan on any other basis than an alternative venue of Championship standard being needed for the entirity of 2013.

[Barnie]

I think that Leigh will be our home for many many years. I quite like it there, so dont see a major issue. Lets face it no news is not good news.

[greengrass]

I hate trecking up to Leigh to home games, I really hope that Leigh is not our home for years to come. I don't know how much more of going from pillar to post I can take, I am getting really annoyed now by the lack of news we are being told from the club.

We need to be told something and soon, even if it is "we are no further on" then at least we know where we stand

[LOYALION]

I'd sooner be at LSV rather than Bury or Moor Lane. At least it smells of rugby rather than football! Sooner still be at Agecroft or.......win the Euromillions, buy and flatten the estate off Station Road and rebuild there!!!!!!

[PaulT]

I think that Leigh will be our home for many many years. I quite like it there, so dont see a major issue. Lets face it no news is not good news.

I think the major issue with playing at Leigh is that we will struggle to build a decent fanbase. We were builiding one nicely at the Willows last season with attendances creeping up as the season went on including over 1600 against Keighley and 1100 against Rochdale. Even with a heavily promoted game like these were, I could never see us getting this number at LSV unless when we play against a well supported team.

[duffymoon]

Any prolonged spell at the LSV will further erode our fan base and would probably signal the end for the club in its present form.I am still very optimistic that we will get to Agecroft however if it becomes apparent that it's not going to happen and the club will never again play in M27 then I think I would lose interest.Lets face it for those that have stuck with the club since we left in 1992 a return home has been our holy grail.From the early promises of Malcolm White "we will be back in four years" to the carrot that was HMP Forest Bank.Twenty years of being pushed from pillar to post ,existing as sporting nomads with things not much better on the field apart from last season..Our loyal fans that have stuck with the club through the dark days deserve to see us return to a home of our own in our town.

Edited by duffymoon, 16 July 2012 - 02:30 PM.