Last Night's Fans Engagment Forum Part 1

they cant sell the whole lot. they only own 50% of it. and cryne wont sell so its not a n issue at the moment. as PC said himself hes tried to buy that 50% back to stop it ever becoming an issue. no drama.

 

Because that ******** Doyle was going to sell the club and its land down the river. some people have short memories where PC and the council are concerned.

 

All well and good Gally, but when are they going to stop dodging the big issues on bottletops and Tina Tyke's involvement in player recruitment? IS JAMES CRYNE INVOLVED IN THE BOTTLETOP ISSUE? I think we should be told.

 

I don't have a short memory. I'm well aware of why PC bought the club and like all fans, am grateful for it. I'm less clear as to why the council was required at all, other than a well intentioned but ultimately counter productive attempt at establishing a 'community' club. I don't know the ins and outs of the financials but I suspect PC didn't need assistance with the capital.

So we're now in a stalemate situation where PC is finding it difficult to implement plans and apparently the council are keen to build houses over Oakwell to see a return on their investment. PC is lumbered with an ongoing financial liability (the club) which he continues to bankroll and seemingly the only chance of him ever seeing a return on his investment is if the club ceases to exist.

 

Don't forget we've probably paid more in rent to the council to play on our ground than they invested in the first place.

 

Yep, didn't take that into account. Cracking deal.

 

Thanks for the report Gally.

Not very easy to read about the abuse his family and Nyatanga have received, so I can imagine it was even more uncomfortable hearing it first hand. Really disappointing that James has decided not to be officially involved with the club as sounds like he made some positive contributions and has the club's best interests at heart.

If Nyatanga did receive abuse and did take it badly at least it shows he actually cares. Whether he cares about the club or his own professional pride it's good to know that he didn't take the opinion of "well b*gger them lot". I can't remember which game it was, but he scored the opening goal in a game shortly after Crawley (my memory says it was the next game, but that might be wrong) and I remember at the time thinking how happy he was running towards the fans and showing passion in his celebration. Good on him for showing some character.

 

As far as i understand it the council arent keen at all to build houses. PC said as much himself the other night. The planning process for houses on the land means the land is worth far more on the open market to council, pricing out PC in as much he wants the land at car park rates not development rates. The council cant sell without PC being involved so status quo. no movement.

As for the council being involved in the first place i dont remember any disgruntled voices at the time. We all saw it as a positive im sure. The club was being mortgaged up to the eyeballs by an owner not using his own cash. That was only going to end up going one way and what the council did made sure we had a club to support, im not saying it was a perfect business deal and im sure there are probably issues that need looking at but lets not for the slightest moment forget the support they gave to PC, as they didnt have to.

 

No we've already had a couple this season. If we have too many of them they become less meaningful. Having a "there's only one Patrick Cryne" chant during the Blunts game would be a nice touch though.

 

My voice is hoarse from speaking out against it. It was always and will always be a terrible idea. This notion that we're safer when we don't own our own ground has always been nonsense. Anyone who truly believes that should give the deeds of their house to the council.

 

"Patrick's view is that the planning department in Barnsley are not sympathetic to progression"

And Groggers is still standing (as of 6.30pm last night) Barnsley's new town centre - coming to you in 2056.

Gerrim voted back in again.....

 

That's the sound of PC though, the same PC that blamed Flitcroft for undervaluing Stones, easy to lay things at others doors when there is no one there to counter the accusations. Think he may have spent too much time reading this board.

The more I hear from him the less convinced I am about him. Maybe that's just the cynic in me.

Old Tiverton used to preach to the converted as well.

 

Are you azzies bloke ? She was tweeting on day of Crawley game on train back to London, she said James Cryne understood the fans frustrations and at no point did she mention young Master Cryne getting any abuse on train back to Victoria. Think someone being mischeivous at the club

 

Yes.

And yes someone is **** stirring within the club.

I wonder if they have the ******** to own up...

 

I agree the club and ground ownership shouldn't be seperated but if Cryne owned the land 100% wouldn't that have still been seperated out from the club, or was it solely the council's involvement that necessitated the two entities be divorced?

There's also the benefit of hindsight. Cryne has proven to have the club's best interests at heart but that wasn't necessarily known at the time, and may have changed if, say, his business had been less successful. That share may well have protected the club in that case.

I can also see the council's point on land sale. If the land has planning permission for houses then that's what it is worth and having sold it that permission could be implemented. Although this could be protected by a claw back agreement. Also, the council can't undermine its own masterplan for the town by agreeing to letting leisure interests to be built elsewhere. Whether the masterplan is correct is of course another debate...

I suppose there's also a question as to whether, given the ******* over this government has given to councils and the huge black hole in helping the most vulnerable, retaining a car park for a football club that plays once a fortnight is more important than funding care for older people for example.

 

Agree about the **** stirring. Az said you had a good conversation with him on train and also nyatanga

 

What happened Gally?