How much would it cost to give the West Stand a proper paint job? If it's staying for the next few years at least they should give it a good lick if paint. I think it'd actually make quite a big difference. While they're at it, the inside of the other stands could use a bit of TLC too. I won't get greedy though... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
John Dennis rebuilt 3/4 of the ground in seven years. Under the current regime we haven't done a thing in fourteen years. This year will see our record ever turnover. I bet nowt gets done.
John Dennis had to rebuild it, that's the key point. The Taylor report etc. And he did a decent job of it. Why would we have rebuilt anymore of it since Patrick took over? We don't have the fanbase to expand any of the stands. And there is no work needed on three of them. It appears work is now underway on making the West fitter for purpose. Maybe we can then use the full capacity of it? I dunno. And whilst JD did renovate Oakwell and can be proud of it, he also took us into admin and we nearly lost all that was built. Patrick has now paid the bills for 15 years or whatever, paid for the upkeep etc. We do not look to be in any debt. We live within our means. And we have just finished higher in the league pyramid than any year since 2000. Of course there are concerns, there always will be mate. And I like that such as yourself are keen to bring them up. It shows you give a toss. But I can't for the life of me understand why anybody would want us to chuck a load of money at building a new stand, not right now.
Can we not just spend a bit on giving it a face lift - the exterior wall with broken glass on the top and the faded corrugated tin are an embarrassment. Can we not rebuild the exterior in the same style as the Ponty end, paint all the exterior metalwork, rebuild the toilets (an open trough in 2017 - come on?!) and just tart the concourses up a bit. If you are charging £36 for (some) tickets it can't all be about the entertainment on the pitch - if you are charging these prices you have to improve the surroundings.
It will be a sad legacy of tbe last 15 years tbe decline of Oakwell. I can never remember it looking as ramshackle as it does now.
I get that. And perhaps in time that might happen? I dunno. All I'm doing is guessing, and it looks as though we are seeing remedial work at present in order to make the stand fully fit for purpose. Maybe other things will follow over time? Again, I honestly don't know pal. But I would imagine finance will be focused on building another competitive squad. I'd suggest that's the priority this summer.
I'm not sure but wasn't the East stand partly funded by Football league grants ? Not sure about the Ponte and North stand
We received a grant to comply with the Taylor Report - not sure about the other two. I think the North Stand was built with the Ashley Ward money.
You must admit it looks a bit rundown. Those broken plastic boards at the corner of the Ponty end have been there all season - it looks a mess and would take five seconds to remove. Just smacks of can't be arsed to me.
Not absolutely sure of the dates/ facts but when we needed money we usually had to sell a player or two. When we needed to upgrade the floodlights either John Beresford ( Pompey) or Mark Robinson ( Newcastle) were sacrificed. Grants made available post the Taylor report and money from Tiler ( Forest) and Agnew ( Blackburn) was likely or not put towards the development of both the old Brewery Stand ( now East Stand) and the Pontefract Road stand. The development of the North Stand and indeed the indoor pitch to the left as you leave the away Car park on Grove Street were also probably part funded using money from the sale of Ward and Hignett to Blackburn.
I'd do minimal work on it to get it passed off as usable in big games. I find it odd that people who lurv labour(a party stuck in days of yore), want to modernise a stand because they think times moved on.
It's an old stand. Over 100 years old. Needs some TLC I agree. You've lost me on broken boards though.
Mill Of The Black Monks is 600 years old. That's in good nick. You can see in the photos in posts one and three. Look like old pricing boards - all broken plastic - just looks a mess. It's a minor point but it's so easily resolved. As I say, smacks of can't be arsed.