Just thinking about the fans forum notes and the exiting plans for the ground/fan experience, it all hinges on buying the ground back from the council. Now obviously due process needs to be followed but with our council leader being a seaso ticket holder you’d think he would influence the decision for the club to grow ! That said knowing how fast things move with the council it’sprobably Sat in someone’s in tray waiting
I'm extremely surprised that the details weren't already sorted out when they announced that they had the option to buy after 6 months.
Selling to the council was PC's safeguard against land speculators making millions on the vast amount of land owned. Can we be absolutely sure that the consortium have the fans best interests at heart or their shareholders interests at heart? Once they own the land, I'd like to think they'd improve facilities and the match day experience but you just never know with businessmen.
Yeah 100% agree but surely building fan parks and stuff gives some reassurance that they don’t intend bulldozing the lot
Absolutely correct Council need to insert clauses whereby it can only be used for BFC purposes and even then cover all the small print for any loopholes . All businesses speak of the good things they intend until they get what they want. I’m not saying for one minute that the consortiums intentions arent honourable but we must guard against all scenarios and protect in case of future buyers . Oakwell is sacred for past present and future fans and we need to protect that at alll costs imo
It was alluded that long term they want some sort of accommodation for younger players near or at the ground - some sort of sports village with hotel would be great for the area.
Why does the Council retaining an interest prevent any additional enhancement of the facilities? Is the Council putting the block on anything? The Council is the ultimate safeguard against unscrupulous owners and my preference is it to hold on to its share. I've no reason to believe that current owners have any dark agenda, but who's to say what might happen in ten, twenty years?
Yes, and perhaps the council have the same reservations? Hence the deal taking longer, perhaps it’s not a simple buy and sell contract the council are after and are wanting some clauses inserted over permissions of future use of land or buyback options etc
I sincerely hope BMBC and Steve Houghton just say no. Whatever you think about the Council i’m happier with the ground being under their control rather than ANY owner, no matter how well intentioned they say they are.
There is a leasehold option that could be used in that they build and own stand therefore taking all profits etc for say 200 years with safeguard proposals fro council. I’m sure council could come to some agreement on say nominal rent and rates on conditions . That would work imo
I'm really confident with our current ownership. They've owned Nice 3+ years now and spent millions on developing their training facilities and dipped in their pockets to the tune of 70~80 Mill euros over last 3 xfer windows. Don't know how the council conversations will transpire when they've just announced a 5percent increase on the tax. We'll see . .
The company that owns the ground and surrounding land is OCAL (Oakwell Community Assets Limited) which is a 50/50 joint venture between BMBC and the Cryne family. There is a covenant on the playing area which says that in the event of the land being developed it (the pitch area) must be retained as a 'Public Open Space'.
Interesting, but I guess a public open space could be a playground in the middle of a housing estate, just like they put in every new estate anyway.