Most liked posts in thread: Stefan Rupp

Good to have you back @wetherbywhaler

Please don't rise to Fordy's bait. It's like poking a stick at a rabid dog.

 

The season is done with. Forget.

Adams needs to prove himself here first. Honestly, I would forget about the recruitment in January.

 

I’ve dealt with James Martin before and I can confirm he is a total Twit.

 

'we could be Oldham etc...'

 

Missed the obligatory Rupp Out

 

Didn’t he bail his own mistake out?

 

You sure it was a Bentley and not a Merc?

 

Mark Lawn.

 

Whoever it was needs to learn to park.

 

I believe all the changes of the summer with the hard work behind the scenes the club is being primed to be sold. Wouldn’t surprise if we are under different ownership this time next year

 

A good summary of why we don't buy the ground back.

 

Whilst I think ownership of the ground would be good for the club your right there should be enough budget to exit this league with. I certainly don’t think having our own training complex should be even considered until we have had a sustained period of success

 

Edin’s been gone longer than he was at City, time to stop blaming him and look closer to home.

 

Six years ago was watching us play Brentford in Div one, We are now in Div 2 and they in the same time are in the Premier League and have built a new ground, The difference? Owners that have ambition and prepared to invest

 

Agree. I also question some elements of our recruitment - for example, surely we’d have been better combining the outlay of Lavery and Robinson for one, better calibre of player? And let Scales back that player up? Angol is another example - when he signed, I assumed it was on the basis of being a cheap squaddie to back up the first 11, but the way Adams speaks it sounds like he was brought in as first choice and probably for higher wages than we think. Given his injury record, how wise was it to assume he’d be a viable, regular starter?

We’re better than last season, we’re better to watch, there’s something to build on and we’re not far away. It’s just so frustrating when a regular pattern emerges that matches what nearly all of us were saying and thinking - we’re a quality striker short. When so much effort goes into getting you a side that looks like its very nearly there, not adding that bit more looks to be a mistake to me. I think we’ll regret having not added that one quality player we need. On the plus side, I do think Cook can score goals at this level and we are creating chances for him - he needs to get that extra work in in training and sharpen up his finishing. And Vernam, and Gillead especially need to start adding more of a cutting edge.

 

I think if he was offered enough to break even he’d sell in a heartbeat. Problem is he overpaid when he bought the club and he’s sitting on a sizeable loss. My only worry if Rupp sold is if Rhodes bought it.

 

I'd settle for league one right now.

 

Valley Parade will need serious money spending in the next 20-30 years, never mind the next 2-300.

Owning the stadium has benefits, but Bradford City are football club not a property company, if they have limited cash then it’s arguably correct that that goes into football and not bricks and mortar.

Let’s say Rupp buys the ground and City pay back a 10-15 year loan. At the end of this they have a huge piece of real estate in one of the poorest parts of the country. That stadium is by then a minimum 30 years old, the Bradford End and Midland Road closer to 40. City will at some point have to either redevelop those stands with the compromises of geographical limitations or walk away from their asset and develop a new ground. Unlike a lot of other clubs they’re not selling the land at VP for a fancy housing development that will pay for the new stadium or getting help off the council. With a lease the options are almost certainly more straightforward, it’s certainly much easier to walk away.

It’s definitely not as simple as saying renting good owning bad or vice versa. It’s a proper project to make a well informed decision. If I were in Ryan’s chair I’d be spending the overwhelming majority of my time focussing on getting the club stable, then growing it and importantly out of league one while employing consultants/solicitors/accountants to work on the strategy for the ground ownership.

 

Should have got our Karren involved mate, we don't even pay for the corner flags at our gaff