Where will we go?

This is a strange question. Why can't we afford to stay at Valley Parade? You are probably right we can't afford to stay at VP with only 8k season ticket holders due to the current running of the club, but 6 years ago when we were riding up at 5th place in League One, this wasn't even an issue.

The only reason this question raises it's head is because we have clowns running the club, so because we have clowns running the club we need to find a new home? Why not replace the clowns?

 

According to recent accounts Rent is £434k.

By moving that doesn't go down to nil. By moving you will lose far more than that in income for events held within the conference and banqueting suites, etc.

Some people also make the argument of buying the ground back, again that isn't free. We could get a mortgage for it and the interest alone would probably dwarf the current rent, or the chairman who doesn't care might throw us £5m which won't happen.

We can't go to Odsal as football regulation require teams who have been in the top two tier for over 3 seasons to play from all seater stadiums, and there is nowhere else within 20 miles of the City that would be cheaper or have the capacity to cater for us.

We missed the bus when Town/Giants moved to a purpose built stadium in the 90s. With us and the Bulls both in our heyday thats when that should have or could have happened but the council were more interested in fantasy superdomes.

 

If the current lease is replaced like for like then the rent will keep rising so even back in League One it would be a big chunk of our income.

 

I'm sure our CEO is on this....

 

He is and has been for months. Getting closer ties and undoing the damage from the attitude of “Stuff it we’re leaving” from Mr Lawn

 

Listen the rent should not be an issue
????

How much money have they spunked up on over the hill players.

If the club was run correctly it wouldnt be an issue and the reason it is now is due to piss poor management x

 

It's good to see Ryan is doing positive work from a commercial side. There's no doubting his ability on that front.

However, a question to you if you don't mind - Do you think Ryan Sparks is the right man to take us forward as CEO of Bradford City? A simple yes or no will suffice

 

Ever thought that gg pension fund group are interested in buying the club
They have made a decent profit over the years on the lease of the ground
They won't want us to go bust or they are left with nothing

 

Osadebe, Taylor and Derbyshire would I imagine have been costing around £300k per season

 

They have made there money back and more they know they have got us by the short and curlys thats the sad thing about it

 

Undoing the damage done by Lawn ?????

Sorry but your buddy is done a hell of a lot more damage than Lawn ever did ..........

 

I believe Walsall either still do or did pay similar for their crappy little stadium, play well and fill the place and it’s irrelevant. We’d still have rent to pay elsewhere so may save £200k per year, I bet Smallwood’s contract is £250k+, it’s not the deal it’s made out to be but obviously any savings would be nice. We’d lose loads of fans leaving VP, so would lose out overall.

 

Lawn may not have been the most tactful of negotiators, but this clueless, snake oil salesman has nothing behind him but lies and failure.
Boy blunder has to go before the damage he's inflicted on this club becomes irreparable.

 

I think the reference to Lawn is specifically to do with the relationship with Gibb and the pension fund rather than running the club in general. We all know the relationship was not in a good place when the club was taken over and has taken many years to build back up.

 

I was talking to a Gibb family member a few weeks ago and he laughed at the very thought of them selling the ground back to City. In other words they have no intention of selling and I am guessing due to the £434k a year in rent.

Talk of them selling for £5m is laughable as well. It was bought for £5m over 20 years ago!

 

Wasn’t that the figure Rupp mentioned recently?

or do you just think it was a lazy presumption based on us paying that figure for it?

could sales price be written into the agreement?

 

Well if there is a sales price written into agreement fair enough but I'm not convinced. If its an open market then surely Gibb isnt selling for the same price he bought 20 years ago.

 

It was bought for £2,500,000 plus £437,500 VAT.