The Chairman's Interview

[mall]

This interview was talked about on the Barrow social following the Preston game. Chris Altree made an excellent point and was spot on when he said that finance wise we are going backwards as a club as more clubs are spending more than us on salaries than when we first got back into the EFL.
My own view is that unless we attract new investment in the next two years we will be lucky to avoid relegation back to the National league

"My own view is that unless we attract new investment in the next two years we will be lucky to avoid relegation back to the National league".

My view entirely. Quite frightening really but, we have to face facts.

[Sea Dog Sam]

Somebody on this thread mentioned promotion! Really???
We're doing well to consolidate our position in Div2. For how long is the big question?

[Wintergreen]

The current owners are astute and successful businessmen who have somehow found the good will to put millions into the club. Grateful as we are, we realise they are not billionaires and they are now getting to get to grips with a problem that has been there from the start of their tenure. That being the long term viability of the club. They have been quite open about seeking further investment from other sources for a while now and hoping they can find a solution to the problem sooner rather than later.

As was remarked last weekend our opponents had Arab oil money behind them and we had Russ’ Raffle! No disrespect meant to the fantastic and continued heroics of Russ there.

As touted by PH recently, maybe a revenue stream could be generated from within by means of redeveloping the Pop Side to incorporate apartments/rentable units etc. and a new stand of course to house our resident tactical experts and cheerleaders. To that end I wonder if a separate development entity might be formed as a ‘coalition of the willing’ and perhaps crowd-funded to produce feasibility studies and to promote the contacting of potential partners for any such development. I’m sure many on here would contribute to some credible internal scheme to get the ball rolling and see if there is anything that can be done to help in this regard.

[Jonty]

The current owners are astute and successful businessmen who have somehow found the good will to put millions into the club. Grateful as we are, we realise they are not billionaires and they are now getting to get to grips with a problem that has been there from the start of their tenure. That being the long term viability of the club. They have been quite open about seeking further investment from other sources for a while now and hoping they can find a solution to the problem sooner rather than later.

As was remarked last weekend our opponents had Arab oil money behind them and we had Russ’ Raffle! No disrespect meant to the fantastic and continued heroics of Russ there.

As touted by PH recently, maybe a revenue stream could be generated from within by means of redeveloping the Pop Side to incorporate apartments/rentable units etc. and a new stand of course to house our resident tactical experts and cheerleaders. To that end I wonder if a separate development entity might be formed as a ‘coalition of the willing’ and perhaps crowd-funded to produce feasibility studies and to promote the contacting of potential partners for any such development. I’m sure many on here would contribute to some credible internal scheme to get the ball rolling and see if there is anything that can be done to help in this regard.

There’s £220m worth of investment being put into Barrow over the next decade under the “Team Barrow” banner. It would be an opportunity missed if the existing board don't at least explore options on how some of that funding could be used to mutually benefit the club and the aims of “Team Barrow”. Sport brings communities together. You only have to have the soccer and the rugby doing well to see how much it boosts the town. This is happening on the doorstep and could support redevelopment of the ground with a community hub / educational facility / workshops / accommodation etc integrated into a popular side new stand. I cannot think of any other way such large scale development could be funded unless someone else comes on board with a lot of money.

[Main Stand SeasonTct]

There’s £220m worth of investment being put into Barrow over the next decade under the “Team Barrow” banner. It would be an opportunity missed if the existing board don't at least explore options on how some of that funding could be used to mutually benefit the club and the aims of “Team Barrow”. Sport brings communities together. You only have to have the soccer and the rugby doing well to see how much it boosts the town. This is happening on the doorstep and could support redevelopment of the ground with a community hub / educational facility / workshops / accommodation etc integrated into a popular side new stand. I cannot think of any other way such large scale development could be funded unless someone else comes on board with a lot of money.

Totally agree Jonty 100%. I would hope that the club are already or seeking to engage with “Team Barrow” to explore opportunities

[Wintergreen]

Would be nice to think the council or BAE would contribute somehow in a joint venture but they never seem to do so even with the vast amounts of money currently swishing around the area. Any third party would be a builder/developer I would think and borrowing would be involved which would of course be paid off in the fullness of time.

[Main Stand SeasonTct]

Would be nice to think the council or BAE would contribute somehow in a joint venture but they never seem to do so even with the vast amounts of money currently swishing around the area. Any third party would be a builder/developer I would think and borrowing would be involved which would of course be paid off in the fullness of time.

The Question needs to be asked though IMO. If you don’t ask you don’t get

[mall]

Would be nice to think the council or BAE would contribute somehow in a joint venture but they never seem to do so even with the vast amounts of money currently swishing around the area. Any third party would be a builder/developer I would think and borrowing would be involved which would of course be paid off in the fullness of time.

Well you can forget the council. Even when it was Barrow council, it was underfunded so much that it got to the stage where the town only had one road sweeper. And now its Furness and Westmorland there is absolutely no chance.

[McMark]

Would be nice to think the council or BAE would contribute somehow in a joint venture but they never seem to do so even with the vast amounts of money currently swishing around the area. Any third party would be a builder/developer I would think and borrowing would be involved which would of course be paid off in the fullness of time.

Well you can forget the council. Even when it was Barrow council, it was underfunded so much that it got to the stage where the town only had one road sweeper. And now its Furness and Westmorland there is absolutely no chance.

He had a fine array of brooms though.

[Main Stand SeasonTct]

Would be nice to think the council or BAE would contribute somehow in a joint venture but they never seem to do so even with the vast amounts of money currently swishing around the area. Any third party would be a builder/developer I would think and borrowing would be involved which would of course be paid off in the fullness of time.

Well you can forget the council. Even when it was Barrow council, it was underfunded so much that it got to the stage where the town only had one road sweeper. And now its Furness and Westmorland there is absolutely no chance.

Westmorland and Furness Council, BAE Systems and the government led by a civil servant all sit on the board of "team Barrow" chaired by former cabinet Secretary Simon Case. They are the decision makers regarding the £200 million that is coming into Barrow. Yes the council might not have much money for public services but they do have a say where this money coming to Barrow to revitalise the area will be spent.

[Jonty]

Team Barrow is a private / public partnership with a Delivery Board headed up by BAE, local business and community leaders. Benefiting Barrow and the Furness community with key initiatives is what it’s all about. It would be an oversight if this is all happening without any input from both the Soccer and Rugby, two of the biggest community institutions in Barrow. Team Barrow are putting the business case together now for how money will be spent.

[spirit of 1990]

That's why we are with Accrington, Harrogate, Newport, Barnet yes Barnet performing miracles each season. Not sure about the financial resources of Fleetwood, Walsall and maybe Shrewsbury who have some financial issues. But bottom line is simple we need to keep to our model and hope in some way somebody or some organisation will be able to inject some money into our club.

Interesting note down here in Altrincham Sale Sharks owners are getting involved with Alti so interesting to see how that develops.

Just surviving in EFL2 is an achievement and anything else is a bonus imo

100% this.

I think that interview was saying it just how it is. People go on about the 20 goals a season striker when if there was one available he’d be snapped up by clubs paying far more than we are realistically able to do.

Regarding one of the other options mentioned….forget W&FC, they have too many bike lanes to wast…I mean invest in!

Good honest interview.

[Jonty]

Just surviving in EFL2 is an achievement and anything else is a bonus imo

100% this.

I think that interview was saying it just how it is. People go on about the 20 goals a season striker when if there was one available he’d be snapped up by clubs paying far more than we are realistically able to do.

Regarding one of the other options mentioned….forget W&FC, they have too many bike lanes to wast…I mean invest in!

Good honest interview.

Team Barrow is not W&F council. It’s a partnership that includes W&F council. I would rather the club be involved with this than a potential private investment with little connection to Barrow or without some guarantees.

[Main Stand SeasonTct]

100% this.

I think that interview was saying it just how it is. People go on about the 20 goals a season striker when if there was one available he’d be snapped up by clubs paying far more than we are realistically able to do.

Regarding one of the other options mentioned….forget W&FC, they have too many bike lanes to wast…I mean invest in!

Good honest interview.

Team Barrow is not W&F council. It’s a partnership that includes W&F council. I would rather the club be involved with this than a potential private investment with little connection to Barrow or without some guarantees.

I agree. Hopefully the clubs both rugby and soccer are all over it but saying nothing until there is something worth saying.

[blue nige]

Forget BAE, Ian will back me up they're not allowed to invest in anything unless it benefits the community/ good causes believe me I've been asking for years, and then they throw in what about Barrow rugby, Barrow cricket, the golf clubs etc ,I honestly think if they could they'd do something for us ,frustrated of course I am, but unless someone on here is an expert in how corporate law etc governs these things then I think we'd meet a brick wall!