THE FUTURE OF AFC and HOLKER St

For all things Barrow AFC. Keep discussions civil and fair, we're all Barrow aren't we!
blue nige
BarrowAFC Veteran
Posts: 7081
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2013 7:21 pm
Location: Antarctica
Contact:

Re: THE FUTURE OF AFC and HOLKER St

Post by blue nige » Mon Apr 20, 2026 2:18 pm

Why didn't you bring this up at the meet the board meeting?
Local players?
Sorry even at conference north level you'd be hard pressed to find many clubs who have more than a couple of local players!
York City had major backers on board before they got the new stadium, we haven't!
Smothered in debt? Obviously you didn't listen or read Paul Hornby and his comments on the clubs financial situation!
So email the club with your proposals and come back on here with the answer or wait a few more years and post something else preferably not about the Speedway!
Have a nice day !

Lancaster Branch
BarrowAFC Veteran
Posts: 5509
Joined: Sun Jun 15, 2008 10:15 pm
Contact:

Re: THE FUTURE OF AFC and HOLKER St

Post by Lancaster Branch » Mon Apr 20, 2026 2:19 pm

Main Stand SeasonTct wrote: Mon Apr 20, 2026 1:06 pm
JohnE wrote: Mon Apr 20, 2026 12:49 pm Hallelujah...... someone who actually sees sence
The tribalism has to stop to enable both clubs to move forward.
You only need to look at York to see what benefits a community stadium bring.
York’s owner tweeted last week that he can’t wait until they’ve got a stadium of their own again.

Someone should get in his ear and tell him to stop being so ‘tribal’.
There are none so blind as those that will not listen.
Well, quite.

blue nige
BarrowAFC Veteran
Posts: 7081
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2013 7:21 pm
Location: Antarctica
Contact:

Re: THE FUTURE OF AFC and HOLKER St

Post by blue nige » Mon Apr 20, 2026 2:21 pm

Lancaster Branch wrote: Mon Apr 20, 2026 2:19 pm
Main Stand SeasonTct wrote: Mon Apr 20, 2026 1:06 pm

You only need to look at York to see what benefits a community stadium bring.
York’s owner tweeted last week that he can’t wait until they’ve got a stadium of their own again.

Someone should get in his ear and tell him to stop being so ‘tribal’.
There are none so blind as those that will not listen.
Well, quite.
😂😂

Big E
Gold Member
Posts: 1860
Joined: Mon Nov 25, 2013 10:05 am
Contact:

Re: THE FUTURE OF AFC and HOLKER St

Post by Big E » Mon Apr 20, 2026 2:24 pm

This was all covered by Fraser at the Q&A

mall
Platinum Member
Posts: 2741
Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2015 2:11 pm
Contact:

Re: THE FUTURE OF AFC and HOLKER St

Post by mall » Mon Apr 20, 2026 2:27 pm

JohnE wrote: Mon Apr 20, 2026 7:56 am OK, time to get realistic about the club and the ground.
Absolutely smothered in debt and no sign of any new investment, so what does the future really hold for a club whos support base isnt that good with a ground that realistically isnt fit for purpose.
I for one honest feel that to go forward there needs to be a new community based stadium in Barrow that should be in use 7 days a week making an income with 21st century facilities to encourage the Furness public to engage with the club ,not just on match days or nights.
The team should IMO have FURNESS based players who would have a proper connection with the supporters.
If that means Barrow playing in the lower leagues, so be it .
It's time to get real as to where Barrow and Holker St are in football terms.
Sticking heads in the sand or elsewhere is not going to fix an obvious

"Absolutely smothered in debt and no sign of any new investment".

First I've heard!
Where did this come from ??

Pedro
Platinum Member
Posts: 3478
Joined: Wed May 06, 2015 11:23 pm

Re: THE FUTURE OF AFC and HOLKER St

Post by Pedro » Mon Apr 20, 2026 2:32 pm

Cokey wrote: Mon Apr 20, 2026 2:00 pm
sempre contigo wrote: Mon Apr 20, 2026 9:11 am Community based stadium paid for and owned by who out of interest?
Do any of those in support, care to answer this question?
York city Council paid £8 million towards the stadium which has a NHS outlet,Cinema as well as York Rugby playing there.

Bootham Cresent was used to secure a loan which then turned into a grant on the proviso that Persimonn Homes were allowed to buy Bootham Cresent for housing at 10% less than face value.
The running of the Stadium is carried out by a manager company not York FC or RFC.
When you think about it Manchester City Maine Rd was owned by the Council

Lancaster Branch
BarrowAFC Veteran
Posts: 5509
Joined: Sun Jun 15, 2008 10:15 pm
Contact:

Re: THE FUTURE OF AFC and HOLKER St

Post by Lancaster Branch » Mon Apr 20, 2026 2:40 pm

mall wrote: Mon Apr 20, 2026 2:27 pm
First I've heard!
Where did this come from ??
The latest accounts show the sum total of zero in terms of external borrowings. The venerable Kieran Maguire, football finance expert, produced a chart last week, showing us at one end (£0) and the likes of Fleetwood and Colchester at the other, owing >£40m.

If the opening poster is who I think it is then he’s based closer to Accy Stanley - who owe c£6m. Maybe he meant this post to be posted on Stanleyweb?

I knew there was a reason I stopped reading this place - another sabbatical, methinks.

Have a lovely summer, all. See you at the Eastleigh game 👍

mall
Platinum Member
Posts: 2741
Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2015 2:11 pm
Contact:

Re: THE FUTURE OF AFC and HOLKER St

Post by mall » Mon Apr 20, 2026 3:08 pm

Lancaster Branch wrote: Mon Apr 20, 2026 2:40 pm
mall wrote: Mon Apr 20, 2026 2:27 pm
First I've heard!
Where did this come from ??
The latest accounts show the sum total of zero in terms of external borrowings. The venerable Kieran Maguire, football finance expert, produced a chart last week, showing us at one end (£0) and the likes of Fleetwood and Colchester at the other, owing >£40m.

If the opening poster is who I think it is then he’s based closer to Accy Stanley - who owe c£6m. Maybe he meant this post to be posted on Stanleyweb?

I knew there was a reason I stopped reading this place - another sabbatical, methinks.

Have a lovely summer, all. See you at the Eastleigh game 👍

Well that part I did indeed know about Accrington being up to their eyeballs in debt.

User avatar
Jonty
BarrowAFC Veteran
Posts: 11076
Joined: Wed May 28, 2008 11:01 pm
Contact:

Re: THE FUTURE OF AFC and HOLKER St

Post by Jonty » Mon Apr 20, 2026 4:25 pm

Lancaster Branch wrote: Mon Apr 20, 2026 2:40 pm
mall wrote: Mon Apr 20, 2026 2:27 pm
First I've heard!
Where did this come from ??
The latest accounts show the sum total of zero in terms of external borrowings. The venerable Kieran Maguire, football finance expert, produced a chart last week, showing us at one end (£0) and the likes of Fleetwood and Colchester at the other, owing >£40m.

If the opening poster is who I think it is then he’s based closer to Accy Stanley - who owe c£6m. Maybe he meant this post to be posted on Stanleyweb?

I knew there was a reason I stopped reading this place - another sabbatical, methinks.

Have a lovely summer, all. See you at the Eastleigh game 👍
That’s because the owners are sucking up the annual losses by injecting funds. Great whilst they are prepared to do it, concerning that it’s hardly a sustainable business model. The company accounts show the losses.
Still searching for the Young Soul Rebels
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mYxZUJt4xc

Main Stand SeasonTct
Platinum Member
Posts: 3210
Joined: Sun Aug 06, 2017 5:05 pm
Contact:

Re: THE FUTURE OF AFC and HOLKER St

Post by Main Stand SeasonTct » Mon Apr 20, 2026 4:51 pm

Jonty wrote: Mon Apr 20, 2026 4:25 pm
Lancaster Branch wrote: Mon Apr 20, 2026 2:40 pm

The latest accounts show the sum total of zero in terms of external borrowings. The venerable Kieran Maguire, football finance expert, produced a chart last week, showing us at one end (£0) and the likes of Fleetwood and Colchester at the other, owing >£40m.

If the opening poster is who I think it is then he’s based closer to Accy Stanley - who owe c£6m. Maybe he meant this post to be posted on Stanleyweb?

I knew there was a reason I stopped reading this place - another sabbatical, methinks.

Have a lovely summer, all. See you at the Eastleigh game 👍
That’s because the owners are sucking up the annual losses by injecting funds. Great whilst they are prepared to do it, concerning that it’s hardly a sustainable business model. The company accounts show the losses.
Your spot on Jonty. Unfortunately many just put their fingers in their ears when you point this out.

User avatar
Cokey
Platinum Member
Posts: 3346
Joined: Wed May 28, 2008 3:49 pm
Location: 7 minutes from greatness
Contact:

Re: THE FUTURE OF AFC and HOLKER St

Post by Cokey » Mon Apr 20, 2026 5:17 pm

Pedro wrote: Mon Apr 20, 2026 2:32 pm
Cokey wrote: Mon Apr 20, 2026 2:00 pm

Do any of those in support, care to answer this question?
York city Council paid £8 million towards the stadium which has a NHS outlet,Cinema as well as York Rugby playing there.
Is Barrow really a comparable place to York?

Could you ever see our own council paying that?

MisterPleasant
BarrowAFC Veteran
Posts: 5226
Joined: Fri Aug 28, 2020 10:29 am
Contact:

Re: THE FUTURE OF AFC and HOLKER St

Post by MisterPleasant » Mon Apr 20, 2026 5:19 pm

Jonty wrote: Mon Apr 20, 2026 4:25 pm
Lancaster Branch wrote: Mon Apr 20, 2026 2:40 pm

The latest accounts show the sum total of zero in terms of external borrowings. The venerable Kieran Maguire, football finance expert, produced a chart last week, showing us at one end (£0) and the likes of Fleetwood and Colchester at the other, owing >£40m.

If the opening poster is who I think it is then he’s based closer to Accy Stanley - who owe c£6m. Maybe he meant this post to be posted on Stanleyweb?

I knew there was a reason I stopped reading this place - another sabbatical, methinks.

Have a lovely summer, all. See you at the Eastleigh game 👍
That’s because the owners are sucking up the annual losses by injecting funds. Great whilst they are prepared to do it, concerning that it’s hardly a sustainable business model. The company accounts show the losses.
But the OP claimed we are "...smothered in debt". We are not. To say so is wholly inaccurate but some people might go away believing it. It's important to correct it.
Don't let the old man in.

greenarmour
Senior Member
Posts: 310
Joined: Fri May 30, 2008 1:06 pm
Contact:

Re: THE FUTURE OF AFC and HOLKER St

Post by greenarmour » Mon Apr 20, 2026 5:29 pm

Welcome to John Coleman ......

User avatar
Jonty
BarrowAFC Veteran
Posts: 11076
Joined: Wed May 28, 2008 11:01 pm
Contact:

Re: THE FUTURE OF AFC and HOLKER St

Post by Jonty » Mon Apr 20, 2026 5:55 pm

MisterPleasant wrote: Mon Apr 20, 2026 5:19 pm
Jonty wrote: Mon Apr 20, 2026 4:25 pm

That’s because the owners are sucking up the annual losses by injecting funds. Great whilst they are prepared to do it, concerning that it’s hardly a sustainable business model. The company accounts show the losses.
But the OP claimed we are "...smothered in debt". We are not. To say so is wholly inaccurate but some people might go away believing it. It's important to correct it.
Yes it is not “smothered in debt”, but the facts are we are reporting year on year losses and these are picked up by the owners injecting capital through allotment of shares. Not sure if this will stay allowable if new football finance regulations come out, which could end how this is done. Double edged sword for clubs because it effectively limits the on field spending of smaller clubs (ie us) in putting together a competitive playing budget. Which brings us around to debt…. There is beneficial debt, whereby taking it on is needed to increase revenue streams. If the club entered a partnership with a private investment company to build a new grandstand on the pop side, with all the hospitality, event holding, workshops, rent space etc, and that becomes a 52 week income stream for the club, then that would be a beneficial debt to take on.
Still searching for the Young Soul Rebels
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mYxZUJt4xc

Matty
BarrowAFC Veteran
Posts: 5353
Joined: Tue Nov 09, 2010 9:57 pm
Location: Barrow
Contact:

Re: THE FUTURE OF AFC and HOLKER St

Post by Matty » Mon Apr 20, 2026 6:47 pm

greenarmour wrote: Mon Apr 20, 2026 5:29 pm Welcome to John Coleman ......
I'd have him whichever league we are in next season.
Popular side since '03.

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Bigfathoss, Bluestandguy, steel panther and 95 guests