Barrow AFC.net

mall wrote: ↑Thu Jan 22, 2026 9:58 am forget it. nothing will happen. all that money will go to lining the pockets of a certain few.

Ha ha it really won’t. Out of interest what are the names of these “ certain few” you allude to

mall wrote: ↑Thu Jan 22, 2026 9:58 am forget it. nothing will happen. all that money will go to lining the pockets of a certain few.

You’re probably right Mall but why the hell should we take all this lying down while useless consultants line their pockets.
I wish the club would come out and state it’s own survival strategy, I go to games and sit in the stand apart from Russ there’s no one trying to sell anything that make the club money, where’s the plan.
Despite being in the EFL in reality we’re still non league, where’s the plan. Apart from turning up what else can we do, where’s the plan?

Barrow afc 2018 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 22, 2026 10:16 am

mall wrote: ↑Thu Jan 22, 2026 9:58 am forget it. nothing will happen. all that money will go to lining the pockets of a certain few.

You’re probably right Mall but why the hell should we take all this lying down while useless consultants line their pockets.
I wish the club would come out and state it’s own survival strategy, I go to games and sit in the stand apart from Russ there’s no one trying to sell anything that make the club money, where’s the plan.
Despite being in the EFL in reality we’re still non league, where’s the plan. Apart from turning up what else can we do, where’s the plan?

There’s a QandA on Friday night get yourself along and ask your burning questions

Big_Bluebird wrote: ↑Thu Jan 22, 2026 10:32 am

Barrow afc 2018 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 22, 2026 10:16 am

You’re probably right Mall but why the hell should we take all this lying down while useless consultants line their pockets.
I wish the club would come out and state it’s own survival strategy, I go to games and sit in the stand apart from Russ there’s no one trying to sell anything that make the club money, where’s the plan.
Despite being in the EFL in reality we’re still non league, where’s the plan. Apart from turning up what else can we do, where’s the plan?

There’s a QandA on Friday night get yourself along and ask your burning questions

Good shout that BB would never have thought of that, from AJ I don’t believe the BOD are scheduled to be at that session March is the earliest they’re available.

So who will be answering the questions?

bluessupporter wrote: ↑Thu Jan 22, 2026 12:58 pm So who will be answering the questions?

Friday it’s Iain Wood, Paul Gallagher, John Welsh and Frazer Stewart (the trust rep on the board)

The full Board Q&A is in March to coincide with Tony Shearer being over

Adam29 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 22, 2026 1:08 pm

bluessupporter wrote: ↑Thu Jan 22, 2026 12:58 pm So who will be answering the questions?

Friday it’s Iain Wood, Paul Gallagher, John Welsh and Frazer Stewart (the trust rep on the board)

The full Board Q&A is in March to coincide with Tony Shearer being over

Thanks Adam.

mall wrote: ↑Thu Jan 22, 2026 9:58 am forget it. nothing will happen. all that money will go to lining the pockets of a certain few.

How cynical!

It’s a great pity our current owners cannot commit to the proposed multi-use shared facility; I won’t criticise them for that as I am a big fan of theirs and they have all the relevant figures and projections to hand of course. My sauces tell me that Barrow Rising recruited a guy who had worked on the York project to provide expert advice and planning expertise. They were planning a fact-finding tour of the York multi-use shared facility, but this has now been put on hold indefinitely. If the numbers don’t add up for AFC, then they don’t add up – fair enough but had the project been feasible it would have secured the home of Barrow AFC for the next 25 years or more. So as time goes on the Holker Street/Craven Park problems will get worse as we become even more unattractive to any would be Owner/sponsor/investor; as the recent failed investment drive has proven.

Worth noting that the York ground has a shopping centre (M&S. Next, John Lewis as the three anchors plus a number of smaller units, mainly occupied by national food/drink companies + TUI) as its enabling development. The other community sports facilities are a sports centre, similar to that in Barrow Park and three 3-aside pitches. Perhaps as the Barrow population rises (Ahem) again, there will be a market for yet another retail park though I imagine repurposing the town centre will be a priority for Barrow Rising.

As you say, if the money doesn't add up... That seemed to be the impression given by Fraser Stewart on Friday. As for the alternative, it would be good to see a development of the Ray Wilkie site to incorporate club facilities, apartments to provide an income, hospitality facilities, etc., presumably in partnership with an outside investor. That would unlock a redevelopment of the Steelworks End, possibly enabling a move of the pitch a little to the west and south to create slightly more space for future developments. Logistics behind how the Ray Wilkie Side could be redeveloped would be interesting (though not impossible), needing to maintain EFL capacity while work was undertaken. The Soccer at Craven Park for a season, perhaps?

Hadrian wrote: ↑Wed Jan 28, 2026 5:28 pm Worth noting that the York ground has a shopping centre (M&S. Next, John Lewis as the three anchors plus a number of smaller units, mainly occupied by national food/drink companies + TUI) as its enabling development. The other community sports facilities are a sports centre, similar to that in Barrow Park and three 3-aside pitches. Perhaps as the Barrow population rises (Ahem) again, there will be a market for yet another retail park though I imagine repurposing the town centre will be a priority for Barrow Rising.

York community sports facilities and Vanguard shopping Park which houses M&S, Next and John Lewis are distinctly seperate entities and although In close proximity are not linked
It’s pretty similar to how Holker street has Asda, Stollers, Matalan, Argos, Home Bargains nearby but like at York seperate entities

The York set up is so brilliant that York are actively trying to extricate themselves from it and own their own stadium again.

It’s not quite as simple as pointing at something shiny and new and giving it the Andy Pipkin “I want that one”. Although I’m sure some people think it is.

What is the ‘best’ way forward? Not sure tbh.

With Barrow RL recently appealing for £5k to keep the club operating, it would seem to even the most casual observer that RL are in an even more perilous state than AFC. I had heard that Chairman/Owner Steve Neale has been propping RL up with his own cash for some time now and seems to have reached a tipping point. Neale was a keen attendee at the Barrow Rising talks and must be on good terms with Paul Hornby with Hornby & Co being regular sponsors of RL.

So with both clubs publicly appealing for sponsors in vain, it would be logical for Hornby and Neale to have discussed all options for sustainability and survival. A handful of Forum members guessed that AFC would be in talks with Barrow Rising and so it proved to be the case. Following the same logic it would be feasible to think that RL and AFC have talked about a ground share at Holker St with perhaps an input from Barrow Rising. With the rugby currently under something of an existential threat, things might happen sooner rather than later.

You do know an EFL ruling for teams who share with rugby sides is they have to have a hybrid pitch

Where are either club going to find the finances to make that happen?

I really don’t understand how people just constantly ignore all the financial aspects which make this a complete no go

Well I didn't know that Adam and I don't know much about the financial aspects of such things. I do know that the two clubs are lacking in investment and there is a governmental organisation in the town giving out vast sums of money. So I think speculation about that is fair comment and something of a change from 'Doom and Gloom' and the eternal right back saga.