Holker Street Development

[Wintergreen]

This stadium development news that is beginning to come into the public domain from various posters sounds very promising indeed. Once again it seems like Brian Keen and the BoD are doing a first class job of progressing Barrow AFC from oblivion to the modern era of sport. What would we have become without him?

Much of the development talk is on the ‘Dave Bayliss’ thread which digressed a bit into stadium talk – mainly thanks to me, so I have started this thread to gauge feelings and maybe share knowledge. An official statement on the state of play would be nice wouldn’t it?

[Adam29]

it would be but at the same time can understand the reasons why there isnt one.

Alot of businesses when dealing with football clubs dont like it being out in the public domain and if it leaks out to the public it could jepordise any chance the club would have of getting the investment it requires. Im very sure that the min if not second the club gets a signed contract saying your on, then planning permision etc will be sprinted into the council quicker than usain bolt running with the trots! and then will be announced

[Richard Ingham]

An official statement on the state of play would be nice wouldn’t it?

Absolutely but until there is anything to tell what can they do? These things take time and need to be done in confidence.

Idle speculation (which may be based on various levels of the truth from those with inside knowledge) could lead to all sorts of problems if it turns out to be true and what one of the parties deems to be confidential or commercially sensitive.

I would implore all posters to be very careful about disclosing on here what they have heard and believe to be the truth.

[spirit of 1990]

I would implore all posters to be very careful about disclosing on here what they have heard and believe to be the truth.

I think thats a fair shout.

TK did say at the AGM that the interested parties did insist on a confidentiality clause, if their company names were mentioned they would pull out.
Having said that, rumours or possibly even more than that will always find ways onto forums or just in chit chat around the town, I think the companies involved would have suspected as much from the start.

[Wintergreen]

Yes I wholeheartedly agree gentlemen and I am not criticising the BoD or anyone for playing this correctly and in strict confidence. Perhaps I should have said I am looking forward to the day when they can tell us something. If it all comes off it will be massive for the town.

[mrsenario]

I fully understand the need for sensitivity on this issue , however the stockport county board put a nice article on the newsletter to the fans assuring them about future investment and how it got leaked in public.....but at least they know somethings in the air!
Its like saying just be patient...but in our case.....it may be dont build your hopes up!!

[Wintergreen]

The latest on the street is that preliminary negotiations have begun with high ranking Gypsy powerbrokers with a view to lifting their ancient curse. Early dialogue was said to be ‘encouraging’ according to Romany spokesperson Palm O’Silver.

[spirit of 1990]

No-one knows jack and if they do know jack they won't say anything because it might compromise any deals and developments!

Are you insinuating that a bloke called Jack has something to do with the re-development?

This is how rumours start.

[PRR]

You don't get anything for nothing. The fact that there has been no official statement to members makes me nervous about what we would be giving up in exchange for any development. Is no one else slightly uneasy that this is all going on behind closed doors? I wouldn't like a situation where the development is signed, sealed and announced with no consultation with what members / supports want or would be prepared to give up.

A new ground / redevelopment would certainly be exciting and has become almost a necessity (we should at least be maintaining Holker St if not improving in case things don't work out) but not at the cost of losing control of the ground or, for members, part / all of the club.

[Steelworks End]

You don't get anything for nothing. The fact that there has been no official statement to members makes me nervous about what we would be giving up in exchange for any development. Is no one else slightly uneasy that this is all going on behind closed doors?

A few years ago I was involved in the early stages of a retail development on a brownfield (ex-industrial) site . One of the first legal documents entered into was a confidentiality agreement, because news of the development was commercially sensitive until everything was signed & sealed and the project was announced to the public. This was binding on all parties. As spirit of 1990 says above, this is likely to be the case here.

It's nothing underhand, it's normal business practice.

[Lancaster Branch]

Gateshead came out a few years back with some whizz bang announcement about their plans for new ground which was due to be ready for 2011/12 season.....they now think 12/13 is going to be struggle.

I think I'd prefer not to know the full craic rather than see the future, only for it to keep slipping away.

[PRR]

You don't get anything for nothing. The fact that there has been no official statement to members makes me nervous about what we would be giving up in exchange for any development. Is no one else slightly uneasy that this is all going on behind closed doors?

A few years ago I was involved in the early stages of a retail development on a brownfield (ex-industrial) site . One of the first legal documents entered into was a confidentiality agreement, because news of the development was commercially sensitive until everything was signed & sealed and the project was announced to the public. This was binding on all parties. As spirit of 1990 says above, this is likely to be the case here.

It's nothing underhand, it's normal business practice.

The problem being we are a members club and the members should have a say on the future of the club. You can't pull your underpants up once you've turtled.

[Jonty]

Looking back on the feasibility study debate from the Mail question / answer sessions, TK said at that time-

"The feasibility study is complete and out of that we now understand what we can and can't do at the ground. We've taken it a step further and are talking to businesses and organisations about potential investment that would allow us to realise the outcome of the study. We're trying to sell what we've got to companies to allow us to realise what Holker Street's 5 and half acres could be for the next 50 years. The plan is to have a members meeting to share in private drawings which show the potential of Holker Street. It is however a commercial discussion, so there is naturally a risk of going public with it all. The timescale of it all is dictated by the commercial discussions. One of the biggest problems we face is that funding and financing has changed massively in the last 12 months A lot of companies we are talking to are national companies with national budgets that have been affected, from government level down.......The people we've been talking to, we were looking at a timescale of November, then January, then February, now it's potentially April / May. Because of the amount of investment we're talking about, it's not us who can drive those dates."

It's just a matter of sitting tight, patience and awaiting an announcement. The board will be doing everything they can to set us up for the future.

[barrowaberdeen]

Wheels within wheels within deals.

Hate yet understand the cloak and dagger stuff but trust TK etc are doing the best for the club in this case. Hope with all my heart this is proved right.

[cynicaloldgit]

I would implore all posters to be very careful about disclosing on here what they have heard and believe to be the truth.

I think thats a fair shout.

What? If they did that there would be no point in having a forum. The whole point is to discuss all maters Barrow AFC, whether based on fact, opinion, or rumour. Of course if the Club were to issue a statement clarifying the position that would end the speculation. If there's commercial in confidence issues say so adding details will be released when possible. After all if rumours were false I'm pretty sure there would have ben a denial by now.