LaticMark Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 Link Our old friend John Battye was asked why he stood for the council again and his reply was: “Unfinished business.” His biggest regret is not being around in 2001 to finish the Sports Park 2000 project which would have given Oldham Athletic a new home on Clayton Playing Fields. He lays the blame squarely at the feet on the Liberal Democrats, who took charge of the council in 2000 when he lost his seat. “One more year, that is all that was needed,” he mused, adding: “The majority of the money was in place, the planning permission was in place and we had permission from the Charity Commission to develop Clayton and replace the football fields on the site of the old stadium." “Lots of untruths have been spoken and published about the project. There were three sets of plans: a 20,000-plus seater stadium with a roof at £27 million; a smaller stadium with a retractable roof at £20 million and a 16,000-seater standard stadium without cover." “That last was our preferred option. We had £11 million in the bank from the sale of Westwood running track to B&Q, we had a further £2 million promised for stadium naming rights which left a shortfall of £3 million which could easily have been sourced at competitive rates on a stadium that was all-but funded." “We had verbal promises from BSkyB to use the stadium as their northern hub for parking of their outside broadcast vehicles and as a northern studio." “Everything was in place — and we just needed another 12 months.” “Unfinished business.” He was the asked 'where are we then, with the stadium situation?' The article then says: The response spoke volumes — nothing of substance was said other than “We as a party, as a group, are prepared to make and take decisions..." A bit of a cryptic response! I wonder what he could mean? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnthonyOAFC Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 Interesting :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaticsLee Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 Dosnt mean much really does it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delfer Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 There's more to this, the rumours have started. We might finally get what we want! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yarddogs Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 Great thing hindsight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy_Fent Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 Failsworth East, where was his previous seat? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaticsLee Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 There's more to this, the rumours have started. We might finally get what we want! Or maybe, just maybe we are reading to much into this as normal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laticsmad Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 There's more to this, the rumours have started. We might finally get what we want! You can't just say that and leave it there! What rumours for those who do not know!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobOAFC Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 There's more to this, the rumours have started. We might finally get what we want! Depends, what is it that we want? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaticsLee Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 Depends, what is it that we want? Erm.... A new stadium ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laticsmad Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 Erm.... A new stadium ? Erm capacity, location, additional revenue streams, or are they simply going to re-build the old stand and leave us to rot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delfer Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 Erm.... A new stadium ? At BP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobOAFC Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 Erm.... A new stadium ? How about a rebuilt stadium? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaticsLee Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 (edited) Erm capacity, location, additional revenue streams, or are they simply going to re-build the old stand and leave us to rot! Personally i think if they did re build us a brand new shiny stand with a bar and BB facilitys it will bring a few fans back. Re do the chaddy and the main the boom there you go. Edited July 25, 2011 by LaticsLee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaticsLee Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 At BP Why does it have to be at BP? Personally i'd prefer to move away and start a fresh new era at a new location in a spanking brand new stadium. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delfer Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 Why does it have to be at BP? Personally i'd prefer to move away and start a fresh new era at a new location in a spanking brand new stadium. It's a lot cheaper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Latics_Fanatic Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 It's a lot cheaper. Cheaper to move away or stay? Personally I'd prefer a move away aswell, we do need a new start and a new location, can only do us good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobOAFC Posted July 26, 2011 Share Posted July 26, 2011 Cheaper to move away or stay? Personally I'd prefer a move away aswell, we do need a new start and a new location, can only do us good! What about all the fans it could potentially alienate? Also, don't think their is a cheaper option either way.. Stay at BP could cost more to build, but more likely to please the fans.. Moving away may be cheaper, but could end up with us losing more fans.. If viable to re-build BP thats the new start there.. a turning point where the club and council actually get something done together.. no need for new location.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmr Posted July 26, 2011 Share Posted July 26, 2011 What happened to all that money then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghostofcecere Posted July 26, 2011 Share Posted July 26, 2011 Interesting comments, we can only wonder how the club would have faired had the Sports Park 2000 project come off. One thing is for sure, we would have been in a much stronger position than we are today!!! I'm reading between the lines, but I think Battye is suggesting a Sports Park 2000 type plan is resurrected...... the only thing about that is, we now have those houses where the Clayton Arms once stood! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longtimeblue Posted July 26, 2011 Share Posted July 26, 2011 Interesting comments, we can only wonder how the club would have faired had the Sports Park 2000 project come off. One thing is for sure, we would have been in a much stronger position than we are today!!! I'm reading between the lines, but I think Battye is suggesting a Sports Park 2000 type plan is resurrected...... the only thing about that is, we now have those houses where the Clayton Arms once stood! That's it, had no building taken place then all options would be open... Hotels, flats, leisure and corporate facilities. Don't know much about the business side of things but I wouldn't of thought there's enough land now to make us sustainable. I'd of thought there's not many better sites in Oldham than Clayton and BP to have a go with all that. If a new ground with all the extras was possible on the current site it'd be win win for me. Big talk from Battye Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outoftheblue Posted July 26, 2011 Share Posted July 26, 2011 Interesting comments, we can only wonder how the club would have faired had the Sports Park 2000 project come off. One thing is for sure, we would have been in a much stronger position than we are today!!! I'm reading between the lines, but I think Battye is suggesting a Sports Park 2000 type plan is resurrected...... the only thing about that is, we now have those houses where the Clayton Arms once stood! I have a large sledgehammer and a few hours to spare if it helps?....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz_Oafc Posted July 26, 2011 Share Posted July 26, 2011 I thought the money to build was coming from the sale of BP and the land?? Where's the millions to re-develop BP coming from?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laticsbiffo Posted July 26, 2011 Share Posted July 26, 2011 I thought the money to build was coming from the sale of BP and the land?? Where's the millions to re-develop BP coming from?? That's how I understood it too Gaz. Unless £20m quid comes in from another source (extremly unlikely), other than the sale of the land that BP sits on, then the new stadium would have to be built elsewhere! It's a simple equation unfortunately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oafcprozac Posted July 26, 2011 Share Posted July 26, 2011 Erm capacity, location, additional revenue streams, or are they simply going to re-build the old stand and leave us to rot! ^^^^^^^^^^^ imo this….. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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