staying put for now/

First Team News and Views
1

Moss Farm? We say no
Exclusive By Andrew Simpson
Comment
WITTON Albion have ruled out a move to Moss Farm.

Chairman Mike Worthington told the Guardian that he believed a stadium switch to the Northwich sports complex was now not going to happen.

"Our future is not there," he said.

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Last month Worthington said Witton would be willing to discuss a groundshare with Northwich Rugby Club after Vale Royal Borough Council suggested a stadium type’ development.

The Guardian has learned that no meeting has taken place.

"I don’t want to go into the reasons behind our decision," added Worthington.

"But we don’t believe a move to Moss Farm is in our long-term interest."

He confirmed the club was still looking to move from their Wincham home, although no alternative location has yet been found.

The borough council’s reaction was mixed.

"The main thing is a removal of uncertainty and that is helpful," said Chris Bottomley, head of leisure for Vale Royal.

"Early confirmation of the club’s intentions gives us clarity and good notice and will avoid any wild goose chase."

He was preparing to make public two draft masterplans for Moss Farm in the coming days.

Instead residents will be asked for their view on a single sketch which includes a new purpose built clubhouse and improvements to the rugby club’s first team pitch.

"The establishment of a performance club such as Witton at Moss Farm was something we recognised as potentially beneficial to the site," added Mr Bottomley.

"The opportunity to link amateur sport, coaching opportunities, all-weather training areas to a high-flying club would have had its merits."

12:00pm today

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2

It’s a shame that this hasn’t happend would of like to have seen us down at Moss Farm especially for the commercial aspect but I must admit I was slightly worried when its was annouced we would only have capacity for 3000 down there a potential stumpling block if we ever wanted to try and get back in the conference.

To be honest I would rather stay where we are than say move onto Manchester Road or something like that, we would be no better position than we are now! The only option’s I see, if we are going to move is somewhere nearer to town maybe next to ALDI?? although I think this is a flood plain so may rule this out. Or the other option would be to buy the Victoria Stadium and rent it back to Vics but can’t see that happening either for obvious reasons.

I think we are in good position on this because by the sounds of it Vale Royal would like us to move but they will have to come up with a decent option to get us away from Wincham Park!

3

Erm, NO. Wash your mouth out.

4

Robbo, we could re-name it the Brian Pritchard arena! Am sure that would go down well when Vic’s are in league football in 2 years time! :wink:

5

Want to get that bl**dy car park sorted if we are staying put ! :wink: :wink:

6

My understanding was that if we did decide to stay at Wincham Park then the developers that had bought all the other land around us would go ahead with the housing they planned anyway and basically build around us, this would mean new roads etc being put in place so I would guess that any serious car parking plans we may have wouldn’t be worth doing until after that work had been completed, not ideal I know but financing it now could well be money thrown away. On the point of us staying put (for now) the Chairman did state that unless the move was to Moss Farm there would be no move at all so its looks like our long term future is at Wincham Park unless of course another very attractive package has been placed before the board…?

7

I think whatever happens here we are winners as long as Mike is there to oversee the deal. He will not sell us short. If we stay put and houses are built around us we need to get the social club sorted because we could do a Farsley. If you look at Farsley their social club keeps them running because the houses round and about all use the facilities there. Connet and his fantastic wonderful stadium and facilities are not really a threat because he always aims at a more select expensive type market. However we need to get our social club sorted and running on a good footing to attract the new householders in the new Wicham village. If VRBC want us off Wincham Park then they have to help us find something else. My prefernce would be the land off Middlewich road. I can’t ever see VRBC passing it for a housing development but they might consider a small football stadium and this would be a lot more central than Wincham and not too far from the new Northwich vision town centre which as I understand it is moving more around the Leicester Street rather than Witton street area.
Just thoughts not concrete ideas no doubt I’ll be shot down in flames as usual but I just want us to make sure Witton Albion FC does not lose out and we become a winner in all this. I’m sure Mike will have something in mind!

8

Ever thought we might buy Connett’s ground and rent it to the Scum? Or possibly continue the ground share with Manchester United Reserves?. A lick of red and white paint, a new name and it would be "the business"!!
WHS.

9

I can confidently quote: "Not a chance".

GE

10

I’d NEVER watch Witton there as our home ground. I’d rather see us playing behind Farmers Arms.

11

Ground relocation, moving and sharing is always an emotive subject. Whilst I completely understand Robbo’s passionate flat refusal to move to the VS I actually don’t agree.

The following is a very hypothetical scenario but;

Based on being able to sell our land for say £2m+. We could then invest in a new build however what standard of stadium could we hope to build and are we capable of managing the process? The financial position of the VS’s current owner may mean that he was willing to sell the ground (of course it may not and equally the decision may be made for him). We could potentially buy the VS outright from our monies or we could own an equal 50% of it with the new football club - this scenario perhaps meaning that we could use £1m of our money and keep £1m in the bank for future security and development.

If £1m could buy us joint ownership of that stadium it would in my opnion be money well spent. Forget the individuals involved, it is potentially a very good facility and is ready made. Yes it would need changing in name to something like the Wincham Stadium, yes it would need a lick of paint and in the future the ends behind the goals could be terraced for say a Witton end and a Northwich end. The ground is practically football league standard and it scares me that our alternative will cost more money, bring more problems and leave us with something far less credible.

This would be a commercial transaction and you have to take emotion out of the decision. Would it not feel good to own 50% or maybe even more of an asset like that and have significant funding in the bank!

One stadium makes pure commercial sense. Their attendances are averaging 871 this season, ours 415, equally sharing the running costs of a ground would be a massive financial advantage. One pitch to sustain, one set of floodlights, one facility which could be open and used 7 days a week!!!

It works for Inter Milan and AC Milan so why not Witton and Northwich!!! Forget the emotion and look at the very real commercial aspects of a deal like this. We could end up owning an asset that we could never justify the build of, it is ready made so takes virtually all the risk away and puts us on equal level terms with our neighbours. Plus it could leave us with money in the bank to develop our squad and aim for top flight non-league or league football. This is a move that could accelerate our growth and not hold us back.

12

No. Hang on let me think about it… NO. I’d prefer to go and watch Barnton if that happened.

13

Why?

14

If you have to ask then you will never understand.

15

I do understand but I am trying to dig deeper, is this purely emotion with no regard for the commercial future? Would you prefer to watch us play North West Couties football at Wincham Park or Conference Football in a newly named VS?

16

Mr Rabbit, I unfortunately can not agree with you on this one.

The Marstons Arena is somewhere that could/should never be our home! Regardless of whether they are our arch rivals or not, I am not that impressed with the Marstons Arena, it’s only half finished! Both clubs have survived for this long without any ground share so why change now. We are at our strongest position football and financial wise for years, so why would we get involved with a business with no track record? Northwich Victoria (2008) have only been in business for a month, they’ve got no history!

We’re on the verge of the promotion that we have craved for so long, and are in a very stong position because of the stadium/land. A relocation to OUR OWN stadium closer to town could be an option but so could staying at Wincham Park (we could very well end up in the middle of a housing estate!). Yes Wincham Park will need some work if the team continue to be successful but we can cross that bridge when we come to it.

17

Why did so many Vics fans refuse to watch their team whilst they were groundsharing with us?? Why have thousands of Manchester United fans turned their backs on their team to start up FC United??

Take the emotion out of football and it fails to exist.

That stadium was originally christened The VICTORIA Stadium. There is no way i would ever accept Witton calling that ‘home’.

18

We will lose money again this year!

Let me paint another picture, the VS site has about 9 acres, we could buy the football stadium and car parking, leaving the current owners with the land to develop their marina and offices. What if we bought 100% of the ground and inherited a tenant paying us £50k a year to play there!!!

I am just trying to work out whether emotion over our location is more important than future success of the club on an off the field. Such flat refusals are completely 100% understandable however football is a business too. I would watch us play in North West Counties at WP or the Conference at the VS, but I would prefer the later as it is the opportunity to make progress and play at a higher level that would appeal.

An interesting debate (again)

19

A debate indicates there are 2 sides to the argument. There aren’t.

20

As it does if the business aspect of the club is not viable - this is the dichotomy of the game!