Urban Village to go ahead

[quote=“Major Major” post=59798]Paul

I suspect that 1874 will never be able to own its own ground unless it is a long term lease or partnership with another organisation.

If Northwich had its own ground of course it might sell it depending on the circumstances and if the terms were right like Witton intend to do.

The difference is that the assets of 1874 are owned by the fans and they would have the final say.

C.J Then good luck to you all[/quote]

Major Major thank you for your honest response. I am a proud Wittoner and will be all my life but good luck to you too.

[size=5]There is a covenant on the land.[/size]

As you say, “Money talks.” I look around the area and there are not many other places where we could go. As for the 1666 fella, SHUT UP, it has nothing whatsoever to do with you and your club.
WHS.

[quote=“Thatched tavern” post=59785]
That’s why Winsford Council were wrong to sponsor Winsford United with rate payers money, as it would be wrong to give away rate payers land to build football stadiums on, be they a Northwich Team or a Witton Team.[/quote]

Tell that to Chester FC - the council were quick enough to give them the stadium.

Meanwhile, I think you might be looking at a scenario where a club or clubs were offered an opportunity to have some form of a stake in a more extensive council-run development. I can see the council going down the Moss Farm route but with a proviso that the stadium has multiple users. That might indeed leave Witton with a pot of money at the end of it all.

In the scheme of things this could be quite irrelevant.

Moss Farm was given to the Council a umber of years ago by ICI fo " the use of the community" So as Witton are are a private concern, unfortunately should not play there.

Well lets see what happens. I for one am not ruling out Moss Farm as being the future of WAFC. I’m not particularly bothered if it is or isn’t but I’m certainly not ruling it out, rules, covenants et al…

[quote=“Paul S” post=59795][quote=“Major Major” post=59794]Gents.

Good point, well made.

What would happen if your majority shareholders decide to take their money and walk away as you quite rightly say money talks but so does politics and votes.

By the way, I am on this forum as a taxpayer as you are providing succour to Jim Rushe and his “activities”

Time will tell.[/quote]

I’m curious about the probing questions and think its only fair that you answer one now.

My question is this - If 1874 Northwich had their own ground would they ever sell it?[/quote]
Fair question. I think ANY team would sell their ground based on two questions being answered yes…

  1. Do they need the money
  2. Could they improve with the move.
    In wittons case I think you have to say yes to both.
    Financially it would make you better off, and if you get a new ground out of it, it would be an improve the on the old one, which while it has a good playing surface is looking a bit shabby on the terraces!
    But let’s not forget, the move from the central ground and the money you got was “making you for life” accordinging to a majority of your supporters.
    You need to manage any move better than you have done in the past…
    There you go, an honest reply without insults!!

[quote=“Blackie” post=59815][quote=“Paul S” post=59795][quote=“Major Major” post=59794]Gents.

Good point, well made.

What would happen if your majority shareholders decide to take their money and walk away as you quite rightly say money talks but so does politics and votes.

By the way, I am on this forum as a taxpayer as you are providing succour to Jim Rushe and his “activities”

Time will tell.[/quote]

I’m curious about the probing questions and think its only fair that you answer one now.

My question is this - If 1874 Northwich had their own ground would they ever sell it?[/quote]
Fair question. I think ANY team would sell their ground based on two questions being answered yes…

  1. Do they need the money
  2. Could they improve with the move.
    In wittons case I think you have to say yes to both.
    Financially it would make you better off, and if you get a new ground out of it, it would be an improve the on the old one, which while it has a good playing surface is looking a bit shabby on the terraces!
    But let’s not forget, the move from the central ground and the money you got was “making you for life” accordinging to a majority of your supporters.
    You need to manage any move better than you have done in the past…
    There you go, an honest reply without insults!![/quote]

“You need to manage any move better than you have done in the past…” - I don’t think we’ll be looking to any current or former V*cs fans on that score but thanks for the advice anyway. :laugh:

I’m glad to hear it Paul as I’m not a financial advisor, or that great with money in any way tbh!
But then again, the way your club wasted the last opportunity you had, and the fact you NEED the laundered rent money your getting, neither is your board!
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Admittedly mistakes were made the last time we moved, however as a club we certainly won’t make those mistakes again. Witton Albion still exist and if I’m not mistaken have a place we call home.
It seems very hypocritical that fans of certain other clubs can come onto our forum, sorry let me repeat that our forum and seen to be overly critical of Witton Albion
Am I missing something here, are we not the only club in Northwich who actually are in a position to sell our own ground and consider moving. I’m sure fans of other local non league teams would jump at the chance to be in our position.
I don’t suppose it really matters where in Northwich the ground is the fact of the matter is it will be in Northwich and it will be ours.

We don’t “need” the rent money but it helps keep the club stable and helps with improvements to the ground etc you also could have been playing at a SUPERB STADIUM AND ON THE BEST PITCH IN our level, however you choose to stay at Winsford ffs ( oh I forgot your squeaky clean club forgot to tell the fans about the offer from Witton so you as owners couldn’t even consider it ! ) I suppose that rankles really so ! So you feel the need to come on here and cause aggravation, but Witton Albion are absolutely fine and over time we will get even better - way beyond your dreams ! And forget a ground share ( being raised on your forum ) with any local team we don’t need it - you obviously do. keep putting your pennies in a jar for your new stadium, it also seems you have lost your obnoxious Chairman but kept his obnoxious fans and attitude. UTA

If I remember correctly the move to Wincham Park went quite well - with the stadium built before we moved out of the Central Ground. There were subsequent issues with the playing surface and how we spent the balance of the funds and I am sure those lessons will be well learnt.

With regard to covenants - I can remember a playing field in Rudheath being built on to provide housing - even though there was a covenant on the land that should have meant the playing fields remained. So this suggests that where councils want to do something, they find a way past the legal obstacles.

Whilst its undoubtedly true that WAFC is a private limited company - one can hardly suggest that it is run for profit. I cannot remember any dividends being paid to shareholders, the vast majority of whom are Albion supporters who hold small amounts of shares. To suggest that we are anything than a supporters run club is wide of the mark, although the vehicle for running the club is somewhat different than the 1874 model. There is always the possibility that someone will try and engineer a situation to take money out of the club, but given the directors we have in place and a good legal team, we should be able to effectively manage and mitigate that risk.

1874 may dream of owning their own ground, but the reality is that they are unlikely to do so without a significant amount of taxpayers or local council funding. Given pressure on council budgets any significant grants to 1874 would cause a huge outcry, especially when services are being cut… The likelihood is they will remain tenants somewhere, whether that’s at Winsford or elsewhere only time will tell. They are still a new club, and I suspect their focus remains on consolidating their club’s position and that’s probably the right answer and the reason why they didn’t come to WP this term.

[quote=“Blackie” post=59818]I’m glad to hear it Paul as I’m not a financial advisor, or that great with money in any way tbh!
But then again, the way your club wasted the last opportunity you had, and the fact you NEED the laundered rent money your getting, neither is your board!
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:[/quote]

A few years in non leagues top tier (the highest in the clubs history), an appearance at the old Wembley stadium in 1992, still owning our own ground and currently being in a fantastic position would suggest to me that we didn’t waste the opportunity - far from it in fact.

after the opening day attendance of 293 at 1874 maybe if all us wittoners ignore the comments on here from them they’ll dwindle away just like their crowds are. mooney

Good point and well made mate. UTA B)

Well Vic’s have a 3 year groundshare deal with Witton with the option to extend, so that means where Witton go we go!

DDH if you think this ground move will be done and dusted in 3 years your deluded, which means when we go you wont be

I’m a Witton fan through and through always have been always will be.
One thing I don’t do is go on other clubs forums and post comments, the clues in the name Central Grounder a name and venue that means so much to many supporters of our great club.
Why supporters of other clubs which I can’t be bothered to mention feel the need to come on our forum and criticise us really surprises me. Like I’ve said this is a Witton Albion forum and long may that continue.
Central Ground belonged to us, Wincham Park belongs to us and any new ground will belong to us. It certainly feels good to be calling the shots

I think you will find that you are wrong we have a 3 year rental agreement and I have been told we also have the option to extend for another 3 years which means where you go we go.