Whilst the next few days site content may be concentrated on any transfer window activity, another subject continues to generate feelings.
Recently, we’ve been debating when / if the new Power Court development will be up and running, with the general feeling is that it won’t be any time in the immediate future, more like 5-7 years’ time, if all goes well.
But although the board are giving us updates, there is a feeling that the updates are not that specific.
Yesterday, following on from our subject article – somewhere-down-the-line-possibly-or-probably –
which, among other things, contained the views of Sad Platter on the subject, I received the following from Bob Jackson:
“The long running saga (or farce) of LTFC getting a new ground has now reached a totally absurd level.
“I’m 76 and I doubt I will see it in my lifetime.
“The board issue periodic status statements indicating progress as they have done for years but yet a projected completion date is still not forthcoming.
“Other clubs over the years say since the Kohler Dome have built new stadiums and yet here, we still are in the ageing, not fit for purpose but loveable Kenny.
“Can the board please come clean and manage our expectations.”
I agree with a lot that Bob has said, the saga has, when it comes to any new ground, gone on and on, my late dad once told me, some 30 years ago, that we’d never see a new ground in his lifetime, sadly he was correct.
I appreciate that the current board are operating under extreme financial pressure due to ongoing events here in the UK and the Rest of the World, but a little more transparency would be good, a project plan, a revised timeline – any indications of progress that the man on the street can comprehend, would be great.
How about it?
COYH’s
FA Cup 4th Round - Luton v Grimsby?
Luton Town to Win!
Grimsby Town to Win!
A Draw!
Previous article by Mad Hatter
Luton – Bree Poll Swings And Roundabouts As Deal Looks Likely
I am 60 and have followed the Town since I was 6 like my Father and Grandfather before.
The farce of a new ground has rumbled on and on for decades. I cannot understand how lesser clubs in staure than ourselves have planned, built and are playing in new stadiums and yet our situation rumbles on and on. It is becoming a laughing stock and whilst I appreciate the latest challenges faced it doesn’t excuse the previous year’s.
We have done remarkably well to be where we are but progression as a club and team will only happen with better facilities.
I think like most I am resigning myself to not see us in a new Stadia for at least 5 years and I’m beginning to wonder if it will happen at all.
your time line is very sensible mark. please remember the size of this development. it’s not just a stadium. big money will go into this scheme, and that dose’nt grow on trees. if you boorow substantial amounts ,it has to be paid back. the housing development will have to subsidise the stadium. you can’t have one without the other. money lenders are very shrewd, and would gladly take the development from you,if you defaulted on your loan. this is a massive risk for 2020, so be patient. we don’t want a snake like kohler for instance to steal this from us. COYH.
Maybe the Luton Board should start looking around locally and internationally to find someone who would be willing to fund the club. After all they have done very well on one of the smallest budgets if not the smallest in the Championship by buying players at low prices and free agents and developing them together into a solid team structure. That is the coaches responsibility, and they have been fortunate enough to be able to maintain their championship status via good coaching and planning. The commercial side of the club is the boards responsibility, and they need to have the right cross section of people on the board who are able to deliver such things as a new stadium etc. A new stadium has the ability of not only being used for football matches but is a great marketing and income producing tool for things like events etc. plus it’s close locality to London/Luton International Airport offers many possibilities across the board There are people out there that could be interested in becoming a financial assist and ultimately a member of the board with Luton FC were they to be approached. A Commercial Director who has the right contacts out there internationally. and has the ability to bring such a person into the Luton FC fold is a must. It appears fairly obvious the the current board are struggling to finance the new stadium and as hard as they are trying to bring this project to bear, it does not look likely that it is going to happen anytime soon unless there is a dramatic shift in their business model. Kenilworth Road as it stands now offers nothing from a marketing perspective and surely must be running a loss. If the club have any ambitions of retaining their Championship status over a longer period, or achieving promotion to the Premier League, then the new stadium is a must, and the board need to rack their brains to find a way to achieve all of this. I really do wish them well.
Great post.
lovely post peter. i am sure there are people wanting to relieve 2020 of this project, which when completed, will show a tidy profit. there are plenty of sharks in the murky waters of finance. COYH.