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Latics fans angry at talk of move
Reporter: Athletic by TONY BUGBY
Date online: 07 July 2009
FANS have reacted with anger and disbelief at Simon Corney’s shock disclosure that Athletic’s owners are exploring proposals that could see the football club based outside Oldham.
Co-owner Mr Corney revealed that he has already been contacted by a neighbouring club asking if Athletic would be interested in sharing their ground.
Managing director Mr Corney reckons a ground-share scheme would make financial sense, pointing out he would jump at the chance to build and share a new stadium which was equidistant between two neighbouring clubs.
That came as a bolt from the blue to Jeff Vernon, chairman and vice- president of Oldham Athletic Supporters Association, who declared: “There will be fireworks and I can see this causing a lot of problems.
“I have already spoken to fans who say they will stop watching Latics if they move out of town.
“If the owners have ideas like that, they ought to consult the public of Oldham first. Personally, I think it is a non-starter and I am disgusted by it.”
Mr Vernon added that the episode has reminded him of the events of 1999 when then Athletic chairman Ian Stott was forced to resign after it was revealed that he had held informal talks about a merger between Rochdale, Bury and Athletic to form a new club Manchester North End.
Barry Owen, the representative of Trust Oldham on Athletic’s board of directors, also reacted with surprise.
He said: “Nothing has been discussed at boardroom level or with me as the fans’ representative on the board.
“It would be of concern if something like this happened without discussions with fans to give them the chance to air their views.
“The fans will be concerned and I shall be sharing this concern with the club on their behalf.”
Athletic chairman Simon Blitz has distanced himself from his business partner’s comments. about a possible move.
“It is a pipe dream and realistically it probably will never happen,” he declared.
Mr Blitz reassured fans there is no way he will ever sanction a move to Bury, Rochdale or Stockport, although he wouldn’t rule out sharing a new stadium with a neighbour. But, should that happen, he says he would still be looking to find a site for a new stadium within the borough of Oldham.
Mr Blitz also reaffirmed the commitment of the three owners to the club, saying: “You can see our commitment in the team we are assembling for the new season.
“I believe we will have a better team than last season. It is difficult because season-ticket sales are down and fans didn’t want admission prices to rise so where does the extra money come from to run the club?”
Comments
theres going to be loads of negative comments about corney now, but how can you blame him? the board are right-theres no extra fans, nobody wants to pay more for season tickets but we all want a better team. something has to give if thats going to happen because they cant continue to keep losing money. I dont want the club to move out of oldham, but as long as its oldham playing & not a rochdale/bury/oldham merge i'll continue supporting them.
Oh Dear!!! I believe it's Stockports new owners who are fed up with Sale Sharks and their own pathetic council (haven't we got one of those too?). From Corney's point of view our town don't support our team. From my point of view Oldham Athletic should be in Oldham. End of!
Heard about the club that started life 1 mile from Failsworth in Newton Heath and moved to Stretford in 1910 ..and.. back>back promotions .. close season 2011 ..er City - any chance we can ground share some of the time as we've still no Broadway stand ...Any obs anyone ?? !!
who could blame the three amigos, if they moved the club, out of the borough. they have had little or no help from the council, or local residents at boundary park. these are geniune men, who want to put real money in the club and town. it is a disgrace, the way they have been treated.
Simon Corney is just being honest, and you have to admire him for it. I would hate for us to leave BP, however a groundshare with someone like Bury or Rochdale would then mean that Latics could build a super new stadium and improve the financial situation and ultimately the team then so what? Ian Stott's North End idea was something totally different, and it is quite ridiculous to compare the two!
MAD4IT change you name to just MAD. If they sell the ground where will they build a new stadium? A new plot of land will cost as much as they'd get from the sale of their old ground. Where will the money for the stadium come from- thin air, certainly not the fans. Their best bet is to build on what they have got and either get more fans or fold the business due to lack of interest.
To be slightly more serious on this issue - one looks at the map and thinks just how good it would be for both Latics and Dale to carve out a niche somewhere in the Thornham/Stakehill area right next to the motorway and the railway build a 20k+ stadium and help to burst through the playoff glass ceiling that seems both clubs' inevitable fate. For this idea to run it would need proactive support from both councils. Enough said .
The way it's going who could blame the three amigos for selling the land and upping sticks? Sportspark 2000 got ruined by the NIMBY's and a useless Labour council, and was finally killed off by the Lib Dems as a vote winner that did them no good. This town is on a rapid downward spiral.
Aren't there fans ashes scattered at BP and what are the implications if the ground is sold for housing?
Do they not have "rights"?
I presume this has happened at other stadium locations and how has this been handled, have the club commented on this point as I am sure their are surviving relatives?
Have Your Say
Let face it we should have a new stadium anyway, without having to share the facilities with amnother club.
The easiest way to achieve this is to sell the ground and carparks let a company develop it to a retail / leisure outlet - and stuff the NIMBY hypocrites who opposed the M&S / Tesco proposal.
By MAD4IT @ 07/07/2009 12:59:35