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Latics stadium: It’s good to talk
Reporter: Richard Hooton
Date online: 11 August 2009
OLDHAM ATHLETIC and council bosses have pledged to work with disgruntled groups fighting them for land earmarked for a £20 million football stadium.
Club and council officials faced a 90-minute grilling at a question and answer session over Athletic’s proposed relocation to Failsworth — but gave a staunch defence of their goal to build a 12,000-seater stadium on the site of Lancaster Sports Club, Lower Memorial Park and allotments off Broadway.
It was a game of two halves for Latics’ owners who found themselves under fierce criticism, but also received strong support from appreciative fans worried that they may pull out and leave the club in dire straits.
Around 80 children, parents and coaches from Failsworth Dynamos Football Club turned up at the meeting, held at Radclyffe School, Chadderton, to oppose the plans, though not all stayed for the meeting.
The club claims Oldham Council has reneged on a pledge to lease Lower Memorial Park for junior football.
Dynamos chairman Leo Turner said his club wanted to get children off the streets and prevent knife crime by getting them playing football.
There was anger that 13 football pitches had been lost in Failsworth in the last 20 years, leaving the proposed site as the last area of open, green space. But Latics plans would not increase the number of pitches, only upgrade them.
Mr Turner said: “We jumped through hoops to get that land. We put forward a plan that was second to none. Two years on we are told next week the land will be given to Latics. How does that happen?”
He added talks with Latics had broken down as they felt they were being railroaded into an agreement, had been pressured into coming up with financial backing and were being told things that weren’t true.
Dynamos had been sent a letter from the council saying it would not get planning permission for its proposals, which the club felt was against the democratic process.
But he stressed he did not want to harm Latics and Dynamos has a vested interest in the League One club doing well.
Athletic chief executive Alan Hardy said his club does a host of community work, helps around 3,500 children across the borough and grassroots football was important to it, but no other possible sites had been found.
Latics’ co-owner Simon Corney reassured fans he would not let the club go into administration if the plans failed but it would have to live within the income it generates at Boundary Park.
He said the “Three Amigos” —Simon Blitz, Danny Gazal and himself — had invested millions into the club that they would never recoup.
He added: “We enjoy it and love football. It’s been fantastic. We are fortunate we are able to do it but it’s harder for us to fund the club. But we won’t close the club down.”
He said Lancaster Sports Club would have been sold for industrial use so Latics’ plans would benefit the community and would provide extra football pitches.
Latics agreed it was a gamble to move from its heartland but felt the club could attract a new generation of fans in Failsworth. It has to act now rather than wait for the recession to end as the club is losing money at Boundary Park.
Councillor Mohib Uddin said it was easier to find smaller sites than the large site Latics require. All clubs involved, including cricket teams also losing pitches and even Oldham Rugby Club, could be helped if they found alternative land.
Environmental, traffic and parking concerns were raised but will be addressed in the planning application.
Fans urged the parties to get together to thrash out a compromise for the sake of the club and the community and it was agreed that more talks would be held.
Councillor Uddin said: “We are at a crossroads now where we have to find a solution for Avros, Failsworth Dynamos, allotment holders and Latics.”
Residents and fans were promised consultation.
** Latics, heavily criticised for charging £2 a ticket for the meeting refunded people who attended..
Comments
I think time will prove with this matter it was good to be open and talk. Better that people voice there fears than have the ground change thrust on them with the possible resentment that could bring. This is far from the perfect situation, but it will come down to whether we want the Latics.
The opportunity was there! the club had reason to charge admission, but of course refunded it ! Everyone with any interest was invited !.....usual pathetic attendance and yet more false arguments.
The Board of OAFC have been brilliant and saved our club from disappearing - perhaps people will realise just how bad Oldham and the surrounding towns have deteriorated in the last two decades.
Do Failsworth Dynamo / Avros own the land? No
Are they going to buy the land being sold by BAE? No
Will they get what they want? No
Will OMBC do the right thing for Oldham and get the stadium built? Yes
If Failsworth Dynamos continue to moan OAFC should withdraw their kind offer of the use of the pitches and leave them with what they own at the moment, nothing.
Its brilliant for the latics if this actually goes ahead. A big step in the right direction for both the football club and the community. You cant please everyone and from the turn out last night, i think there is only a small magority who are objecting. Fingers crossed it goes ahead and starts soon!!
Latics Observer. Tell us more. What false arguments? and from whom, the club or the people of failsworth? No bias intended here just a request for information.
Also Oldham is bad and deteriorating. Sure, but how much of that is to do with bad government. I can't really believe that the Latics alone hold the key to regenerating the entire borough of Oldham. Huddersfield has a new stadium but the town is exactly the same as it always was.
There is tons of land at the old Seddon site on Meek St. I'd rather Latics play in Royton!
Let's not forget about the allotment plot holders after all they have legitimate possession of part of the site already,and are awaiting the outcome of belated talks between themselves and OAFC & OMBC, so lets not jump the gun just YET !!!!!!!!!!
'Will OMBC do the right thing for Oldham and get the stadium built? Yes'
You must be joking! Stadium on Claytons, redevelopment of BP, a stadium for Oldham Rugby, a new athletics stadium - it never gets anywhere! A third division, badly-supported football team will not suddenly turn Oldham into a paradise. Why is the Failsworth site better than BP? Build a new Broadway stand!!
And attract a new generation of fans from Failsworth? So to get more fans away from United and City is to move EVEN CLOSER to those clubs! Brilliant. Yeah, in Failsworth they're all going to think, 'Hey, there's nothing in United or City anymore. You know what? I'm going to support Oldham instead!'
This is about the Directors getting more money from the land at BP for developement. I don't see vast crowds flocking to see them. Plenty of other spare land around the local area doing nothing. so why take the pitches from the grass roots level, and young kids. I am a latics fan but this sickens you. Progress? a backward club, in a run down town, if it was Man U or Liverpool you could agree, you lot make it sound like 100k watch week in week out.
Why not buy chadderton FC, a ground big enough for the megre means of Latics
Agree with bob. royton not failsworth, i dont want us playing with a manchester postcode
I love the arrogance of ArthurD sitting there typing away with his chest puffed out and his big club hat on. Ha, you ain't from round here, are you boy? OAFC are the ones with the clock ticking speedily away here, and the speed and ease with which the whole things gets delivered doesn't lie at their door, nor that of the back stabbing council. Play ball with the locals by making sure their children get well looked after or I can guarantee you this, your stadium will never see the light of day.
What's the Difference between Seddons, BP and Failsworth?
Seddons and BP would both cost the club to develop, while Failsworth will be subsidised by the ratepayers. They constantly moan about spending 50k a month on the club yet Footballers WAGs spend more than that shopping. Do these guys have any money or were they hoping to make money out of BP? Every other stadium scheme involved vast amounts of public money which is why they all collapsed. Will this be the same?
To the aptly named Aucun Imbercile I suggest your not in a position to guarantee anything to anyone,and you have the audacity to call someone else arrogant,be realistic and get a life!!!!!!!!
Oldham Scotland, Chaddy FC would be perfect for the Rugby to have and develop for their ground but the Council would put the kybosh on that idea too. Seems to me that now once again, Our LibDem Council doesnt want to spend any money on Sporting sites for the people of Oldham to use.
Have Your Say
I am afraid that Failsworth Dynamos cannot take priority over Oldham Athletic. We all know that but if that portly bloke want to let some steam off fair play, you'll lose in the end.
By ArthurD @ 11/08/2009 12:37:05