Morning All, Supporters' Trust's latest update on the closure of the West Stand that will be in today's Chronicle and has been posted to all the Trust's social channels, urging everyone involved to come together and focus on the supporter. https://bfcst.co.uk/open-letter-to-barnsley-fc-and-the-owners-of-oakwell/
I fear that this misses so many of the key questions that they can just fudge the answers. The one key question that everyone wants to see answered is who is legally responsible for the upkeep of the stadium?
Probably daft question, but presume it’s been sent to Council & Club as well? edit: I should also have added great letter and hopefully everyone involved responds appropriately. A huge opportunity missed if they fail to.
I think this is a superb letter that has been put together , lets hope we get a positive response , however I will not hold my breath.
Not sure about the title. Subjective of course, but as it states the owners of Oakwell, by ending with that and not specifically mentioning the owners of the club (the owners of a club and the club itself are two different sets in my mind, and certainly it feels that way at the moment), it slightly nods towards the issue being of the Council and the Crynes making. The content doesn't lean that way though, and rightly so. Let's hope some sanity, clarity and truth is forthcoming. But sadly, I'm not expectant or hopeful.
Excellent work! I'll wait and see what, if any, the response is, before deciding whether to visit Oakwell again.
We already know that the club are responsible for this. They've communicated this previously when complaining about the cost of it. BFCST have confirmed this previously via their communications on the debt issue and its stated as such in the accounts of Oakwell Community Assets Limited, which is the entity that owns the stadium. Good letter overall from the Trust. It should increase the pressure on them to respond more quickly. However, I doubt that there'll be any meaningful response from them, albeit I'd love to be proved wrong on this.
i seem to remember in the last round of this epic saga that some midlands carpetbagger had thrown a spanner in the works and this stopped C.L. from completing the purchase of the stadium, so whats happened to this wil'o'the wisp ?
Excellent letter. Whether the club fudge their response or not is entirely up to them. If they do not respond fully and transparently then supporters will be entitled to draw such inferences as they feel appropriate. All I would add is that it would also be helpful to supporters if those able to were to publish the wording of the supposed incumberance on title which appears to trouble the majority shareholders, but which clearly did not trouble the Crynes or BMBC. There is no reason why that aspect of the title should be secret - the wider title is a publicly-accessible document.
Fantastic letter. Direct but non aggressive. Puts the ball firmly in their court to either respond with clarity, or ignore it and distance themselves from the fans even further. And considering the fans are their main source of income, the lifeblood of the club, I would hope it prompts a clear and honest response. Great work folks.
well put ben, hope this is the start of getting real answers although i think it will be a smokescreen answer, im a ponty season ticket holder but still stand with everybody else
Does this mean that the Trust have not managed to have any meaningful conversations with all concerned?
Great work. Would be very much appreciated if you bump this thread if you get a response (I won't hold my breath).
Thank you on behalf of many .....well put together a good letter I agree I wouldn't hold out for a pleasant out come In favour of the fans...we only mean anything when it suits him Conway and Co are ruthless in their quest for money and not bothered about history and who they tread on or upset to reach their own selfish goals ....sentiment goes through the window in business all we are to them is another revenue stream they don't care ...they will be 72k + up if all the extra tickets on sale are taken up...in my opinion...also in my opinion the sooner Conway sticks to his word....ie if we are no longer welcome then we fxxk off ..( the sooner the better ).but I doubt he will he appears to have more faces than the town hall clock On another note one idea if we don't get a satisfactoryanswer is....we ought to appeal to visiting supporters to boycott our home games in future ....that will screw up their plan ...admittedly it will be hard work but blackpool finally won through ...
Very well put letter, clearly outlining some of the most immediate concerns of supporters. I will be extremely surprised if there is any genuinely meaningful or conclusive response however.
Great letter and well done for all at the Trust for composing this and stepping up to the plate on this matter for all supporters.
The legal dispute makes it near on impossible to speak to one party, we haven't approached the council yet, but we have been speaking to the club and expect/hope to continue speaking with them and for this letter and these questions to influence the events coming up next week.