Gloucester Park - is it all over?

[jl]

According to a couple of local rags Stadia have pulled out of the GP project, so i suppose it's now a completely dead duck from a BTFC point of view? Any one know the scoop?

[Alice]

This is somewhat of a guess but I would imagine the following is close to the actual scenario.

 

Billericay Stadia is (was) a company formed jointly between BTFC Ltd and Stadia Management Ltd. This company would not have had any significant asset base, but was more or less a shell which would have pursued the project if plans had been approved. However, before the final planning decision was made, Stadia Management effectively went bust. They would have been the driving force behind Billericay Stadia Ltd and once they were out of the equation noone followed up the requirements for the Company to file returns etc.

 

As has been said before, this whole scheme was either mad or deceitful. There was never going to be any way BTFC were going to play in a multi million pound, 4000 seater, stadium. I can only guess that Stadia Management had other ideas as to the ultimate use for the stadium; ideas they were keeping up their sleeves until much later.

 

Now, Stadia Management is out of the issue, but an earlier planning application is as yet unresolved. The big question is "Who made that application?" Was it BTFC or Billericay Stadia Limited. I'm guessing it was BTFC.

 

So, Steve Kent comes in; he resolves that BTFC will continue to play at New Lodge, but has the issue of what to do about the prior planning application. He realises that the chances of any sort of project ultimately happening are slim, but if it did get approved it could be very valuable. So he decides it's worth letting the application go ahead, but not to spend any more dough supporting it. This way it's no lose; if the application is rejected he won't have wasted more money in its pursuit, but if it's approved he might find away to leverage it to substantial financial advantage.

 

This plan is eminently sensible and it makes good business sense. Steve Kent has given BTFC supporters what they wanted ie an assurance that New Lodge will continue to be the club's home. More than this, he has invested shed loads of money, both on and off the pitch. If the unlikely occurs and he does ultimately make money out of Gloucster Park, good luck to him. There is every chance that in those circumstances he will invest even more money in BTFC, and even if doesn't he will still have been a lifesaver.

 

Make no mistake, under the previous administration Billericay Town FC was effectively bankrupt and on the verge of going out of business. The club was at its lowest point possible and now Steve Kent has totally reversed that situation and put the Club in a stronger financial position than it has ever known. The only slight concern is that some of the prior management's "hangers on" ie people who were looking to profit from the deal are still around. Steve Kent would do well to watch them carefully.

 

Alice

[Alice]

It seems from the local paper that the planning application has been formally withdrawn. Silly of me to doubt that a 4000 seater stadium would be too rich for the BTFC first team....it was the ladies and youth teams that would have played there!!

 

As I said before, either mad or deceitful.... an accurate reflection of the previous hierarchy.

[The Town Crier]

Mad or Deceitful ?

 

Neither...the project came about because it was beleived by some, to be the right thing to do for BTFC. Of course their may have been to odd One or Two who thought they could profit, but, the decision was made (rightly or wrongly)for the benifit of the Club.

 

You must understand that BTFC was suffering financially, and was under a lot of pressure.

It would have been easy for Rod to walk away, there were enough people suggesting he do just that.

But then what? ....yeh people saying, face's in the shadows waiting to step in, or anything is better than this.

 

But the fact is, no one did step in, the only people supplying the club with money, was the previous hierarchy. They did what they beleived was right at the time. And they continued to do what they believed was right.

Under pressure, Gloucester park looked like the ONLY answer.

But when a better option for BTFC came along, the Board (again) did what they believed was right for BTFC, they steped aside.

 

Mad...no, it was the only option available, other than lock the gates.

Deceitful....no, they could have been....but they wern,t. They did what was right for the Club.

 

So don't gloat Alice, your post is NOT an acurate refection of the previous hierarchy.

 

It is a loss to BTFC that the development at Gloucester park is not going ahead.

The income and facilities that would have been available could have taken us to another dimension.

 

Surely BTFC is more important than any beef you may have with certain people??

 

Move on...this is a positive club now!