TAKEOVER *NOT* CONFIMRED

[tmesis]

This. If it gets a deal done, then continuing to pay rent (remember the club pay Dai rent now) is not a big deal esp if the deal is worded along the lines of "Rent will be X for Y years. Club will have the right to purchase the stadium at (set price) at any point up to and including (agreed date)"

If the owners can't afford the stadium now, how will they be able to afford it in 5-10 years? Barring a surge to the premier league, there's no way Reading FC is going to generate those sort of profits.

They might have other sources of income?

They might, but it's not really a 'plan' though. Just wishful thinking.

It'll just leave the club in limbo until it's sorted, able to progress, maybe, but with a very big worry about the future - and seeing a large chunk of cash leave every season.

[MartinRdg]

Anyone who decides to live there can have no complaints

Have you met people? People will complain.

People complain when they move next to a pub or a music venue that is too loud, so they'll happily complain about their nice area being full of "football hooligans" 25 times a year

Like the divots who move into the country next to a church or farm and then get upset and complain when the church bells ring or a cockerel wakes them up at daybreak

Or, as we've had around here, when the farmer decides to spread 'fertilizer' on his field and the wind is blowing this way!

[rabidbee]

If the owners can't afford the stadium now, how will they be able to afford it in 5-10 years? Barring a surge to the premier league, there's no way Reading FC is going to generate those sort of profits.

They might have other sources of income?

They might, but it's not really a 'plan' though. Just wishful thinking.

It'll just leave the club in limbo until it's sorted, able to progress, maybe, but with a very big worry about the future - and seeing a large chunk of cash leave every season.

Unless it is a carefully calculated part of a plan?

[Elm Park Kid]

If he kept the stadium, the rent would surely be negotiated alongside the sale. Any sensible buyer would want to lock in a fair rent for 5-10 years. So whilst it's not the best outcome, it would not be the disaster some fear.

This. If it gets a deal done, then continuing to pay rent (remember the club pay Dai rent now) is not a big deal esp if the deal is worded along the lines of "Rent will be X for Y years. Club will have the right to purchase the stadium at (set price) at any point up to and including (agreed date)"

If the owners can't afford the stadium now, how will they be able to afford it in 5-10 years? Barring a surge to the premier league, there's no way Reading FC is going to generate those sort of profits.

It may be the case that the new owners think that Dai is valuing the stadium too high and are willing to gamble that he will come down in price over the next few years (especially if he gets desperate). Or, they might be able to explore other options and move away from the SCL.

Another possibility is that the value of the club might increase enough that they would be able to borrow against it to finance the stadium purchase. Right now Reading FC (without the stadium) is probably worth basically whatever Bearwood is worth - ie, the football club itself is worthless. But, back in the Championship with costs under control the club itself might have a value in the £10-15m range again.

[Snowflake Royal]

This. If it gets a deal done, then continuing to pay rent (remember the club pay Dai rent now) is not a big deal esp if the deal is worded along the lines of "Rent will be X for Y years. Club will have the right to purchase the stadium at (set price) at any point up to and including (agreed date)"

If the owners can't afford the stadium now, how will they be able to afford it in 5-10 years? Barring a surge to the premier league, there's no way Reading FC is going to generate those sort of profits.

They might have other sources of income?

Or other investors.

[72 bus]

I think that's right from what was in the Chronicle. Saw some plans for "Royal Elm Park" which covers all of the current car park. There is a multi-story car park included in the development that will be used on match days. The residents will love that.

Anyone who decides to live there can have no complaints

This is assuming the car park will be available, to any worthwhile degree, to fans.

When the Royal Elm Park thing was first on the table, Nigel Howe's message to the fans worried about parking was pretty much "Tough. You have to find somewhere else to park, or use public transport"

Work has already started on Royal Elm Park, the plan is the multi story will be used for football fans on match days, nothing has been said where the residents will park on Saturdays and Tuesdays.
The plan is for the local football busses to do two trips, so you get there hours before kickoff or just before depending on which bus you get.
Imagine 600+ cars getting out of a single lane multi story after the game.

[From Despair To Where?]

Anyone who decides to live there can have no complaints

This is assuming the car park will be available, to any worthwhile degree, to fans.

When the Royal Elm Park thing was first on the table, Nigel Howe's message to the fans worried about parking was pretty much "Tough. You have to find somewhere else to park, or use public transport"

Work has already started on Royal Elm Park, the plan is the multi story will be used for football fans on match days, nothing has been said where the residents will park on Saturdays and Tuesdays.
The plan is for the local football busses to do two trips, so you get there hours before kickoff or just before depending on which bus you get.
Imagine 600+ cars getting out of a single lane multi story after the game.

Anyone who's been to Wembley can

[tmesis]

The plan is for the local football busses to do two trips, so you get there hours before kickoff or just before depending on which bus you get.

The problem is that few will want to get there that early, and virtually nobody will want to wait for the second trip back after the game.

I use the Foster Wheeler P&R, because it's pretty convenient for me, coming from Bracknell, but for those that do use the club car park, it's going to be a real pain.

[Winston Biscuit]

Just flatten it all and get on with building the Biscuit Tin Megadome somewhere dayn tayn

[Clyde1998]

Just flatten it all and get on with building the Biscuit Tin Megadome somewhere dayn tayn

The Festival site would be perfect - we could charge rent for some of it to be hosted in our new ground. Would be just over a mile from Reading Station and just under a mile from Reading West. There's probably enough land to put our new training ground on the site too, in addition to the new club owned facilities (hotel, restaurant, exhibition hall, indoor arena, flats and heliport).

[tmesis]

Just flatten it all and get on with building the Biscuit Tin Megadome somewhere dayn tayn

Sadly my plan to buy up the buildings around the cattle market and build a new stadium there was foiled by my Euromillions ticket not winning.

[RoyalBlue]

Just flatten it all and get on with building the Biscuit Tin Megadome somewhere dayn tayn

The Festival site would be perfect - we could charge rent for some of it to be hosted in our new ground. Would be just over a mile from Reading Station and just under a mile from Reading West. There's probably enough land to put our new training ground on the site too, in addition to the new club owned facilities (hotel, restaurant, exhibition hall, indoor arena, flats and heliport).

Maybe even put on a boat show there when the Thames floods!

[Clyde1998]

Just flatten it all and get on with building the Biscuit Tin Megadome somewhere dayn tayn

The Festival site would be perfect - we could charge rent for some of it to be hosted in our new ground. Would be just over a mile from Reading Station and just under a mile from Reading West. There's probably enough land to put our new training ground on the site too, in addition to the new club owned facilities (hotel, restaurant, exhibition hall, indoor arena, flats and heliport).

Maybe even put on a boat show there when the Thames floods!

That would go along perfectly with scuba diving tours of the Thames! It's all starting to come together like bricks and jelly.

[blythspartan]

This is assuming the car park will be available, to any worthwhile degree, to fans.

When the Royal Elm Park thing was first on the table, Nigel Howe's message to the fans worried about parking was pretty much "Tough. You have to find somewhere else to park, or use public transport"

Work has already started on Royal Elm Park, the plan is the multi story will be used for football fans on match days, nothing has been said where the residents will park on Saturdays and Tuesdays.
The plan is for the local football busses to do two trips, so you get there hours before kickoff or just before depending on which bus you get.
Imagine 600+ cars getting out of a single lane multi story after the game.

Anyone who's been to Wembley can

Or the IKEA in Calcot at times.

[Armadillo Roadkill]

Just flatten it all and get on with building the Biscuit Tin Megadome somewhere dayn tayn

Sadly my plan to buy up the buildings around the cattle market and build a new stadium there was foiled by my Euromillions ticket not winning.

That would be a perfect location. Even better with a roller disco built in as well.

[WestYorksRoyal]

STAR Howe meeting update:

STAR -Nigel Howe Meeting Update:
Sale moving in the right direction Nearer to exclusivity but not there yet. Mr Dai has been presented with all offers and feels positive about at least one of them. Nigel working hard to ensure that any successful bidder can not only buy the club but fund it properly going forward. All in all a positive update!

Skepticism is understandable given Dai's record, but at face value good news.

[Stranded]

STAR Howe meeting update:

STAR -Nigel Howe Meeting Update:
Sale moving in the right direction Nearer to exclusivity but not there yet. Mr Dai has been presented with all offers and feels positive about at least one of them. Nigel working hard to ensure that any successful bidder can not only buy the club but fund it properly going forward. All in all a positive update!

Skepticism is understandable given Dai's record, but at face value good news.

Yep, take it with a pinch of salt until we at least get to exclusivity but on the face of it a positive update. Which makes a pleasant change as normally after a decent win, something bad happens.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Seems much more tightly managed than in the autumn. No leaks about involved bidders, communication coming through official channels. A sign that more serious people are involved in the sale process this time?

[themwasthedays]

Someone's been telling you Storeys.

Noone can be trusted right now

Peter ?

Peter! Is that Johnny reggae?

[Forbury Lion]

If the new owners have a good credit score they may be able to borrow £20m against the stadium as a mortgage of sorts, that can then offset £20m of the purchase cost with the club paying off the mortgage each month, possibly a better long term option than just paying rent to the current owner, if cashflow permits this.

Might also have to keep the stadium in a separate company to avoid the loss making football club making it a less attractive lending proposition to the banks.

Same method could be used for the training ground.

Priority for new owners would be a plan to make the club sustainable, whether that's selling home grown players each season to plug the gap or finding new ways to make cash.