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Post by Topper Gas on Mar 29, 2018 14:58:46 GMT
Hi Knowall, Are you aware of the change in plans to the training ground development (scaling back) as I mentioned in my post ? Why can Norwich City (ex-Premier League) a bigger club than us still welcome ordinary supporters and sponsors to help the club build the training ground they feel they need ? It doesn't seem our professionals have the money to build what they originally said they were going to do SO perhaps, just like Norwich City supporters US Bristol Rovers supporters can generate the funding to build something the club desperately needs - a training ground for all levels of football at BRFC ? Of course, I don't know what the club will say. I don't don't if they are aware of the Norwich initiative ? But I'm going to attempt to engage with them otherwise ................. the training ground will be .....unfinished. The Development squad, Youth Team and Academy will lose players to other clubs. It may also persuade DC and other staff to move to other clubs like Norwich City and Bristol City who are moving forward MUCH more quickly than us. Everyone was very excited when we bought The Colony but the latest developments are depressing with regards to what they are going to do and the speed of activity, does not everyone think this ? Why not do a Rich and dream a bit for something groundbreaking !!? Have the owners actually said they could not afford to build the full training/academy camp ?
Or have they decided that they want to start work on the Colony as soon as possible. That as there is no new stadium at present with the income streams that will bring it the funds it needs to run everyday. That it might put the club in peril should a stadium not get the go ahead for some years but the need to finance the mega Colony be there. That the costs in the short term were not a wise investment at this time for the short term returns.
Do the owners actually us anything of note? If they shared their vision of the future with us then perhaps 75% of the threads/posts on here wouldn't be discussing them amongst ourselves? The comments by SH that the owners were shocked we take so much interest in how the club's run just show out of touch they are with the modern day football fan.
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Post by stevethepirate on Mar 29, 2018 15:31:57 GMT
All I know is that we no longer appear on the match programme. No 12 Gashead is missing. Is this an indication of how they really feel about us?
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Post by Hugo the Elder on Mar 29, 2018 15:37:27 GMT
Have the owners actually said they could not afford to build the full training/academy camp ?
Or have they decided that they want to start work on the Colony as soon as possible. That as there is no new stadium at present with the income streams that will bring it the funds it needs to run everyday. That it might put the club in peril should a stadium not get the go ahead for some years but the need to finance the mega Colony be there. That the costs in the short term were not a wise investment at this time for the short term returns.
Do the owners actually us anything of note? If they shared their vision of the future with us then perhaps 75% of the threads/posts on here wouldn't be discussing them amongst ourselves? The comments by SH that the owners were shocked we take so much interest in how the club's run just show out of touch they are with the modern day football fan. Or it shows how backwards we are. Given that every other club is 30yrs ahead of us maybe modern fans are used to not being involved in club affairs. It's also worth mentioning that the owners have been told over and over again that we want to be involved and engaged in our club. The whole "we just don't understand why people are so interested" excuse is wearing thin. It's starting to feel like they know full well we are desperate for information but are deliberately ignoring us.
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Post by Hugo the Elder on Mar 29, 2018 15:38:28 GMT
All I know is that we no longer appear on the match programme. No 12 Gashead is missing. Is this an indication of how they really feel about us? Wow, I had not noticed that.
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Post by gashead1981 on Mar 29, 2018 16:40:24 GMT
Hi Knowall, Are you aware of the change in plans to the training ground development (scaling back) as I mentioned in my post ? Why can Norwich City (ex-Premier League) a bigger club than us still welcome ordinary supporters and sponsors to help the club build the training ground they feel they need ? It doesn't seem our professionals have the money to build what they originally said they were going to do SO perhaps, just like Norwich City supporters US Bristol Rovers supporters can generate the funding to build something the club desperately needs - a training ground for all levels of football at BRFC ? Of course, I don't know what the club will say. I don't don't if they are aware of the Norwich initiative ? But I'm going to attempt to engage with them otherwise ................. the training ground will be .....unfinished. The Development squad, Youth Team and Academy will lose players to other clubs. It may also persuade DC and other staff to move to other clubs like Norwich City and Bristol City who are moving forward MUCH more quickly than us. Everyone was very excited when we bought The Colony but the latest developments are depressing with regards to what they are going to do and the speed of activity, does not everyone think this ? Why not do a Rich and dream a bit for something groundbreaking !!? Have the owners actually said they could not afford to build the full training/academy camp ?
Or have they decided that they want to start work on the Colony as soon as possible. That as there is no new stadium at present with the income streams that will bring it the funds it needs to run everyday. That it might put the club in peril should a stadium not get the go ahead for some years but the need to finance the mega Colony be there. That the costs in the short term were not a wise investment at this time for the short term returns.
Well it’s gone from a Cat B and looking at Fleetwoods training ground as a model with multiple pitches and state of the art facilities to 4 pitches and no more than general clubhouse and changing rooms with offices as Hamer said in his interview with 20man some months ago. It’s certainly scaled down. Where the colony is though is a great catchment to Bradley stoke almondsbury and thornbury. Some of the 4g pitches could be hired out. You could run pro 5 tournaments, there would be options to make it very viable.
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Post by pucklegas on Mar 29, 2018 16:56:14 GMT
Good idea however we have investment Bankers as our owners, was part of the share scheme when we were skint but surely not required now. Although I thought I saw Hani down Bear pit selling “Big issue” 😂
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Post by Topper Gas on Mar 29, 2018 17:26:53 GMT
Good idea however we have investment Bankers as our owners, was part of the share scheme when we were skint but surely not required now. Although I thought I saw Hani down Bear pit selling “Big issue” 😂 I doubt Norwich are "skint" either though?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2018 18:01:50 GMT
Hi Knowall, Are you aware of the change in plans to the training ground development (scaling back) as I mentioned in my post ? Why can Norwich City (ex-Premier League) a bigger club than us still welcome ordinary supporters and sponsors to help the club build the training ground they feel they need ? It doesn't seem our professionals have the money to build what they originally said they were going to do SO perhaps, just like Norwich City supporters US Bristol Rovers supporters can generate the funding to build something the club desperately needs - a training ground for all levels of football at BRFC ? Of course, I don't know what the club will say. I don't don't if they are aware of the Norwich initiative ? But I'm going to attempt to engage with them otherwise ................. the training ground will be .....unfinished. The Development squad, Youth Team and Academy will lose players to other clubs. It may also persuade DC and other staff to move to other clubs like Norwich City and Bristol City who are moving forward MUCH more quickly than us. Everyone was very excited when we bought The Colony but the latest developments are depressing with regards to what they are going to do and the speed of activity, does not everyone think this ? Why not do a Rich and dream a bit for something groundbreaking !!? I assume being a Knowall he's fully aware of the exact plans for the plot of land? As far as contributing towards the development costs if the ALQ's can, for arguments sake, only fund a £1m development why would they turn down the chance to make it a £2m development? Although at the present time it's a £1,002,000 development! The money will not be a donation so i suspect they are sceptical of what they have to give up in return for the investment. The noises coming out of the club and the resigation of a fans representative suggests that this is Dwane Sports party and no-one else is invited or wanted. I have no idea why they are so insular. A cultural thing maybe?
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Post by dinsdale on Mar 29, 2018 18:06:50 GMT
Im very sceptical at whats going on at the club, probably far too sceptical. I havent seen a decent owner at the club in my lifetime really. Sorry meone who wants to invest decent moneu but also run the club properly.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2018 18:15:23 GMT
Have the owners actually said they could not afford to build the full training/academy camp ?
Or have they decided that they want to start work on the Colony as soon as possible. That as there is no new stadium at present with the income streams that will bring it the funds it needs to run everyday. That it might put the club in peril should a stadium not get the go ahead for some years but the need to finance the mega Colony be there. That the costs in the short term were not a wise investment at this time for the short term returns.
Do the owners actually us anything of note? If they shared their vision of the future with us then perhaps 75% of the threads/posts on here wouldn't be discussing them amongst ourselves? The comments by SH that the owners were shocked we take so much interest in how the club's run just show out of touch they are with the modern day football fan. Exactly, considering Wael is a football fan it shows a real lack of empathy with the waay a fan cares about how their club is run. It strikes a double standard of sorts that he goes ojt of his way to be over familiar with fans (goes in the away end, disco dancing etc) and yet the expectation is that we will pay our money at the turnstiles and keep our distance in ever other sense. They want fan involvement when they feel like it but that isnt how it works
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Post by Kingswood Polak on Mar 29, 2018 18:34:17 GMT
Hello Gasheads, I thought this idea deserved a thread of its own. That is to support the club and raise finances in order that we can help build and develop a training ground for the 21st century as per the original plans for a Category 2 training facility the club announced on purchasing the land, which was to house pitches and other facilities for The First Team, Development Squad and The Academy Set Up.Please read this link below which Norwich City supporters and investors ( only 700 of them were able to achieve this) have recently managed to do to help their beloved club prosper : www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43555702I am writing to you to ask you to come on board this initial plan, by agreeing to sign a letter (which I have already prepared and wish soon to send to Steve Hamer) in support and later to pledge a large amount of money - 500 pounds (or an agreed similar amount decided with the club that may well differ a little after calculations have been made to raise the desired funds). The latest news, if you remember, was that the club announced that they were going to scale back massively the development of The Colony (and not as described above) and could only guarantee training facilities for the first team (the earliest date being Summer 2019). The current situation is that planning permission proposals would be sent off by the club for acceptance in around 7 to 8 weeks. I'm sure you all agree that progress has been painfully slow on this matter and that the news that the latest application from the club indicates that they are not going to pursue building something which could enable the club to achieve Category 2 status. So we can probably assume that the club is lacking the financial resources to do so. Therefore, WE could possibly help to generate the funds by being part of my/our initiative which would enable our beloved club to have the first rate training facilities this club so badly needs and deserves. If you are interested in backing the initiative and like me feel you could pledge around 500 quid to raise funds if the club wishes to support a similar scheme to Norwich City's please PM me and supply your full name ( First and surname), so I can add it to the end of the letter. I intend to send it off to the club in the next week or two. Thanks Mark Czekalski (a supporter since 1973) p.s. This is a POSITIVE initiative to help our club ! We may be rebuffed ( I don't really know why) with this initiative, but it MAY lead to something exciting and rewarding for the benefit of everyone who supports Bristol Rovers Supporters Club. Nothing lose as they say but potentially a lot to gain. p.p.s. I'm looking for support not loads of different suggestions or criticism at this stage Cheers Gasheads !! Mark, i think it’s brave but others have tried to invest and been knocked back. I wish you all the best mate
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Post by markczgas on Mar 29, 2018 20:18:06 GMT
KP it's open to every Gashead - It's about engaging with the club and saying we want to help/contribute to better BRFC.
I am going to write to them with reference to Norwich City's plan - it would look a lot more impressive if there was a long list of Gasheads at the bottom of the letter who are willing to and able to contribute money to get this training ground up and running so it looks first class one and not another Ragbag Rovers thing !
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Post by markczgas on Mar 29, 2018 20:26:42 GMT
Hi Knowall, Are you aware of the change in plans to the training ground development (scaling back) as I mentioned in my post ? Why can Norwich City (ex-Premier League) a bigger club than us still welcome ordinary supporters and sponsors to help the club build the training ground they feel they need ? It doesn't seem our professionals have the money to build what they originally said they were going to do SO perhaps, just like Norwich City supporters US Bristol Rovers supporters can generate the funding to build something the club desperately needs - a training ground for all levels of football at BRFC ? Of course, I don't know what the club will say. I don't don't if they are aware of the Norwich initiative ? But I'm going to attempt to engage with them otherwise ................. the training ground will be .....unfinished. The Development squad, Youth Team and Academy will lose players to other clubs. It may also persuade DC and other staff to move to other clubs like Norwich City and Bristol City who are moving forward MUCH more quickly than us. Everyone was very excited when we bought The Colony but the latest developments are depressing with regards to what they are going to do and the speed of activity, does not everyone think this ? Why not do a Rich and dream a bit for something groundbreaking !!? Have the owners actually said they could not afford to build the full training/academy camp ?
Or have they decided that they want to start work on the Colony as soon as possible. That as there is no new stadium at present with the income streams that will bring it the funds it needs to run everyday. That it might put the club in peril should a stadium not get the go ahead for some years but the need to finance the mega Colony be there. That the costs in the short term were not a wise investment at this time for the short term returns.
From what Steve Hamer has said on Twentyman interview they have definitely scaled back the whole plan ( why ? nobody knows) and evidence since then suggests that things are moving very slowly - it looks like the earliest any ground/pitch preparation would be (after planning permission acceptance - hasn't even been sent in yet) by a simple calculation/deduction in the Autumn/Winter perhaps even later. apparently a couple of pitches (max) would be ready in summer of 2019. So the club is going to carry on renting pitches /facilities for the Dev squad, U18s and The Academy - financially this is costing a lot.
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Post by Hugo the Elder on Mar 29, 2018 20:36:00 GMT
£500 is an alienatingly high amount. £50 or £100 and you may have more people interested. Hi Hugo, I used 500 quid as a guide because that's how much Norwich supporters paid as a minimum. In principle, it would all depend on what amount of money would need to be raised of course and how many individuals got involved. Perhaps you would back my proposal in principle - after all you know me too I think it's a very laudable effort but in all honesty I don't personally have the funds to give any more money to the club than I already do. I do feel that it may be worth a quick email to Steve Hamer just to find out if lack of funds to build is the reason for scaling back or if it's down to running costs once built as that will make a big difference. Your basic premise that we can't afford it is based on assumption.
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Post by markczgas on Mar 29, 2018 21:27:13 GMT
Hi Hugo, I used 500 quid as a guide because that's how much Norwich supporters paid as a minimum. In principle, it would all depend on what amount of money would need to be raised of course and how many individuals got involved. Perhaps you would back my proposal in principle - after all you know me too I think it's a very laudable effort but in all honesty I don't personally have the funds to give any more money to the club than I already do. I do feel that it may be worth a quick email to Steve Hamer just to find out if lack of funds to build is the reason for scaling back or if it's down to running costs once built as that will make a big difference. Your basic premise that we can't afford it is based on assumption. Is Wael and co richer than Norwich City FC ? Has anything happened since the land was bought ? How long ago was it bought ? It doesn't suggest at all that enough funds are there. Would running costs be high ? A groundsman or two, cleaning and security ?
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Post by markczgas on Mar 29, 2018 21:30:23 GMT
Good idea however we have investment Bankers as our owners, was part of the share scheme when we were skint but surely not required now. Although I thought I saw Hani down Bear pit selling “Big issue” 😂 Hi Pucklegas, Norwich City are far richer than us, don't you think ? and yet they engaged with supporters and are pushing on to deliver according to their aspirations. We have land but nothing is happening ??
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Post by stuart1974 on Mar 29, 2018 22:00:42 GMT
Have the owners actually said they could not afford to build the full training/academy camp ?
Or have they decided that they want to start work on the Colony as soon as possible. That as there is no new stadium at present with the income streams that will bring it the funds it needs to run everyday. That it might put the club in peril should a stadium not get the go ahead for some years but the need to finance the mega Colony be there. That the costs in the short term were not a wise investment at this time for the short term returns.
Well it’s gone from a Cat B and looking at Fleetwoods training ground as a model with multiple pitches and state of the art facilities to 4 pitches and no more than general clubhouse and changing rooms with offices as Hamer said in his interview with 20man some months ago. It’s certainly scaled down. Where the colony is though is a great catchment to Bradley stoke almondsbury and thornbury. Some of the 4g pitches could be hired out. You could run pro 5 tournaments, there would be options to make it very viable. From memory it was never going to be a Cat 2 academy straight away, I recall it being initially Cat 3 with an aspiration to be upgraded to Cat 2 over time. Also the difference isn't just facilities such as indoor and all weather pitches it is funding and coach to player ratio. Something we can (and already have to a lesser degree) improve whilst renting facilities elsewhere. As far as the club house goes, I haven't seen the plans so cannot comment on whether it is a basic standard or not, but from what SH has said it isn't far off what City are trying to build in Failand, thst is 4 pitches and a clubhouse (plus they want 500 seats). Plans should be out inside two months so hopefully we can have a better idea.
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Post by markczgas on Mar 30, 2018 9:05:07 GMT
Just a reminder folks:
If you are interested in backing the initiative and like me feel you could pledge around 500 quid to raise funds if the club wishes to support a similar scheme to Norwich City's please PM me and supply your full name ( First and surname), so I can add it to the end of the letter. I intend to send it off to the club next week.
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Post by knowall on Mar 30, 2018 10:40:30 GMT
The history of 'our' Club is one of being run by amateurs with the support of local business and others. We are now in a different era where the main people are professionals at what they do and being paid accordingly. That is not a case of shutting people out but plain fact. As someone who has apparently embraced the policy of supporting through your business, perhaps this will give you a different opportunity and any spend you make towards the Football Club could give you and your business a reward rather than an expense. Looking across to the other side of Bristol they have not relied on local business for quite some time and the business who do support do so to enhance their own business, staff, and customers. My advice to everyone is to sit back and enjoy the ride and let the professionals do their job. If they fail, as many who post on this forum seem to want, then business like yours will be needed as never before but if they succeed, as I hope they do, then we will all gain. You keep throwing this up Knowall about our history and owners etc etc and how they were amateurs etc but that is kind of insulting to all with previous at BRFC. Our previous directors were businessman and good ones at that, multi millionaires with more financial clout than this forum put together, regardless of your opinion of the personalities behind the fortunes, they were proper businessman who earned the money honestly, that doesnt make them daft or amateurish in the slightest, the Dunfords were millionaires a good few times over from multiple businesses, Geoff especially was an incredibly shrewed businessman. Higgs sold Cowlin for £52m to Balfour Beatty no less and was a millionaire a good few times over before that happened. That doesnt happen by chance, but good business practice, so it is insulting to their achievements to call them amateur. Ah, but they never had experience of running a football club some crow! Well that is true, but neither have the Al'qadi's. They just have a higher net worth, meaning that they can do more with their wealth than the previous board, should they choose to. But like I said earlier, that high net worth status won't guarantee a greater commercial opportunity from a commercial or retail brand than before. Look at the club and the stadium around it and then compare it to other teams in L1. Its a limited commercial opportunity which would garner little interest for a big national company. A established local company like Dribuild or Poplar Insulations is the kind of companies that would be interested. Why do you think football clubs sell naming rights to stadiums? Because grounds become known as the Emirates, the Amex etc etc. You say the brand name to identify. But to maximise you would have to be in a position where that gets weekly TV coverage or internet exposure. Your perception is we are more professional but on what basis are you saying it is, because we have more staff doing more than ever before, paid for by someone who can afford it? That doesnt make us extra professional. Why couldn't we lay a proper pitch and get enough kit for the open day? Would I class Steve Hamer as a very experienced football professional? Not really, he left Swansea 16 years previously and had little to do with running a club since. Tom Gorringe had 2 years previous at Brighton, and is Hamer's sons best mate..all the previous directors the ALQ's bought in left or resigned inside a year. Martin Starnes is the first experienced football board level appointment they have made. So it isn't as if we have poached people from the Championship or Premier League to drive us up. Having said all of that I do think we are in better shape than we have ever been, providing the ALQ's will continue to support it. The reason I sponsor the club, and not to sound too "look at me" about it is because I can afford it and its another way of supporting the club on top of my season tickets and other hospitality packages I have, to date, there is no other reward/spend available at BRFC. Its nothing to do with embracing a business decision at all, in fact, in terms of spend verses return, it would be a poor decision and I am sure Bob at AB Power would say the same. Bristol City have always been supported by local business. They always have had and continue to be! DAS insurance, Lancer Scott, Dribuild, Poplar, Hirerite, Sanderson, Arthur J Gallagher, Thatchers, Wessex Garages - just to name a few, and all of these are locally based businesses. I have had 3 cold calls from Bristol Sport in the last year asking for meetings with me regards sponsorship, so its something they definitely target. Their rate card is massive too, but they can charge that because of the facility, league status, rugby games and corporate gigs they can offer. It pains me to say it but it is a much better venue. No one wants the ALQ's to fail, but BRFC is still a community club and the board need to do more to engage with fans. Unfortunately, you have read into my post things which I have not said. Firstly, I do not insult those that have gone before, most I have been pleased to call my friends. And amateur in my book does not mean not as good, it means a secondary occupation. They have all given their limited time to the cause. But even Geoff Dunford who was at the helm longer than most, whilst being a first-class entrepreneur was not a professional football person before everything else. And the first thing he did when purchasing the Mem was to appoint a professional caterer to the stadium. A friend of mine who owned Sunderland FC once told me 'No matter how good a businessman when you own a football club your business acumen goes out the window and you do things you would never do in your business'. That is why professional football people are needed. Incidentally, you accuse me of insulting some, can I remind you about your comments re: Steve Hamer and Tom Gorringe? Both have served an apprenticeship in football management/affairs. Chat to Tom about his career so far, which is longer than you suggest, you will find it interesting. And then you concede we are in better shape than we have ever been, I wonder why that is? Could it be to do with professional football people?? I did not say do not support the Club financially - I said 'perhaps this will give you a different opportunity' - meaning why not, for instance, why not support the Academy in a different way, rather than infrastructure, there are other needs, as the Supporters and President's Clubs do. Those that sponsor personally or through a business deserve massive thanks, and if that is you, good on you. Regarding the support given to Bristol City by their Sponsors (I would call them advertisers) it is not given on the basis of telling the Club what to allocate the money for which is what the premise of this thread is all about.
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Post by knowall on Mar 30, 2018 10:47:34 GMT
The history of 'our' Club is one of being run by amateurs with the support of local business and others. We are now in a different era where the main people are professionals at what they do and being paid accordingly. That is not a case of shutting people out but plain fact. As someone who has apparently embraced the policy of supporting through your business, perhaps this will give you a different opportunity and any spend you make towards the Football Club could give you and your business a reward rather than an expense. Looking across to the other side of Bristol they have not relied on local business for quite some time and the business who do support do so to enhance their own business, staff, and customers. My advice to everyone is to sit back and enjoy the ride and let the professionals do their job. If they fail, as many who post on this forum seem to want, then business like yours will be needed as never before but if they succeed, as I hope they do, then we will all gain. Hi Knowall, Are you aware of the change in plans to the training ground development (scaling back) as I mentioned in my post ? Why can Norwich City (ex-Premier League) a bigger club than us still welcome ordinary supporters and sponsors to help the club build the training ground they feel they need ? It doesn't seem our professionals have the money to build what they originally said they were going to do SO perhaps, just like Norwich City supporters US Bristol Rovers supporters can generate the funding to build something the club desperately needs - a training ground for all levels of football at BRFC ? Of course, I don't know what the club will say. I don't don't if they are aware of the Norwich initiative ? But I'm going to attempt to engage with them otherwise ................. the training ground will be .....unfinished. The Development squad, Youth Team and Academy will lose players to other clubs. It may also persuade DC and other staff to move to other clubs like Norwich City and Bristol City who are moving forward MUCH more quickly than us. Everyone was very excited when we bought The Colony but the latest developments are depressing with regards to what they are going to do and the speed of activity, does not everyone think this ? Why not do a Rich and dream a bit for something groundbreaking !!? I say, if you only need a transit why would you buy a Rolls-Royce? - perhaps that is the reason behind the BODs decision - which by the way - is not public yet you might be jumping the gun? The Rolls-Royce comes when you really do need it.
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