Stadium Timescale Update - Secretary of State visits Mem.

Twitter:

Sajid Javid MP ‏@sajidjavid 3h

At Bristol Rovers with the brilliant @clesliemp and Chmn Nick Higgs! @official_brfc pic.twitter.com/XITwK8WyjZ

Far too cynical MCC. Chill out my friend you're beginning to sound like a politician.
Our Mr Higgs is not as dumb as many make him out to be. It makes sense to play the maximum damage card to today's audience.

Fair play MCC.i only meant you probably haven't been waiting as long as me. You obviously have.Pre-commencement is always a pre requisite of a build like this. He probably didn't mention it before because we have not been this close before. I think it's about 6 to 8 weeks.

But remember, the starting gun doesn't get fired till Sainsburys pay up. They won't do that till they are sure all appeals are exhausted. At this moment the Carstairs bull hasn't run it's course, although the Sec of State has made it obvious that will go nowhere with his comments.

Until then we are all in limbo, including NH. But it's easier sometimes just to slag off the guy who has got us nearer to what has been my greatest wish for over 40 years. Most anger will disappear once the diggers move in. Until then just ignore the tossers on OTIB.

I will even forgive him our relegation when it happens. You can build a team anytime. We will not get another chance to build a stadium that will secure our future again in my lifetime.

Absolutely mate,we have zero chance of any tangible success without the UWE.thats why I'm sh**ting myself it won't happen.

Agree 100%.

Decrepit shithole ? What was Twerton ? We are being spun the same line about UWE as we did on our return to Bristol. The Mem has been allowed to get into it's current state for a reason. There are many worse grounds but with better teams. None if it makes any sense.

There was a fighting spirit at Twerton. A sense that everyone was in it together. Now that's gone and until we get out of the Mem we will go nowhere.

KP

I too loved Twerton but in a way we never moved on from that era of rag bag rovers. Whilst other clubs stayed with the times commercially and facilities wise (training, scouting, youth etc) and professionalised we remained a club run by a small number of men on a part time and amateur basis.

I really don't feel Geoff and Nick were able to keep with the times. Part of this was financial restraints but also failing to keep up to date with the evolving nature of football.

Its not too late for them but they have to let go of the controls a little and let someone in who can revolutionise the commercial department. From sponsorship to better merchandise and stadium experiences to better non league scouting and links with other clubs. I also feel it was a lost opportunity not building a training facility at Uwe even if initially quite basic with room to improve as money dictates.

In my opinion we spend too much on wages. Our wage budget was over £2m when most clubs in league 2 spend £1m. Some of that could be used to pay for a chief executive and director of football and put some aside for improving match day experiences and scouting etc. better merchandise, match day experiences and sponsorship as well as advertising will increase revenue and pay for better staffing and players long term.

So relegation must be a time to re prioritise our budgets, press the reset button and try new things. Its the 21st century lets run the club that way.

Now that is a fantastic idea you magical bastard. Target driven fan sponsorship. That has some legs.