Possibly its time to start planning to relocate. Bescot is currently a pointless leash on the club whilst fans can’t attend and the events business is dead. Unless there has been a major rental holiday period put in place or a commercial reduction due to the external limitations imposed on the business occupying it then what exactly are we paying for? Its not like there will be a queue of football clubs demanding to move in if we left is it?
How about sounding out Hednesford’s owners about renting Keys Park? sure we will still be paying rent but I doubt it will be anywhere near the level we currently pay for the pleasure to use our own ground that we have previously paid for over and over again. Maybe the pandemic gives us chance to shake things up a little rather than clinging on to a legacy that we will never own. Relocate to a cheaper option whilst engage properly with the council about the development of a community stadium in Walsall that becomes a shared asset between the club and the council, possibly tapping into regional dev funds to help generate the funds to do it.
Also let’s get something straight here, all we wanted was a decent replacement for Adebayo nothing more. No one is asking that the club invests huge amounts of money are they?
Can anyone remember the club saying that the pandemic would be a leveller for a club like us or did I dream it? I think this is where the issue lies for some because if I do remember correctly, it was said in a positive context meaning we would compete this year. Appreciate it is an evolving situation, but added onto the “well run” club mantra for the last 20 years, it could lead some to think this was an opportunity.
Me, I am not bothered, football has been a chore for a couple of years now, do it mainly for family reasons and habit. This is nothing new since first watching us in the 1988 promotion season. I think I would actually be against a promotion at the moment because the rebuild of this squad for League 1 football would be monumental, and if we haven’t got the money, or a plan, I actually think it would do more harm than good. Sad times.
Personally think the Hednesford idea is a great one. Keys park is football league standard and a tidy little ground if only for the interim. I think this is the way forward.
Doesn’t Pomlett keep going on about us being in a better situation than most of our peers?
I think the frustration that most of us feel, and missed somewhat by Exile et al, is that we’ve gone from being a club with little means, but pride, the ability to punch above our weight, and a knack of finding talent, to one who can no longer compete with the likes of Cheltenham, Cambridge, Crawley, or even Morecambe now.
It just feels like we’re stuck here now for a long time, and the only way out is down, or liquidation.
Sorry mate I think the lad from Lincoln should be a good signing , Wright and Vincent looked decent against Vale , and the other two come with a better pedigree than Adabayo at the same stage , really don’t know what people expect
Both Zak and Elijah were doing well for us but had only been really established for a few months. We would have liked to have kept them but they are by no means the finished articles. Elijah worked like crazy but his presence did dictate the way we played and, when Holden is back, we have the potential to play more football.
Guthrie has gone - apart from his ineffectiveness on the pitch, I do wonder if he was a bad influence all round. And we have some new players with potential rather than has beens.
For me, when I want to put our present existance in context, I just wonder how it is that we are currently in a league below the likes of Crewe, Rochdale, and AFC Wimbledon. The latter of whom came into existance in the bottom tier of non-league football in 2002, and as well as now competing at a higher level than us have just moved into a new stadium 200 yards from their spiritual home. Newport, another club that has gone bump and is now doing better than us, and Accrington - another one!!
How are these clubs able to progress? I think a strong bond with the community/support base derived from the knowledge that everything that goes on behind the scenes is undertaken for the betterment of the football club rather than any individual will have a lot to do with it. Like it or not we will never be able to fully achieve that while Bonser has an involvement, irrespective of the actual financial impact of the rent, that “spiritual” impact is likely a far bigger negative drag on our prospects.
I agree with that, but the abuse of Pomlett and, even more so, the inference that he’s just a front for Bonsor still owning the club is unhelpful. Pomlett had 9 months (?) before the pandemic, i think he deserves more time. And he’s obviously aware of the issue regarding the freehold. I think everyone is. The sooner it’s resolved the better but i understand why it’s on the back-burner. I hope Pomlett sticks around to work towards it.
Leigh needs to take the next step from talking to us more to telling us more. I suspect his hands may be tied by NDAs on the deal that saw him take over.
But I like him and he undoubtedly has a huge WFC heart.
