Back to darlo?? On/off???

Open now for discussion of all things Darlo!

Moderators: mikkyx, uncovered

Post Reply
1981quaker
Posts: 3
Joined: Sat Sep 12, 2015 9:40 pm
Team Supported: Darlington

Back to darlo?? On/off???

Post by 1981quaker » Mon Sep 14, 2015 10:42 am

It's all very quiet??? Here's hoping for some news over the coming weeks.

User avatar
theoriginalfatcat
Posts: 6718
Joined: Wed Jul 15, 2009 7:40 pm
Team Supported: Darlington

Re: Back to darlo?? On/off???

Post by theoriginalfatcat » Mon Sep 14, 2015 10:48 am

Yes, it is very quiet - if the American military machine was involved in these talks they would of had the ground bombed to pieces and taken over weeks ago.

I wonder what's taking the time ?
Profile pic ↗️
Feethams the Panda. 28 Jan 2012.
Now extinct!

shawry
Posts: 2600
Joined: Sat Jul 11, 2009 4:55 pm
Team Supported: Darlington

Re: Back to darlo?? On/off???

Post by shawry » Mon Sep 14, 2015 10:55 am

theoriginalfatcat wrote:Yes, it is very quiet - if the American military machine was involved in these talks they would of had the ground bombed to pieces and taken over weeks ago.

I wonder what's taking the time ?
Which is why others prefer the UK way of doing things, as when we take over we try to make sure its usable ;)

onewayup
Posts: 2851
Joined: Fri Jul 31, 2009 6:02 pm
Team Supported: Darlington

Re: Back to darlo?? On/off???

Post by onewayup » Mon Sep 14, 2015 11:20 am

When there is something positive to say about the move I,m sure that the board will let everyone know,better to have positive information,than have misinformation through speculation.there are ongoing talks we need know nothing until it comes fruition.my opinion anyway.

shawry
Posts: 2600
Joined: Sat Jul 11, 2009 4:55 pm
Team Supported: Darlington

Re: Back to darlo?? On/off???

Post by shawry » Mon Sep 14, 2015 12:24 pm

onewayup wrote:When there is something difinitive to say about the move I,m sure that the board will let everyone know,better to have difinitive information,than have misinformation through speculation.there are ongoing talks we need know nothing until it comes fruition.my opinion anyway.
Have amended and bolded, while positive information would be ideal, Id settle for knowing the facts as and when they become available.

I think the problem is we were fairly confident of some work having started by now as everything we heard was geared towards trying to kick off the season at BM. At this point Id rather we get things exactly right for both clubs and kick off next season at BM - and if we are still in negotiations which stop that happening at that stage, then Id walk away as its clearly not going to happen.

onewayup
Posts: 2851
Joined: Fri Jul 31, 2009 6:02 pm
Team Supported: Darlington

Re: Back to darlo?? On/off???

Post by onewayup » Tue Sep 15, 2015 9:21 am

Shawry, untill there is a definitive answer lets all stay positive. We must believe it is still possible untill the board say different.keep the faith onwards and upwards com,on darlo.

tezza
Posts: 1005
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2011 10:25 am
Team Supported: Darlington
Location: Darlington
Contact:

Re: Back to darlo?? On/off???

Post by tezza » Wed Sep 16, 2015 10:38 am

We have to have confidence in the board to reach the correct decision for the club long term.

Having said that there are some issues that could be clarified without having a detrimental affect on any on going negotiations between the two parties.

Funding: I believe grants, or access to, for improvements were secured.
What is the current status on these

1. Have they been accessed, and if so which entity is holding them?
2. If they have not been accessed is there a time limit to do so ?

tezza
Posts: 1005
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2011 10:25 am
Team Supported: Darlington
Location: Darlington
Contact:

Re: Back to darlo?? On/off???

Post by tezza » Wed Sep 16, 2015 12:56 pm

Extracts from the communication earlier this year

The Board of Directors (the Board) can announce that the Club’s application for Football Foundation (FF) matched funding (of up to £150,000 against eligible expenditure) has been approved.

A formal offer letter from the FF will be issued once legal details have been finalised between the Club and Darlington Rugby Football Club (DRFC) in respect of the Agreement to Lease. The Club’s directors continue to meet regularly with DRFC and the Council (DBC) to deal with those legalities, and other related documents.

I guess as no conclusion to the "legal details" then no formal letter from FF will have been made.

I would hazard the below extract still remains the main stumbling block

The operational and management restructure that DRFC implemented in January this year has also seen a number of changes to the Board’s original understanding and vision of how DRFC intend to operate Blackwell Meadows moving forward and also the associated commercial opportunities available to DFC.

I felt sure that there was a
"Memorandum of Understanding" issued by all parties to fall back upon in the result of such changes to entity structures.

tezza
Posts: 1005
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2011 10:25 am
Team Supported: Darlington
Location: Darlington
Contact:

Re: Back to darlo?? On/off???

Post by tezza » Wed Sep 16, 2015 1:13 pm

Extract from communication

The memorandum of understanding sets out the terms of future discussions on the practicalities of a groundshare at Blackwell Meadows,

Neil Johnson
Posts: 1260
Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2012 8:40 pm
Team Supported: Darlington

Re: Back to darlo?? On/off???

Post by Neil Johnson » Wed Sep 16, 2015 6:23 pm

Only a Road Map was agreed, but hopefully details are still being sorted out for a July start up next season.

It seems that once an agreement is signed, that the council acts as arbitrators with any interpretation / disputes.

Promised Grants may have time limits, so another reason for the negotiators to get a wiggle on.

tezza
Posts: 1005
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2011 10:25 am
Team Supported: Darlington
Location: Darlington
Contact:

Re: Back to darlo?? On/off???

Post by tezza » Thu Sep 17, 2015 9:37 am

The question of grants could be central.

There has to be a time restraint for the FootbalL Foundation (FF) to process the application and issue a formal letter of acceptance. Cannot surely be open ended.

If then the application fails due to failure to comply within time constraint,... it is quite likely follows, that re application could be subject to a similar element.
In essence we would then be back in the position of not having sufficient funds to proceed.

We need to be mindful that the funds raised thus far, from fans, by various schemes were raised with the intent of developing a shared sporting hub ... nothing else.

lo36789
Posts: 10930
Joined: Wed Apr 27, 2011 10:58 pm
Team Supported: Darlington

Re: Back to darlo?? On/off???

Post by lo36789 » Thu Sep 17, 2015 9:48 am

tezza wrote:We need to be mindful that the funds raised thus far, from fans, by various schemes were raised with the intent of developing a shared sporting hub ... nothing else.
Think you are going a bit OTT.

Did it? Wasn't the vast majority of the money raised for fans to buy a 5 year season ticket, whilst it was announced that this was the mechanism by which the club would fund the return home - I am not entirely sure it said all money would be directed on a shared sporting hub.

The back2darlo was simply with the intention of having the club return back to darlo - the clue is in the name. That fund pre-dated even rumour of Blackwell Meadows.

tezza
Posts: 1005
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2011 10:25 am
Team Supported: Darlington
Location: Darlington
Contact:

Re: Back to darlo?? On/off???

Post by tezza » Thu Sep 17, 2015 3:21 pm

Perhaps, however the below statement may contradict your view of what the DFC500 Initiative was for

"The deadline to buy DFC 500 packages is just two days away. If you haven’t purchased yours yet, then read on.

The Board of Directors of Darlington Football Club is delighted to announce that, to date, more than 250 fans have purchased the extended season ticket packages. Together with other equity injections and donations, the initial £225,000 target for funding the return to Darlington was reached within just two weeks of its launch."

Similarly the statement below, consolidates that statement

"Despite the DFC500 initiative funds being available to the Club since March 2015, Your Board feels strongly that it would be inappropriate to utilise the fans’ money by starting work on the pitch until such time as all legal & commercial matters are resolved, all sources of funding have been fully secured for the site as a whole and final design specifications are complete."

ALL sources of funding have been FULLY secured is the interesting phase

And in case you are still in doubt about the DFC500 initiative ...read on

"Following the Fans’ Forum on Thursday 5 March 2015, the Directors are keen to provide additional details about the Heading Home fund raising initiative (being the DFC 500 Club, Vice-Presidents’ Club and Premium Corporate Partners – collectively “the packages”) for the benefit of all those who were unable to attend and/or ask questions on the evening itself.

The scheme has been launched specifically to raise funds that will enable the club to commit to the capital expenditure required to satisfactorily bring the Blackwell Meadows site to FA Ground Grading Category C criteria – a target of £225,000 has been identified."

The weekly running of the club is down to gate receipts and off the pitch commercial activities. Same criteria as "McAwbers Law" being applicable

spen666
Posts: 2296
Joined: Tue Jul 03, 2012 9:12 pm
Team Supported: Darlington

Re: Back to darlo?? On/off???

Post by spen666 » Thu Sep 17, 2015 8:08 pm

The issue of the grants is not something to be unduly worried by unless the rules are to change. The bodies awarding the grants were satisfied the applications related to appropriate developments.

Even if the developments are delayed there is no reason to think the grants would not be awarded if new applications had to be made.

Unless the club fritter away the funds raised on running expenses in the meantime, the club have sufficient funds to satisfy any matching funding they need for the grants. The club have in mind developments suitable for the size of club and its foreseeable future growth.

The bigger concern is where if anywhere the club can develop as a home. Hopefully the complete silence over BM (or anywhere else) from all parties is indicative of ongoing negotiations still underway re BM.

The grants issue I think is not a thing to be concerned about whether new applications are needed or not in future.

lo36789
Posts: 10930
Joined: Wed Apr 27, 2011 10:58 pm
Team Supported: Darlington

Re: Back to darlo?? On/off???

Post by lo36789 » Thu Sep 17, 2015 8:27 pm

Just being really pedantic but the first few statements merely state that there was a target to raise funds for the move back - and that it is fans money - well that is always the case in a fans owned club. It's the equivalent of 'tax-payer money' paying for stuff.

The scheme has been raised to specifically enable us to fund Blackwell. Again this is really pedantic but that is merely saying that it has given the club the means to fund upgrading Blackwell. It does not say all the money needs to be dedicated towards it.

As I say its how you interpret words. Arguably if things get tight this season because of 500club taking revenues then using the money to help us through would still be enabling the club to commit to capital expenditure - by keeping the club going it is generating money/generating interest to enable us to commit to the ground investment.

And there is nothing in there that the money was raised only for a sporting hub investment and nothing else. In fact the words sporting hub don't even appear under any of the objectives.

tezza
Posts: 1005
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2011 10:25 am
Team Supported: Darlington
Location: Darlington
Contact:

Re: Back to darlo?? On/off???

Post by tezza » Fri Sep 18, 2015 9:09 am

Pedantic ... Agreed you are

onewayup
Posts: 2851
Joined: Fri Jul 31, 2009 6:02 pm
Team Supported: Darlington

Re: Back to darlo?? On/off???

Post by onewayup » Fri Sep 18, 2015 4:33 pm

Terry,a question did you invest in the 500 club, if so please read the literature regarding the 500club investment, you seem to have got something between your teeth and holding on tight to something and nothing,if you are not just stirring and have a genuine question then send a letter to the board outlining your concerns,thus allowing the board to address these concerns of yours.putting your mind at ease.or come to the next meeting where you can also share your concerns.

Bogratsteve
Posts: 4025
Joined: Thu Jan 05, 2012 8:57 am
Team Supported: Darlington

Re: Back to darlo?? On/off???

Post by Bogratsteve » Sat Sep 19, 2015 11:19 am

Today on Twitter when asked about recent meeting on the move

@JennyChapman: talks ongoing I'm afraid, most frustrating thing I've ever been involved with

Post Reply