Work to start at Blackwell Meadow

[footifan]

ALSO trying to get the Arena for HIGH PROFILE friendlies as per the Northern Echo:


DARLINGTON FC bosses say work is due to start imminently on improvements to their new home.

Darlington FC director John Tempest said just one document needed to be signed before the redevelopment of Darlington RFC's Blackwell Meadows ground could begin.

Mr Tempest said discussions had taken place with Darlington Mowden Park RFC about using The Northern Echo Arena for friendlies before the season started, however it is understood nothing has yet been arranged.

The football club said in a statement: "The Darlington football and rugby clubs are continuing to work closely together on closing out the final details of the redevelopment of Blackwell Meadows.

"Due to the number of influencing parties involved with the funding for both clubs, the final legal structuring has taken longer than envisaged to satisfy all parties.

"Design and procurement however has continued to be progressed and subject to no further last minute unforeseen issues arising we would expect works to commence within the next two weeks. The collection of the community share offer therefore will be delayed by two weeks in accordance with the rules of the scheme."

The statement added that the club was finalising two high-profile friendlies for the coming season and would shortly be announcing an additional major sponsor for next season.

[dfc4me]

The club statement is the one they made ten days ago but was never reported by the Echo!
Only the first few lines are actually new info so hopefully it won't take 2/3 weeks to sign the that last document.

[Darlo_Pete]

Well we've already been told 2 weeks, so work will definitely be starting next week, won't it?

[jjljks]

Just tired of waiting and all the piecrust promises.....Not the way to keep fans interested, especially as it is a 'fans owned' club. Lots of people would be willing to put a shift in free if there was a plan and someone to direct efforts.

[tdk1]

Just tired of waiting and all the piecrust promises.....Not the way to keep fans interested, especially as it is a 'fans owned' club. Lots of people would be willing to put a shift in free if there was a plan and someone to direct efforts.

They do, there is, there is.

How much detail do people want?

[Darlo_Pete]

Just tired of waiting and all the piecrust promises.....Not the way to keep fans interested, especially as it is a 'fans owned' club. Lots of people would be willing to put a shift in free if there was a plan and someone to direct efforts.

They do, there is, there is.

How much detail do people want?

People want to know what the hell is going on, rather than given promises that aren't worth the paper they are written on. Fans should be told what the problem or problems are, rather than being fobbed off all the time.

[tdk1]

Christ, these are volunteers, organising a complex land deal, with very little budget. Who are people getting angry at, as I can't see any real candidates for it. Who is fobbing you off? Is there really anything you feel you haven't been told that you feel is worth breaching confidentiality clauses for?

[Ingleby]

Say nothing. When in doubt quote confidentiality clauses. Repeat.

[Neil Johnson]

The club is treading new ground with the form of shares and the ground share rental and may have missed some legal steps that have emerged and are now deemed to be necessary late in the day.
Getting things right is important for the future generations of Darlo fans, so patience is called for again.
Hope there is time to get all done before Weather-Flood effects kick in.

[loan_star]

Its like a Stephen Thomas* injury, always two weeks away from fitness

*for you younger readers, he was a midfielder signed from Wrexham with a big reputation and rarely injured before he signed for us.

[Comfortably_numb]

And if people are really that bothered contact your club and offer your help to make this happen at your pace. I'm sure any extra help would be appreciated...

[JE93]

Don't understand some people. Anyone with half a brain can see just how complex the legal issues are around organising a share issue to achieve matched funding to get grants from a football stadia fund to improve a rugby clubs ground that we will not have any ownership over and only have a 25 gear lease on. While at the same time the Rugby club are getting grants to build improve facilities that they probably wouldn't have done/needes had the football club not come into the picture. If that takes a little while longer with the lawyers than expected ots because it's an absolute legal and logistical nightmare to sort out in first instance. So why dont the moaners give a little time and trust to those doing a great job bringing DFC home?

[Ingleby]

When the club comes out and asks for help they will get help. Darlo fans step up time and time again. But this isn't the case here at all. Not sure how people try blame delays on ordinary fans for lack of effort after all the contributions so far.

Yes it's complex. Nobody said it was easy. So just keep us informed, as owners we deserve that much.

[HarryCharltonsCat]

If any fans can help with the myriad complexities arising from the legal requirements of various grant bodies, please get in touch with Ingleby. We know within our core 1500 fans their will be loads of suitably qualified candidates.

Tosser.

[Ingleby]

If any fans can help with the myriad complexities arising from the legal requirements of various grant bodies, please get in touch with Ingleby. We know within our core 1500 fans their will be loads of suitably qualified candidates.

Tosser.

Hi Tosser.

Or alternatively if we don't possess such skills we employ professional assistance with the fucking money we raised for the job. That makes more sense.

[Undercovered]

That's another £50K + we need then. Get busy....

Richard Cook has plenty of experience in the field, but no matter what experience you have you can't hurry legals which anyone who's done any large financial transaction will know. Even moreso when you have at least 4 interested parties all protecting their own interests.