Thorp Arch Training ground

liits · Post by **liits** » Sat 19 Sep, 2009 9:01 am

Excuse my ignorance, but a colleague [born, bred & lives in Wimbledon – but a LUFC supporter [?!]] keeps talking to me about Utd. [not only do I not follow Leeds but I hate the game]. He was talking about the problems on not owning their own training ground. I said that I couldnt understand how, not so many years ago, they were talking – only talking, mind – about building a brand new stadium at St Aidens was it? Where was that money coming from? The next minute they haven’t got a penny and are penalised for going bust. Now the council are buying them back their training ground! If Utd. are skint, what is the wage bill for the talentless berks kicking the ball around for an hour on an a half on a Saturday afternoon and seeing as LCC own quite a few other bits of grass around the city, couldn’t they let them book the pitch at say Manston park for a few afternoon a week – cheap rates, of course!

Phill_dvsn · Post by **Phill_dvsn** » Sat 19 Sep, 2009 9:21 am

Good point about the kick abouts on the council recreation pitches, your right, how much money would that save?I'm always a little bit bemused when you hear some people say there bankrupt, to me that means you don't have a penny in your pockets and have no assets, to some people it seems they don't quite have as many millions in the bank as a few months ago.What's the correct definition lol

Post by **chameleon** » Sat 19 Sep, 2009 11:29 am

Often the difference between a limited company and a privte individualor concern Phill.With the former, it is the company as an entity which is in debt, not the individuals running it so, irrespective of what has happened to or who has benefitted from the money that went through the company, in bankruptsy, only the compan's assets can be sold to pay the bills and, having no personal responsibility, those who managed (or not!) the business can start it all up again usually under a slightly different name.When an individual or private business goes bust, the owners are responsible in their own name and everything they own is considered to be asset of the business and is sold.So, if a company simply rents land premises, equipment, cars, plant and what ever, they can reap the profits but have nothing to sell when things go ape

simonm · Post by **simonm** » Mon 21 Sep, 2009 2:00 pm

liits wrote: Excuse my ignorance, but a colleague [born, bred & lives in Wimbledon – but a LUFC supporter [?!]] keeps talking to me about Utd. [not only do I not follow Leeds but I hate the game]. He was talking about the problems on not owning their own training ground. I said that I couldnt understand how, not so many years ago, they were talking – only talking, mind – about building a brand new stadium at St Aidens was it? Where was that money coming from? The next minute they haven’t got a penny and are penalised for going bust. Now the council are buying them back their training ground! If Utd. are skint, what is the wage bill for the talentless berks kicking the ball around for an hour on an a half on a Saturday afternoon and seeing as LCC own quite a few other bits of grass around the city, couldn’t they let them book the pitch at say Manston park for a few afternoon a week – cheap rates, of course! Your commenting on events which took place several years ago and under a totally different regime many times removed! Yes LUAFC were to build a new big stadium, which DID receive a lot of negative press at the time. Leeds were chaired by a moron who took his "alleged" love of the club to new heights of idiocy. Ridsdale was a man who, as a member of a board could and did raise money successfully. However, once he became chairman with the sole responsibilty of spending he lost touch. Mortgaging players instead of buying them. Borrowing millions to fund his idiotic race to supremecy. All the fans knew was we were doing well. The full horror of what was to come was never apparent. So, when you aske the question of new stadium and now no money that should give you a bit of background. The reason we were penalised is cos fo football regulation, which exist for all clubs. Once Ridsdale left it soon became apparent he was a prat and left the club in over 125 million pounds of debt. All those players that should have brought in millions in sales were in fact not ours, but "loaned" from management groups!!!! Once Ridsdale left we got severl more people wanting their money's worth from the club and saw fantistic oportunities t orip the club off further! This culminated in a group of, so called, "businessmen" selling off the assetts to pay for debt. Funny how the purchasers and sellers all move in the same circle eh? Not that I'll making allegations into the fact that there seemed to be a lot of dodgy dealings, you understand!!Bates eventually uses a group of individuals to move in and secure the club! We still have no assetts. Eventually he puts the club into further administration and (still no assetts) gains eventual finacial stability! We are now one of the ONLY clubs in Britain to make a profit. 5 mill, before expenditure, with a clear 500,000 quid profit. Your latter comments show that you don't follow the sport, thats your choice, obviously, but to callthe present squad "talentless berks" is a silly. The present squad is a proffesional dedicated team that are proving they are worthy of the promotion the fans demand. Grayson has worked a cracking miracle to get them playing so well. Also, to say that they should be playing on the council parks is again silly. Obviously your commetns are in jest, but still daft.I'm really surprised that LCC has got involved again, after the previous rgimes stuffed them over. Still, good news for the club, even if Bates hasn't arranged a good deal to be paid off.

Post by **cnosni** » Mon 21 Sep, 2009 2:42 pm

Good points simon.I suspect that the council saw an opportunity to buy something worth £15m for £6m.I also think they had an eye on the potential world cup in 2018/2022.The council are thinking that one of the big pluses Leeds has to possibly secure a world cup venue is the training ground.If this ground was in the hands of s a third party (as it is now) then the third party would call the shots,whereas if the club or council owned it then they would.So it would be best for the city if the right people owned it for such an event.Also the club will want to buy it back at some point,and im sure the council will ask the market price,or thereabouts,when they do.

simonm · Post by **simonm** » Mon 21 Sep, 2009 4:22 pm

Also, it is widely known in the footballing world that TA is one of the finest training centres for proffesional sports people in the UK. Even European's know of it's facitilities. Also, for the council to keep the land and facilities means that rents will be feeding the city, instead of lining the pockets of an anonymouse owner. Now, lets see if we can talk them into buying ER..

Post by **chameleon** » Mon 21 Sep, 2009 6:42 pm

cnosni wrote: Good points simon.I suspect that the council saw an opportunity to buy something worth £15m for £6m.I also think they had an eye on the potential world cup in 2018/2022.The council are thinking that one of the big pluses Leeds has to possibly secure a world cup venue is the training ground.If this ground was in the hands of s a third party (as it is now) then the third party would call the shots,whereas if the club or council owned it then they would.So it would be best for the city if the right people owned it for such an event.Also the club will want to buy it back at some point,and im sure the council will ask the market price,or thereabouts,when they do. So long as the full value is realised upon sale it will have been a good investment as will be the income from the fair and proper rent. Anything less of course would be impropriety in Public Office.

simonm · Post by **simonm** » Mon 21 Sep, 2009 8:23 pm

I would imagine that the council has learned it's lesson from it's last forray into LUAFC.

Post by **chameleon** » Mon 21 Sep, 2009 10:04 pm

simonm wrote: I would imagine that the council has learned it's lesson from it's last forray into LUAFC. You follow my drift simon.Hope they remember well when making their share of spending cuts