Advertisement
Fans fear a postcode switch will hit Latics
Reporter: Karen Doherty
Date online: 10/12/2009
FANS had their say on Oldham Athletic’s £20 million plans to move to Failsworth.
Around 90 supporters quizzed a club panel which included owner Simon Corney and chief executive Alan Hardy.
They voiced their concerns and ideas about the proposals to switch from Boundary Park to a new stadium, leisure and commercial development off Broadway.
But last night’s frank and good-humoured meeting at Radclyffe School, Chadderton, had none of the vehement opposition of Latics’ recent consultation with Failsworth residents.
One fan said he would follow Latics wherever they played — but feared that the new stadium’s Manchester postcode would turn others away in droves.
He explained: “From a football point of view you couldn’t have picked a worse place. It’s hostile territory. It’s Manchester United territory with a few City fans. I think it is a very badly thought-out move. I know you get resistance to change but this consultation should have taken place long before now. You should have come up with three or four sites and then held the consultation.”
Another added: “We are just scared of losing our identity because it is a very old and very proud club. That’s the position for me although I am all for moving to a new stadium.”
But Barry Owen, chairman of supporters’ trust Trust Oldham said: “We are not just looking at what’s good for us.
“We have got to be looking at what’s good for the next generation and the generation after that.”
And Failsworth resident Chris Coleman added: “The proposed stadium is facing my house. There are a number of Failsworth residents here and we are not all against this development.
“A lot of people from Failsworth do support Oldham Athletic.
“I know it is going to be difficult with a Manchester postcode but I live down there and I know where I come from!”
The panel explained why other sites from Clayton to Beal Valley had been ruled out — including a suggested four-mile move to Kingsway, Rochdale, which has an OL postcode but would be vetoed by the Football League.
They said that a planned development package at Lancaster Sports Club, Lower Memorial Park and Broadway Allotments was the only viable option..
The stadium’s 12,000 capacity could be increased if Latics recaptured their Premiership glory days while Mr Corney insisted that the plans would not be scuppered if the club was relegated.
“If we get relegated we might lose another 500-600 off the gate. We can’t afford to rely on the fans coming if the football is good or not coming if the football is bad,” he said.
Mr Corney admitted that there was no Plan B if the proposals were knocked back. But he strongly denied that he and fellow owners Simon Blitz and Danny Gazal were in it for the money, stressing that there was no way they could get back the millions they had put in.
“We have fallen in love with the place. It will be sad when the day comes to move but I just do not genuinely see any alternative,” he added.
Development options will be drawn up followed by more consultation and an exhibition. People will then be able to give their views on a final masterplan before a planning application is submitted.
Have Your Say
There is at least one thing in favour of the Failsworth site - Its accessibility to public transport. Major bus routes out of Shaw, Royton, Chadderton, Oldham, Saddleworthy all cogragate there and its on the Metrolink line.
With imagination put into "park and ride" schemes, traffic congestion could be minimised.
Who remembers all the football special "X" buses of years ago? Perhaps we'll see them again
Rubbish!
Look how far City moved. Did their fans whinge about being so close to Oldham?
If 'fans' can't travel a little further to a state-of-the-art ground, then they are not fans.
please corney we dont need a new ground please why cant u get new investors in.
Rg, I was born in Oldham LANCASHIRE and proud of it, not a Manc with the silly false accent, but i do agree that it may pull one or two extra fans for at least one week anyway till they see the present standard of football.
"It's Manchester United territory with a few City fans.."
Very much the same as Oldham then! Hard to imagine we'll be much worse off for support than we are now. Maybe, like rg says, we'll attract some new support in Failsworth, particularly if we look after the local boys teams?
here here rg2403
OLDHAM IS NOT IN MANCHESTER, HAS NEVER BEEN IN MANCHESTER, WILL NEVER BE IN MANCHESTER, AND IS CONTROLLED BY ITS OWN COUNCIL. IF YOU RESEARCH A LITTLE YOU WILL FIND THAT GTR MANCHESTER WAS ABOLISHED AS A COUNTY IN THE 80'S, AND IS ONLY AN ADMINISTRATIVE LOCAILITY FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES, TRANSPORT AND WASTE REFUSE. Fialsworth is in the borough of Oldham, and thats why the location should not be such a big issue.
One thing last nights forum did clear up is why they thought failsworth was the most suitable site, having looked at beal valley/gas works/coal pit lane, all of which had problems with the land, and ferney fields and clayton playing field both not being available for development.
im all for what is good for the club if it helps the latics go for it can't be any worse than it is now can it
theres nothing wrong with the old site. Rebuild the stands one at a time to save disruption..one is already down,greed is whats causing the move,greed and disrepsect for war dead.buldozing a memorial park is just sad.
Thanks Superlatic, you fit the final piece to the Jigsaw. I now believe this whole thing is about money and land, and not football. Sure, they've put a lot of money in, but if they pull it off, it could be a massive payday for TTA. Thats what business men do, bet big, win big (with our money). Betting on the war memorial ground however is a disgrace.
boggy thats what you get with ombc, they have no respect for anyone other than themselves.
until latics have a decent enough team thats making leaps forward in the leagues there shouldnt be any crazy ideas for a stadium.
to do so will only plunder the club further into debt and maybe even destroy it completely
theres some sad, sad people knocking about. who cares about council territory and post codes? theres a metrolink to the ground, it will be a lot more pleasant, the football is bound to be better becuase of more investment/sponsors, ther'll be more fans there & we wont be a laughing stock with a 3 sided stadium. get a grip and stop being so miserable and nostalgic.never mind having a past, having a future is more important.
accents, councils and post codes. what about good football, entertainment, promotions, trophies, seeing poeple with a smile on there face, exciting new signings? a great day out not just for the 90 minutes? these are the things which i want in a football team. I dont go to BP to hear other people with like minded accents and who enjoy a meat pie.get over yourself.
boggy, where exactly has it been mentioned that the memorial park will be bulldozed?
Let's wait and see what the detailed plans show before making sensationalist claims like that.
Just to confuse the issue rg2403 comes along and says "Oldham is in Manchester .Theres nothing wrong with that." Well there is! Oldham is NOT in Manchester. It might be apart of so called Greater Manchester but has a town it stands alone. On the ground issue I appreciate the dilemma
the Directors have but personally I would like a ground away from Failsworth if at all possible.
Living away from Oldham for the past 40yrs in my letters, cards etc sent to family and friends I have never, ever addressed any to Oldham Greater Manchester, they have always been addressed to Oldham LANCASHIRE!
Has anyone worked out the distance between BP and the proposed new site? Is it so far away that the journey involves many changes to transport? I remember the "football specials", I used to drive for OCPT, one week Latics, the next Watersheddings! Oh for the good times!!!
Looks like the fans have got it sown up doesn't it? Bet not 1% of them currently lives next to a stadium, or will do so if it happens. The people of Failsworthj have got the most to lose so don't be surprised if this drags on for a long, long, long time. As Sc said when he came to the Failsworth meeting (tho not repeated at Radcliffe we note.) if the residents don't want us we won't come.
Ohhhh glory some one else has finally got it, Its about money not the club, always has been always will be these directors do not care less about the club. And dont worry they will sell up once everything is sorted.
All this united/city territory is a load of rubbish.I honestly dont think their fans would care about the ground being there.If anything having those clubs even closer will be a good thing,especially for club relations on training/friendlies/transfers,we may even get some support from their fans if theyre playing away a specific week.The club needs to expand its fan base-and whether people like it or not Oldham is in Manchester.Theres nothing wrong with that.Onwards to Failsworth.
By rg2403 @ 10/12/2009 15:18:49
Report this comment (17417)