Breaking News Club to spend £2million (Yes that's 2 million) on Boots and Laces

[LennySUFC]

Chris Phillips ‏@CJPhillips1982 3m3 minutes ago
Southend United to spend £2million on training ground improvements. Full story in tomorrow's Echo. @SUFCRootsHall @Essex_Echo

Where is this money all coming from?

 

[Shrimper]

I, wait, what?

 

[OrangeyBrown]

They found the Eastwood money! No, seriously how can we afford this? It's great that it's happening but it does make you wonder, and worry.

Bentley off for an extortionate fee?

 

[SUFCFANS]

And spending money there means we can't be knocking it down and building a stadium any time soon!

 

[Kestrel]

. . . . and Lidl have acquired the Prospects site

 

[delr]

what's going to happen to Roots Hall - lets be honest the place is a dump

 

[chapperzUK]

What, but, eh?! 2 million? 2 followed by 6 zeros? WTF!!!

 

[dloman]

Possibly a non completion penalty from Sainsbury?

 

[Carry On Shrimping]

I've not kept up to speed with the new stadium plans - were we going to redevelop B&L and build new stadium next to it?

 

[Romford Shrimper]

Someone explain where this has come from?

 

[kentblues]

The thing that I am struggling with is that £2m is being spent on B&L- with Fossets the training pitches were on the same site or not?? I can't remember. If being spent on B&L then that is a long term investment

So
If Fossets is going ahead is the plan to modify the plans i.e. no training ground there/ something else (further development)
If Fossets were not going ahead & we are staying at RH then spending £2m on the training ground would make little sense? Surely the priority would be RH that will fall down on its own eventually- and if we don't sell RH then I can't see Ron investing this level of money.

My guess is that something is now moving ahead with new partners & in some modified form that still delivers the new stadium.

I think it makes the idea that the new stadium is dead increasingly untenable..

 

[LennySUFC]

i wonder if RM sees the potential profit in an academy and training ground as we are seeing bentley and payne coming through the ranks. A model like Crewe brings a small club a lot of money

 

[Mr Plow]

And spending money there means we can't be knocking it down and building a stadium any time soon!

Not really, the plan was to have the training pitches/complex on the same plot as the stadium I believe.

 

[Bad Beat]

Surely the stadium can't be dead if Lidl have bought the Prospects site.

 

[Jam_Man]

1. We dont have to spend 2 million cash on anything, money could have been loaned?

2. The entrance to the stadium goes through the training ground, so if we are spending 2 million on it what does that mean?

 

[The Watermill Wino]

Lidl bought Prospects, why didn't Sainsburys? it would make more sense plus not having a competitor on your door step and sharing your car park. After all the years of talk of FF I'll wait a bit longer to see what happens.
Sounds a forward step for us though.

 

[Jam_Man]

Not really, the plan was to have the training pitches/complex on the same plot as the stadium I believe.

The plan was to have the training pitches over the back. Maybe thats where this will be built?

 

[Jam_Man]

Lidl bought Prospects, why didn't Sainsburys? it would make more sense plus not having a competitor on your door step and sharing your car park. After all the years of talk of FF I'll wait a bit longer to see what happens.
Sounds a forward step for us though.

Indeed, if Sainsbury wanted a smaller metro store they have missed an opportunity there...

 

[Blue94]

1. We dont have to spend 2 million cash on anything, money could have been loaned?

2. The entrance to the stadium goes through the training ground, so if we are spending 2 million on it what does that mean?

Well access to the retail park would be through B&L's but the plans include access to the stadium off of Fossetts Way to the north.

 

[kentblues]

I don't think Lidl could fit a store with access and parking on the Prospects site alone- I think it is highly likely that Lidl has simply replaced Sainsbury as the partner on this project- only way it makes sense.

certainly Lidl wouldn't buy the site as some sort of spoiler- that type of thing doesn't happen.

I would have thought a lidl store would typically be a bit smaller- but that can equal just more parking or houses.