SPECIAL FANS' JURY WITH NEW TOWN CHAIRMAN SIR WILLIAM PATEY (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)
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SPECIAL FANS' JURY WITH NEW TOWN CHAIRMAN SIR WILLIAM PATEY
6:00am Monday 22nd October 2012 in Sport By Sam Morshead
New Swindon Town chairman Sir William Patey with County Ground legend Don Rogers on Saturday
ON MONDAY, Sir William Patey was named as the new chairman of Swindon Town. Here, in a Swindon Advertiser Fans’ Jury special, the former British ambassador to Sudan and Afghanistan answers readers’ questions on the pressing issues at the County Ground – and cheese…
@02hodgsol
Is the development of the County Ground still firmly in the plans of the board to commence this summer?
“The near future would be a little optimistic but we’re in discussions with the council. Redeveloping the ground is certainly part of the future plans and it may determine who comes onto the board.
“Nick Watkins, the CEO, is already in discussion with the council and we’ll be working closely with them. My understanding of the council is that they’re very keen to make that happen so it’s a good starting position.”
@wilesandy
Why now, and why Swindon, to be chairman of a football club?
“I’m available, I’ve just retired from the diplomatic service so I wouldn’t have been able to do it until a few months ago. Why now? Because I was asked. Why Swindon? Why not?
“At least I’d heard of Swindon’s history, I knew a bit about Swindon. I knew about Lou Macari, Glenn Hoddle, Don Rogers, the Anglo-Italian cup – so at least it was a club I knew about. You’ve had the odd Scotsman here. I was pleased to be asked.
“I didn’t go looking out to be chairman of a football club, that wasn’t necessarily part of my post-foreign office gameplan, but it fits in.
“I’m on the board of a major bank, I advise a major international company so that experience and those contacts I will hopefully be able to use to the benefit of Swindon.”
@chetanv82
Will you be able to use your experience negotiating with the Taliban when negotiating with the manager here?
“This has been said to me many times – I’m moving from one hostile environment to another. I don’t think Paolo’s that bad honestly. I expect to have a lot better relationship with Paolo than I ever had with the Taliban.”
@batch_2001
Is it still redevelopment of the County Ground that the club is looking at, or a new site?
“We haven’t ruled out either, it depends what’s best for the club and what would be most achievable. Redevelopment has some advantages but going for a new site may be an option.
“I can’t say any more than that at the moment.”
@wilesandy
When will the embargo be lifted?
“I don’t know. My aim is to get it lifted as soon as possible and I would be very disappointed if we haven’t got it lifted by the January transfer window.”
@mattdavied25
What will you be doing at the club differently to your predecessor?
“Jeremy by his own admission would say he focused pretty much on the football. You can’t be chairman of a football club and not be focused on the football but I also hope to marry that with a closer focus on the future development of the ground and getting the commercial side right and maintaining good open lines of communication with the owners.
“Making sure that they’re comfortable, that they feel that the propositions being put to them are in their interests as well as the club’s. It may well be a more wholistic approach is how I would describe it.
“I’m not running the club, let’s be clear on that, a non-executive chairman does not run the club. We have an excellent CEO and an excellent manager. My job will be to make sure that the strategy is in place and that those two can get on with their jobs, which is to deliver the plan to get Swindon into the Championship.”
@batch_2001
Is the playing budget to be reduced over the next couple of seasons?
“No, the playing budget was set in the summer and that will be there. There’s no reduction in that, the owners are committed to that. It was structured in a way that we had a certain amount set aside with some other money set aside if we were in a good position in January to challenge for promotion. That’s still there.
“We’ve actually overspent our playing budget which is why we are actually in embargo so I won’t be cutting it but I’ll be trying to bring the overall budget within the rules the league have set.”
@tansstfc1983, @bailey77, @batch_2001, @whittdawg, @DeanMcMackin, @shroom98, @STFC_Gazza, @Andy_Crouch_, @Lucidavis86, @TrueKingFu, @Simplychalky, @riccio1984, @andy3martin, @paulw36
What’s your favourite cheese?
“I was just in Dubai yesterday and I was at a cheese buffet where I tried 24 different kinds of cheese, but I think it would have to be Scottish goats’ cheese. Why do they always ask about cheese?
“I’m actually a bit of a cheese fanatic, so if we have any Swindon fans who are cheesemongers they just have to contact me.”
Comments(27)
batch
says...
6:57am Mon 22 Oct 12
Oi Den!
says...
7:08am Mon 22 Oct 12
dazinblack
says...
7:08am Mon 22 Oct 12
Oi Den!
says...
7:10am Mon 22 Oct 12
dazinblack
says...
7:12am Mon 22 Oct 12
stfc2012
says...
8:03am Mon 22 Oct 12
madred
says...
8:33am Mon 22 Oct 12
stfc2012 wrote:I have to agree, very encorouging answers, but from a man who specialises in telling people what they want to hear.
Good answers
I do feel that this is the clubs attempt to move on to bigger things with a more professional set-up right the way through the club and as such the board and Sir Willliam have my full support. Not sure how i feel about the possibility of moving away from the county ground, would prefer to see it re-developed but if the best interests of the club are better served by moving to a purpose built new stadium then so be it.....so long as it is still in Swindon.....
Oi Den!
says...
8:41am Mon 22 Oct 12
.
What has changed since the club announced that work would be starting on the Town End next summer? Why can't the club be straight with us and tell us what conditions need to be in place for anything to happen with the ground?
SAPFanSTFC
says...
11:27am Mon 22 Oct 12
Oi Den! wrote:Black has changed his mind and can't afford to lose his last £100 million in STFC so needs to sell.
After feeling quite positive for last few days, I have to admit to feeling quite crestfallen now. The ground redevelopment - or new development (I hope not) seems to have gone backwards and we are asking creditors to write off their loans to make the club more attractive to new investors. And what are the potential new investors to make of that? Do they put money into the club with the prospect of being asked to write it off in a few years' time, to make the club more attractive to new investors, who will eventually be asked to write their loans off so that the club can be more attractive to yet more new investors......?
.
What has changed since the club announced that work would be starting on the Town End next summer? Why can't the club be straight with us and tell us what conditions need to be in place for anything to happen with the ground?
---.
Get everything looking good and then much easier to find a buyer.
Swindon1984
says...
12:08pm Mon 22 Oct 12
SAPFanSTFC wrote:May well be the bottom line on this - he may feel he's taken the club as far as it can go with him, and needs to pass the baton - in order to do that he needs to find a wealthier investor who sees enough potential in the club to want to stick his hard earned in.
Oi Den! wrote: After feeling quite positive for last few days, I have to admit to feeling quite crestfallen now. The ground redevelopment - or new development (I hope not) seems to have gone backwards and we are asking creditors to write off their loans to make the club more attractive to new investors. And what are the potential new investors to make of that? Do they put money into the club with the prospect of being asked to write it off in a few years' time, to make the club more attractive to new investors, who will eventually be asked to write their loans off so that the club can be more attractive to yet more new investors......? . What has changed since the club announced that work would be starting on the Town End next summer? Why can't the club be straight with us and tell us what conditions need to be in place for anything to happen with the ground?Black has changed his mind and can't afford to lose his last £100 million in STFC so needs to sell. ---. Get everything looking good and then much easier to find a buyer.
Oi Den!
says...
12:36pm Mon 22 Oct 12
Swindon1984 wrote:Disagree chaps. If there's any potential there, I think Black will want to stick with it. And if there isn't... I don't like to think too much about the possible consequences. Another thought - it's possible that Andrew Black has some affection for the club after being involved for a few years. That might be a factor that would help to keep him with us.
SAPFanSTFC wrote:May well be the bottom line on this - he may feel he's taken the club as far as it can go with him, and needs to pass the baton - in order to do that he needs to find a wealthier investor who sees enough potential in the club to want to stick his hard earned in.
Oi Den! wrote: After feeling quite positive for last few days, I have to admit to feeling quite crestfallen now. The ground redevelopment - or new development (I hope not) seems to have gone backwards and we are asking creditors to write off their loans to make the club more attractive to new investors. And what are the potential new investors to make of that? Do they put money into the club with the prospect of being asked to write it off in a few years' time, to make the club more attractive to new investors, who will eventually be asked to write their loans off so that the club can be more attractive to yet more new investors......? . What has changed since the club announced that work would be starting on the Town End next summer? Why can't the club be straight with us and tell us what conditions need to be in place for anything to happen with the ground?Black has changed his mind and can't afford to lose his last £100 million in STFC so needs to sell. ---. Get everything looking good and then much easier to find a buyer.
Davidsyrett
says...
1:13pm Mon 22 Oct 12
Oi Den! wrote:Alot has changed since the announcement of the redevelopment work.
After feeling quite positive for last few days, I have to admit to feeling quite crestfallen now. The ground redevelopment - or new development (I hope not) seems to have gone backwards and we are asking creditors to write off their loans to make the club more attractive to new investors. And what are the potential new investors to make of that? Do they put money into the club with the prospect of being asked to write it off in a few years' time, to make the club more attractive to new investors, who will eventually be asked to write their loans off so that the club can be more attractive to yet more new investors......?
.
What has changed since the club announced that work would be starting on the Town End next summer? Why can't the club be straight with us and tell us what conditions need to be in place for anything to happen with the ground?
One, we have a new chairman who will look to whats best for the club in the long run. I've always felt that to really progress we need a new ground (yes, I know I'm in the minority),
Two, I think that the revenue coming into the club has been less than expected, even with ground development we have show there is a need for it (ie: increase in attendances) but that hasn't happened this season.
One thing JW always said is that the CG would be developed but I wonder if Black thought him too tunneled visioned on that idea.
Oi Den!
says...
2:05pm Mon 22 Oct 12
Davidsyrett wrote:The name of the club is Swindon Town. I believe that's where its heart and soul is - in the town, within the community it represents. My rule of thumb has always been that a football ground should be within walking distance of the main railway station if possible - it's good for visiting supporters, good for the club's own fans who travel in by train, and it's much better for the local economy. The more football grounds are built out of town, the more the game departs from its roots and traditions. Unless such a move came with success on the pitch at the same time, I think the club would lose many more fans than it gains.
Oi Den! wrote:Alot has changed since the announcement of the redevelopment work.
After feeling quite positive for last few days, I have to admit to feeling quite crestfallen now. The ground redevelopment - or new development (I hope not) seems to have gone backwards and we are asking creditors to write off their loans to make the club more attractive to new investors. And what are the potential new investors to make of that? Do they put money into the club with the prospect of being asked to write it off in a few years' time, to make the club more attractive to new investors, who will eventually be asked to write their loans off so that the club can be more attractive to yet more new investors......?
.
What has changed since the club announced that work would be starting on the Town End next summer? Why can't the club be straight with us and tell us what conditions need to be in place for anything to happen with the ground?
One, we have a new chairman who will look to whats best for the club in the long run. I've always felt that to really progress we need a new ground (yes, I know I'm in the minority),
Two, I think that the revenue coming into the club has been less than expected, even with ground development we have show there is a need for it (ie: increase in attendances) but that hasn't happened this season.
One thing JW always said is that the CG would be developed but I wonder if Black thought him too tunneled visioned on that idea.
fatman
says...
3:43pm Mon 22 Oct 12
fatman
says...
3:44pm Mon 22 Oct 12
SAPFanSTFC
says...
4:22pm Mon 22 Oct 12
Oi Den! wrote:You only have to go to Shrewsbury and Colchester to see what out of town developments have done to their supporter base....and the look and feel of things.
Davidsyrett wrote:The name of the club is Swindon Town. I believe that's where its heart and soul is - in the town, within the community it represents. My rule of thumb has always been that a football ground should be within walking distance of the main railway station if possible - it's good for visiting supporters, good for the club's own fans who travel in by train, and it's much better for the local economy. The more football grounds are built out of town, the more the game departs from its roots and traditions. Unless such a move came with success on the pitch at the same time, I think the club would lose many more fans than it gains.
Oi Den! wrote:Alot has changed since the announcement of the redevelopment work.
After feeling quite positive for last few days, I have to admit to feeling quite crestfallen now. The ground redevelopment - or new development (I hope not) seems to have gone backwards and we are asking creditors to write off their loans to make the club more attractive to new investors. And what are the potential new investors to make of that? Do they put money into the club with the prospect of being asked to write it off in a few years' time, to make the club more attractive to new investors, who will eventually be asked to write their loans off so that the club can be more attractive to yet more new investors......?
.
What has changed since the club announced that work would be starting on the Town End next summer? Why can't the club be straight with us and tell us what conditions need to be in place for anything to happen with the ground?
One, we have a new chairman who will look to whats best for the club in the long run. I've always felt that to really progress we need a new ground (yes, I know I'm in the minority),
Two, I think that the revenue coming into the club has been less than expected, even with ground development we have show there is a need for it (ie: increase in attendances) but that hasn't happened this season.
One thing JW always said is that the CG would be developed but I wonder if Black thought him too tunneled visioned on that idea.
Is that you Lovesey
says...
4:23pm Mon 22 Oct 12
If you build it they will come........
jayden
says...
4:35pm Mon 22 Oct 12
Is that you Lovesey wrote:RIGHT we will need some 4x2 an half an hour
I tell ya now, there's money to be made by an out of town complex with a Hotel and Casino like the Reebock or the Ricoh.
If you build it they will come........
Oi Den!
says...
6:18pm Mon 22 Oct 12
SAPFanSTFC wrote:Yep - not been to the New Meadow. I think you get a good idea from the telly though. Been to Colchester many times. You're certainly right about that one. Awful - a prime example of how it shouldn't be done. I have a friend who's a Col U fan. He says the fans all preferred Layer Road. As a visitor, I certainly did.
Oi Den! wrote:You only have to go to Shrewsbury and Colchester to see what out of town developments have done to their supporter base....and the look and feel of things.
Davidsyrett wrote:The name of the club is Swindon Town. I believe that's where its heart and soul is - in the town, within the community it represents. My rule of thumb has always been that a football ground should be within walking distance of the main railway station if possible - it's good for visiting supporters, good for the club's own fans who travel in by train, and it's much better for the local economy. The more football grounds are built out of town, the more the game departs from its roots and traditions. Unless such a move came with success on the pitch at the same time, I think the club would lose many more fans than it gains.
Oi Den! wrote:Alot has changed since the announcement of the redevelopment work.
After feeling quite positive for last few days, I have to admit to feeling quite crestfallen now. The ground redevelopment - or new development (I hope not) seems to have gone backwards and we are asking creditors to write off their loans to make the club more attractive to new investors. And what are the potential new investors to make of that? Do they put money into the club with the prospect of being asked to write it off in a few years' time, to make the club more attractive to new investors, who will eventually be asked to write their loans off so that the club can be more attractive to yet more new investors......?
.
What has changed since the club announced that work would be starting on the Town End next summer? Why can't the club be straight with us and tell us what conditions need to be in place for anything to happen with the ground?
One, we have a new chairman who will look to whats best for the club in the long run. I've always felt that to really progress we need a new ground (yes, I know I'm in the minority),
Two, I think that the revenue coming into the club has been less than expected, even with ground development we have show there is a need for it (ie: increase in attendances) but that hasn't happened this season.
One thing JW always said is that the CG would be developed but I wonder if Black thought him too tunneled visioned on that idea.
jayden
says...
6:43pm Mon 22 Oct 12
Oi Den! wrote:Yeah Den it was a eggcellent ground that.
SAPFanSTFC wrote:Yep - not been to the New Meadow. I think you get a good idea from the telly though. Been to Colchester many times. You're certainly right about that one. Awful - a prime example of how it shouldn't be done. I have a friend who's a Col U fan. He says the fans all preferred Layer Road. As a visitor, I certainly did.
Oi Den! wrote:You only have to go to Shrewsbury and Colchester to see what out of town developments have done to their supporter base....and the look and feel of things.
Davidsyrett wrote:The name of the club is Swindon Town. I believe that's where its heart and soul is - in the town, within the community it represents. My rule of thumb has always been that a football ground should be within walking distance of the main railway station if possible - it's good for visiting supporters, good for the club's own fans who travel in by train, and it's much better for the local economy. The more football grounds are built out of town, the more the game departs from its roots and traditions. Unless such a move came with success on the pitch at the same time, I think the club would lose many more fans than it gains.
Oi Den! wrote:Alot has changed since the announcement of the redevelopment work.
After feeling quite positive for last few days, I have to admit to feeling quite crestfallen now. The ground redevelopment - or new development (I hope not) seems to have gone backwards and we are asking creditors to write off their loans to make the club more attractive to new investors. And what are the potential new investors to make of that? Do they put money into the club with the prospect of being asked to write it off in a few years' time, to make the club more attractive to new investors, who will eventually be asked to write their loans off so that the club can be more attractive to yet more new investors......?
.
What has changed since the club announced that work would be starting on the Town End next summer? Why can't the club be straight with us and tell us what conditions need to be in place for anything to happen with the ground?
One, we have a new chairman who will look to whats best for the club in the long run. I've always felt that to really progress we need a new ground (yes, I know I'm in the minority),
Two, I think that the revenue coming into the club has been less than expected, even with ground development we have show there is a need for it (ie: increase in attendances) but that hasn't happened this season.
One thing JW always said is that the CG would be developed but I wonder if Black thought him too tunneled visioned on that idea.
jayden
says...
6:56pm Mon 22 Oct 12
Okus Road
says...
7:18pm Mon 22 Oct 12
For me it would be the latter
Oi Den!
says...
8:24pm Mon 22 Oct 12
DarrenSTFCRomain
says...
8:36pm Mon 22 Oct 12
nt is not the answer
Paying the council ex amounts in rent is a massive lose in revenue..
Then and only then the club will make a lot of money..
You know things like sponsership nameing the stadium
shams69
says...
10:51pm Mon 22 Oct 12
townie63
says...
5:32am Tue 23 Oct 12
if we can't fill this ground, there's no point building one further away unless it's part of a bigger scheme i.e. major sports venue/hotel.
prefer to have JW here but if that's not going to happen then i will support the new bloke, after all, he's now part of STFC, like it or not. before PDC started i wasn't convinced it was a good idea to have a manager with no experience, i got that completely wrong. COYR
dazinblack says...
6:56am Mon 22 Oct 12