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Mate_of_Wilf
Frequent Contributor
399 Posts |
 Posted - 26 Jul 2010 : 16:44:54
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I wonder if this has anything to do with the sale of the ground?
http://www.tribalfootball.com/hartlepool-set-new-mystery-owners-1001851
A mystery investor is set to complete a takeover of Hartlepool United.
The Sunday Sun understands that a deal for the League One club could be announced this week.
It is believed the would-be new owners are currently based abroad, but have some background in football.
Hartlepool have been under the control of Aberdeen-based oil company IOR under chairman Ken Hodcroft for 13 years.
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snowy
Frequent Contributor
161 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jul 2010 : 16:55:25
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| The sale of the ground is the best thing that could happen, with covenants in place of course. I'll believe the new owners thing if and when it happens, it is in the Sunday Sun after all whose understanding of things Hartlepool United is as deep as my knowledge of Medieval Birthing practices and Midwifery in the Gobi Desert in the 14th Century. |
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steveL
Frequent Contributor
564 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jul 2010 : 01:17:28
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The story we ran recently about IOR offering HBC £10,000 for the ground was rock solid but we were placed in the position of not being able to reveal the source. Duplicitous Drummond is slap bang in the middle of it though despite what he says publicly.
For what it's worth, the general view at HTH is that we want to see a new stadium built at Brenda Road and the present Victoria Park turned into a central park - an asset sorely missed in the town centre.
Controversial I know but we're not here to win friends. 
This 'Jewel in the Crown' of a posting was completed In Time for the Tall Ships |
Edited by - steveL on 27 Jul 2010 01:18:59 |
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steveL
Frequent Contributor
564 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jul 2010 : 01:26:43
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Well there's a great wadge of land on the west side of the railway lines which means a new ground could even have it's own railway stop AND it's pretty close to Parker's Bakery where they make the pies 
This 'Jewel in the Crown' of a posting was completed In Time for the Tall Ships |
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Christine Blakey
Frequent Contributor
1206 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jul 2010 : 01:39:15
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It is a real concern given the well written and reported £10,000 deal that was trying to be set up. Noting that the mayor also had the football ground encouraging fans to vote for Stuart, the plot thickens?
In simple terms, I feel they should be transparent and honest with the recent history that lies within this topic.
I do not think any plans should be controversial when all HTH are wanting are resources for the town with easy accessibility and appropriate services. Well done HTH! A sound plan! Hope they take heed of your proposals?
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snowy
Frequent Contributor
161 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jul 2010 : 06:16:17
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Hold it right there...Brenda Road...? Are you serious? It's the hospital scenario all over again, the middle of nowhere, not served by public transport ... and accessible to car owners but difficult as hell for anyone else. A football club can actually be an asset to a town strange as it may seem and I detect an element of looking down ones nose emerging here. Why should the owners invest in something they don't own, would you build an extension on a council house...NO!
As for a central park, I cannot imagine a more ridiculous location, out of sight and almost as pointless as the pathetic interchange.
Plus ....who's going to foot the bill ...the days of wine and roses are well and truly over.
As for Leeds and Darlo visiting ..... do keep up. |
Edited by - snowy on 27 Jul 2010 06:17:23 |
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steveL
Frequent Contributor
564 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jul 2010 : 08:39:13
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WoW . . . a Pools Fan on HTH. I'll try to keep the number of syllables down to a minimum.
"It's the hospital scenario all over again"
LOL Hardly. Hartlepool Hospital has a catchment of some 180,000 people. Pools on the other hand had an average crowd of 3,444 in 2009/10. Assuming all attendees are from the town (which they ain't) that's 3.8% of the population.
"accessible to car owners but difficult as hell for anyone else."
Accessible to car owners yes and with plenty of space to park. This will save supporters gridlocking the Town Centre at 2pm and 5pm every other Saturday and parking their cars in Clarence and Middleton Roads as well as the Historic Quay, Maritime Avenue, ASDA and MORRISONS. As for those without cars, the buses are there to make money and will follow passengers wherever the demand is.
"A football club can actually be an asset to a town strange as it may seem."
Yes it can. NEXT.
"Why should the owners invest in something they don't own, would you build an extension on a council house...NO!"
The land at Brenda Road is unsuitable for housing and part of it was used as a landfill site (just like Victoria Park). Our suggestion is that it should be sold to Pools for a nominal fee in return for vacating Victoria park and as a gesture of support from the town.
"As for a central park, I cannot imagine a more ridiculous location, out of sight and almost as pointless as the pathetic interchange."
Victoria Park is one of very few remaining bits of green space in the town Centre and with the wasteland/unused space around it would make for a significantly sized park. Such a park would be to the benefit of all 90,000 people, seven days a week and not just to the benefit of 3,000 odd supporters for two hours every other week. Pointless? In an over-developed town centre like ours no green space is pointless.
"who's going to foot the bill?"
Being owners of the ground allows the owners to use it as capital security to raise money which is the main reason the current owners want to buy Victoria Park. There are also development grants available from the Football Leage, the Premier League as well as various Quangos.
Building a new ground at Brenda Road also allows the football ground to have its own Railway Halt and would leave those wishing to visit the town centre on a saturday afternoon free to do so without frequently encountering gangs of foul-mouthed 'supporters' looking for a fight with their neanderthal rivals.
Lastly, why should a town looking forward to the future not have a forward looking football club with a stadium fit for the 21st Century? Ask yourself - when Pools fans are being nostalgic, what is it they are being nostalgic about?
Both the town and the football club can do better.
. . . and on the same scale
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Edited by - steveL on 27 Jul 2010 09:34:03 |
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not4me
Frequent Contributor
174 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jul 2010 : 13:25:12
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I'm with HTH on this one. The football ground is only used by supporters for two-thirds of the year during the football season; even then it is only used every other Saturday; even then it is only used for two hours; even then by only an average of 3,400 people.
So summarising:
Victoria Park is only used by 3,400 members of the public for two hours on every other Saturday for just two-thirds of the year.
Is this the best use for prime piece of centrally located publicly owned land?
Er . . . no! |
Edited by - not4me on 27 Jul 2010 13:28:30 |
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future ex pat
Occasional Contributor
48 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jul 2010 : 14:10:20
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i think what he meant by do keep up.
they are all in different leagues. |
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snowy
Frequent Contributor
161 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jul 2010 : 17:26:41
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[quote]Originally posted by steveL
WoW . . . a Pools Fan on HTH. I'll try to keep the number of syllables down to a minimum.
"It's the hospital scenario all over again"
LOL Hardly. Hartlepool Hospital has a catchment of some 180,000 people. Pools on the other hand had an average crowd of 3,444 in 2009/10. Assuming all attendees are from the town (which they ain't) that's 3.8% of the population.
"accessible to car owners but difficult as hell for anyone else."
Accessible to car owners yes and with plenty of space to park. This will save supporters gridlocking the Town Centre at 2pm and 5pm every other Saturday and parking their cars in Clarence and Middleton Roads as well as the Historic Quay, Maritime Avenue, ASDA and MORRISONS. As for those without cars, the buses are there to make money and will follow passengers wherever the demand is.
"A football club can actually be an asset to a town strange as it may seem."
Yes it can. NEXT.
"Why should the owners invest in something they don't own, would you build an extension on a council house...NO!"
The land at Brenda Road is unsuitable for housing and part of it was used as a landfill site (just like Victoria Park). Our suggestion is that it should be sold to Pools for a nominal fee in return for vacating Victoria park and as a gesture of support from the town.
"As for a central park, I cannot imagine a more ridiculous location, out of sight and almost as pointless as the pathetic interchange."
Victoria Park is one of very few remaining bits of green space in the town Centre and with the wasteland/unused space around it would make for a significantly sized park. Such a park would be to the benefit of all 90,000 people, seven days a week and not just to the benefit of 3,000 odd supporters for two hours every other week. Pointless? In an over-developed town centre like ours no green space is pointless.
"who's going to foot the bill?"
Being owners of the ground allows the owners to use it as capital security to raise money which is the main reason the current owners want to buy Victoria Park. There are also development grants available from the Football Leage, the Premier League as well as various Quangos.
Building a new ground at Brenda Road also allows the football ground to have its own Railway Halt and would leave those wishing to visit the town centre on a saturday afternoon free to do so without frequently encountering gangs of foul-mouthed 'supporters' looking for a fight with their neanderthal rivals.
Lastly, why should a town looking forward to the future not have a forward looking football club with a stadium fit for the 21st Century? Ask yourself - when Pools fans are being nostalgic, what is it they are being nostalgic about?
Both the town and the football club can do better.
. . . and on the same scale
[/quot
Patronising ...four syllables. |
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Christine Blakey
Frequent Contributor
1206 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jul 2010 : 17:31:27
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Actually I can understand why people are looking at other venues when the current one is not being maximised. However recently they are holding wedding fairs and weddings.
If they extended it to do even more, that would also help to promote investment in the grounds and also promote Hartlepool tourism such as shopping, dining, drinking, site seeing etc.
They do have a sorts social inclusion project whereby Council Sports Officers work with schools to promote sport and combat anti-social behaviour and learning in general. It seems at the moment, Victoria Park does not have the drive needed to establish a wealth of activity that benefits the whole town and it's residents.
I was talking to Chris Turner last year about this but other things stopped me from following it up. He was really positive about exploring some ideas I had. I think I will get an update about the current position and see how it fits into this thread? |
Edited by - Christine Blakey on 27 Jul 2010 17:42:56 |
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Christine Blakey
Frequent Contributor
1206 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jul 2010 : 17:43:52
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| I will look into it tomorrow if possible and let you know. |
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hangem99
New on the Block
2 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jul 2010 : 17:57:28
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quote:
Originally posted by Christine Blakey
If they extended it to do even more, that would also help to promote investment in the grounds and also promote Hartlepool tourism such as shopping, dining, drinking, site seeing etc.
Would you shell out money to try and promote the town if you didnt own your own property. Maybe when they own the ground you may well see the investment that helps the town because it certainly needs its and hopefully the shopping centre wont turn into another billingham town centre cause believe me its not far behind!!!!
HTH......Hope-this-helps |
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steveL
Frequent Contributor
564 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jul 2010 : 18:48:07
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all of that would apply equally if the ground was re-located . . . and as for Chris Turner, bless 'im, I think he needs to concentrate on more pressing issues right now.
This 'Jewel in the Crown' of a posting was completed In Time for the Tall Ships |
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no6bus
Occasional Contributor
70 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jul 2010 : 21:23:11
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quote:
Originally posted by not4me
I'm with HTH on this one. The football ground is only used by supporters for two-thirds of the year during the football season; even then it is only used every other Saturday; even then it is only used for two hours; even then by only an average of 3,400 people.
So summarising:
Victoria Park is only used by 3,400 members of the public for two hours on every other Saturday for just two-thirds of the year.
Is this the best use for prime piece of centrally located publicly owned land?
Er . . . no!
so by that logic rovers rugby ground should be closed and a park created there as only 73 people make use of this ground on match days
extend burn valley onto catcote road where west are currently residing so more people use that
remove hartlepool cricket club and put a car park in its place for ward jackson park
yes i see where you are coming from |
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steveL
Frequent Contributor
564 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jul 2010 : 23:45:00
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- Rovers is not in the town centre
- If Burn Valley Gardens is already there why do you see a need to extend it?
- The Park area already has a park (the clue is in the name) so the cricket club can remain exactly where it is.
These pools supporters aren't especially bright are they - not surprised they all voted for Drummond. |
Edited by - steveL on 27 Jul 2010 23:49:18 |
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Hartlepool set for new mystery owners
