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Leaders: 'You can’t blame us'
POLITICAL parties today queued up to claim they weren't to blame for York City's stadium plans
grinding to a halt.
After managing director Jason McGill told fans attending the York City Supporters' Trust meeting that he was tired of the club being used as a "political football", as exclusively reported in The Press
yesterday, below, the city's two main parties weighed into the Minstermen
stadium debate.
McGill told supporters at Wednesday's meeting he feared the political situation on City of York Council, which is currently hung, was not helping the club's cause, saying: "It's difficult to negotiate with a hung council. There's a lot of politics
flying around though you would think every party would support a new stadium for the city."
Now, the Labour party - the main
opposition group on the council - moved to "set the record straight" on McGill's political football allegations.
Leader Dave Scott said he was as "frustrated" as the City managing director on the matter.
"Labour is currently not in control of the council, but is completely committed to working with other parties to deliver a new stadium as the new home of York City football club," he said.
"My fellow councillors and I have never been approached by York City's representatives to discuss the issue, and we have not been party to any discussions with the council concerning the club's move.
"If I'm honest, I'm as frustrated as Mr McGill about this and think the matter should be progressed as a matter of urgency."
Scott added: "I would also add that I am a ward councillor for Clifton. The future of the football ground could have a significant impact on my ward. Myself and my fellow councillors have not been approached in that capacity either."
Coun Scott continued: "There seems to be a veil of secrecy around this issue. Political arrangements as they stand have not involved Labour having an input so we can not be accused of stalling the process.
"We acknowledge York City needs a new home and it is really down to the council to get on and sort it out, or come out and say what is holding up the decision.
"The location chosen will be of great interest to residents and supporters so it is high time the Lib Dem/Tory coalition came clean and told people what is going on."
Coun Steve Galloway, council and Liberal Democrat leader, said: "The Labour group know as much as other members of the council regarding the negotiations which have been going on between the football club and the (private) owner of the land that is the club's preferred site.
"The council will only become formally involved when a planning application has been submitted. David Scott should be aware of the question included in the survey of residents' opinions commissioned as part of the Local Development Framework process and which sought views on whether a stadium site should be reserved within the York North West development area.
"The results of this poll are currently being evaluated by council officers. David Scott has chosen not to attend the fortnightly group leaders' briefing meetings, so he can expect to gradually become even more out of touch with what is going on."
9:19am Friday 28th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: OB, Riccall on 9:33am Fri 28 Mar 08
Has someone been telling porkies Mr McGill?
Has someone been telling porkies Mr McGill?
Posted by: Viking God, York on 10:06am Fri 28 Mar 08
By the sounds of it, as usual, they are all as bad as each other.
Get [bold]all[/bold] of your acts together.
By the sounds of it, as usual, they are all as bad as each other.
Get
all of your acts together.
Posted by: jcyorkie, huntington on 10:38am Fri 28 Mar 08
Galloway you look like a clown sound like a clown and behave like a clown the only time we see you is when a good news story needs a photo, go to Darlington and stay there, have you ever paid to attend a city match, we are well placed to have a venue that can do more than host a football match, look at Doncaster and Huddersfield, both councils played a big hand in securing a stadium of value to the city, hosting concerts that bring 10s of thousands of people to the respestive towns, spening lots of money and paying parking fees, give your head a shake Galloway............
Galloway you look like a clown sound like a clown and behave like a clown the only time we see you is when a good news story needs a photo, go to Darlington and stay there, have you ever paid to attend a city match, we are well placed to have a venue that can do more than host a football match, look at Doncaster and Huddersfield, both councils played a big hand in securing a stadium of value to the city, hosting concerts that bring 10s of thousands of people to the respestive towns, spening lots of money and paying parking fees, give your head a shake Galloway............
Posted by: jaycee, york on 10:55am Fri 28 Mar 08
This saga is turning out to be like an episode of the Chuckle Brothers-TO ME TO YOU TO ME TO YOU with no one from either the club or the council accepting responsibility.I understood a site had to be named by September as part of the agreement regarding the loan.Sadly the reality seems to point to Ryedale which could spell the death knell for the club.
This saga is turning out to be like an episode of the Chuckle Brothers-TO ME TO YOU TO ME TO YOU with no one from either the club or the council accepting responsibility.I understood a site had to be named by September as part of the agreement regarding the loan.Sadly the reality seems to point to Ryedale which could spell the death knell for the club.
Posted by: I remember Tommy Forgan, Lancashire on 11:51am Fri 28 Mar 08
Well said Viking God and jaycee. It would be nice if someone took responsibility for getting things moving and keeping fans informed, rather than just blaming each other for what hasn't happened. It appears that virtually nothing has happened in the last four years, except that the club has paid over half a million pounds in interest on the loan. Personally I don't care where a new ground is put (well almost) so long as it can be used for the community and is a facility that York can be proud of - but please don't mention the "H" word.
Well said Viking God and jaycee. It would be nice if someone took responsibility for getting things moving and keeping fans informed, rather than just blaming each other for what hasn't happened. It appears that virtually nothing has happened in the last four years, except that the club has paid over half a million pounds in interest on the loan. Personally I don't care where a new ground is put (well almost) so long as it can be used for the community and is a facility that York can be proud of - but please don't mention the "H" word.
Posted by: Tonyone on 11:56am Fri 28 Mar 08
[quote]Sadly the reality seems to point to Ryedale which could spell the death knell for the club.[/quote]
Don't start that nonsense again, Huntington stadium is not viable. We've been through all that and it will never work.
Sadly the reality seems to point to Ryedale which could spell the death knell for the club.
Don't start that nonsense again, Huntington stadium is not viable. We've been through all that and it will never work.
Posted by: jaycee, york on 12:36pm Fri 28 Mar 08
I understand what you are saying Tonyone but at the moment it is viable for a mid table conference side ,unfortunately.
I understand what you are saying Tonyone but at the moment it is viable for a mid table conference side ,unfortunately.
Posted by: Mac, York on 3:30pm Fri 28 Mar 08
Conference and lower league football is too conventional for the trendy lefty types who control COYC. Had African drumming, circle dancing, street theatre etc been involved the new stadium would have been embraced by the lefty establishment as another venue for their grant-aided work-shirker friends to perform in!
Conference and lower league football is too conventional for the trendy lefty types who control COYC. Had African drumming, circle dancing, street theatre etc been involved the new stadium would have been embraced by the lefty establishment as another venue for their grant-aided work-shirker friends to perform in!
Posted by: LibDem, York on 7:29pm Fri 28 Mar 08
[quote][bold]jcyorkie[/bold] wrote:
Galloway you look like a clown sound like a clown and behave like a clown the only time we see you is when a good news story needs a photo, go to Darlington and stay there, have you ever paid to attend a city match, we are well placed to have a venue that can do more than host a football match, look at Doncaster and Huddersfield, both councils played a big hand in securing a stadium of value to the city, hosting concerts that bring 10s of thousands of people to the respestive towns, spening lots of money and paying parking fees, give your head a shake Galloway............[/quote] Actually he's been there this season, but, more to the point, stadia in other City's such as Doncaster have been funded by the sale of Council owned land -which York simply doesn't have.
You may find that, even a relatively successful club like Doncaster, is having difficulty paying the rent for the new ground.
The popularity of pop concerts as big revenue earners is an illusion. There simply aren't enough popular acts around - at the right price - who can attract 10,000+ attendances.
York will get its community stadium when the Clubs preferred site is released by its present private owners or when a site in York North West becomes available.
jcyorkie wrote:
Galloway you look like a clown sound like a clown and behave like a clown the only time we see you is when a good news story needs a photo, go to Darlington and stay there, have you ever paid to attend a city match, we are well placed to have a venue that can do more than host a football match, look at Doncaster and Huddersfield, both councils played a big hand in securing a stadium of value to the city, hosting concerts that bring 10s of thousands of people to the respestive towns, spening lots of money and paying parking fees, give your head a shake Galloway............
Actually he's been there this season, but, more to the point, stadia in other City's such as Doncaster have been funded by the sale of Council owned land -which York simply doesn't have.
You may find that, even a relatively successful club like Doncaster, is having difficulty paying the rent for the new ground.
The popularity of pop concerts as big revenue earners is an illusion. There simply aren't enough popular acts around - at the right price - who can attract 10,000+ attendances.
York will get its community stadium when the Clubs preferred site is released by its present private owners or when a site in York North West becomes available.
Posted by: marcali, spain on 9:17pm Fri 28 Mar 08
[quote][bold]LibDem[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]jcyorkie[/bold] wrote: Galloway you look like a clown sound like a clown and behave like a clown the only time we see you is when a good news story needs a photo, go to Darlington and stay there, have you ever paid to attend a city match, we are well placed to have a venue that can do more than host a football match, look at Doncaster and Huddersfield, both councils played a big hand in securing a stadium of value to the city, hosting concerts that bring 10s of thousands of people to the respestive towns, spening lots of money and paying parking fees, give your head a shake Galloway............[/quote] Actually he's been there this season, but, more to the point, stadia in other City's such as Doncaster have been funded by the sale of Council owned land -which York simply doesn't have. You may find that, even a relatively successful club like Doncaster, is having difficulty paying the rent for the new ground. The popularity of pop concerts as big revenue earners is an illusion. There simply aren't enough popular acts around - at the right price - who can attract 10,000+ attendances. York will get its community stadium when the Clubs preferred site is released by its present private owners or when a site in York North West becomes available.[/quote] So libdem will that be before the time agreement with persimmon expires, after the club has gone into administration or before...I think the council have for years shown a total uninterest in the club and in recent years we have had chairmen who like to make money....enough said
LibDem wrote:
jcyorkie wrote: Galloway you look like a clown sound like a clown and behave like a clown the only time we see you is when a good news story needs a photo, go to Darlington and stay there, have you ever paid to attend a city match, we are well placed to have a venue that can do more than host a football match, look at Doncaster and Huddersfield, both councils played a big hand in securing a stadium of value to the city, hosting concerts that bring 10s of thousands of people to the respestive towns, spening lots of money and paying parking fees, give your head a shake Galloway............
Actually he's been there this season, but, more to the point, stadia in other City's such as Doncaster have been funded by the sale of Council owned land -which York simply doesn't have. You may find that, even a relatively successful club like Doncaster, is having difficulty paying the rent for the new ground. The popularity of pop concerts as big revenue earners is an illusion. There simply aren't enough popular acts around - at the right price - who can attract 10,000+ attendances. York will get its community stadium when the Clubs preferred site is released by its present private owners or when a site in York North West becomes available.
So libdem will that be before the time agreement with persimmon expires, after the club has gone into administration or before...I think the council have for years shown a total uninterest in the club and in recent years we have had chairmen who like to make money....enough said
Posted by: Billy Boy, York on 8:13am Sat 29 Mar 08
Hurryup and move for crying out loud, on football days i cannot park my car due to the footy hooligans!!. Oy David Scott shut up you do naff all but moan
Hurryup and move for crying out loud, on football days i cannot park my car due to the footy hooligans!!. Oy David Scott shut up you do naff all but moan
Posted by: appydaze, york on 8:32pm Sat 29 Mar 08
The grat City of York needs a new ground urgently before we become a Scarbro situation. But dont build a stadium as big as Darlington where 3,500 fans look at 21,500 empty seats each match. A 10,000 stadium with an option to build bigger as the club progress is enough.
The grat City of York needs a new ground urgently before we become a Scarbro situation. But dont build a stadium as big as Darlington where 3,500 fans look at 21,500 empty seats each match. A 10,000 stadium with an option to build bigger as the club progress is enough.
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