Knights to sit back on community stadium development (From York Press)

Good. Guildford can have his doubts all he wants if he gets round the table. The University, the NHS, the Athletics Club, the Football team and the Knights are all stake holders in this. They are best served working together.

Good old Guildford. Name in the Press again and "sitting back" waiting to put another spanner in the works. The council are talking to you Guildford, so get on board now and listen you buffoon ! Get involved. I think most people knew the Athletics club were moving to the University.

What a very curious man Mr. Guilford is, I think that the majority of York's residents welcome this development, both for the sporting facilities and the new shops, not least the long overdue presence of a John Lewis in the city. There also remains a handful of people stubbornly opposed, and although self interest shouldn't be overlooked it is outweighed by the need and crushing support for the venture, a third element who are as yet undecided and finally John Guilford, who's had more information about the project from an earlier date than almost anybody and still changes his stance at regular intervals with rejection or support for the scheme or even an obscure alternative. This does nothing but muddy the waters for those trying to make sense of the complicated saga. I wonder what bizarre announcement he'll make next week.

If you take away some of the ego-rhetoric, I actually think this is good news in that I detect some acceptance from Mr G. About time of course, but welcome all the same. Now lets get the thing built.

I think the point is there is nothing to agree to at present so like YCFC and the Athletics club the Knights are just going to wait and see what the Council come up with.

Please bear in mind that nearly £400k has been spent already on these 'discussions'.

It does not say anywhere that the Knights will not be involved in further discussions. The Knights have already given the Council everything they could possibly require and more.

Thats one way of putting it....

kanchelskis wrote:
I think the point is there is nothing to agree to at present so like YCFC and the Athletics club the Knights are just going to wait and see what the Council come up with.

Please bear in mind that nearly £400k has been spent already on these 'discussions'.

It does not say anywhere that the Knights will not be involved in further discussions. The Knights have already given the Council everything they could possibly require and more.

So if there's nothing to agree to, there's nothing to disgree with either. So why did Guildford oppose the plans? You can't have it both ways.

Good job he's two-faced, because his first one has egg all over it.

kanchelskis wrote:
I think the point is there is nothing to agree to at present so like YCFC and the Athletics club the Knights are just going to wait and see what the Council come up with.

Please bear in mind that nearly £400k has been spent already on these 'discussions'.

It does not say anywhere that the Knights will not be involved in further discussions. The Knights have already given the Council everything they could possibly require and more.

So if there's nothing to agree to, there's nothing to disgree with either. So why did Guildford oppose the plans? You can't have it both ways.

Good job he's two-faced, because his first one has egg all over it.

kanchelskis wrote:
I think the point is there is nothing to agree to at present so like YCFC and the Athletics club the Knights are just going to wait and see what the Council come up with. Please bear in mind that nearly £400k has been spent already on these 'discussions'. It does not say anywhere that the Knights will not be involved in further discussions. The Knights have already given the Council everything they could possibly require and more.

Well I guess thats about as positive a spin on Guildford as you could put after his latest shambles. Get ready for Guildfords "spanner in works" part two in a few months.

Yeahbutno wrote:

kanchelskis wrote: I think the point is there is nothing to agree to at present so like YCFC and the Athletics club the Knights are just going to wait and see what the Council come up with. Please bear in mind that nearly £400k has been spent already on these 'discussions'. It does not say anywhere that the Knights will not be involved in further discussions. The Knights have already given the Council everything they could possibly require and more.

So if there's nothing to agree to, there's nothing to disgree with either. So why did Guildford oppose the plans? You can't have it both ways. Good job he's two-faced, because his first one has egg all over it.

Good lord, you have totally missed the point as well. Don't worry you're not alone. The point is none of us know what we're going to get yet we're being told to agree to it! Get this thing through planning, build the big shops and then what? A rubbish stadium, no way of making it sustainable, nowhere to train and rubbish facilities at the uni. That is the outcome the knights are opposed to. Good luck to whoever is working to make sure that doesn't happen - including guildford.

J George101 wrote:

Yeahbutno wrote:

kanchelskis wrote: I think the point is there is nothing to agree to at present so like YCFC and the Athletics club the Knights are just going to wait and see what the Council come up with. Please bear in mind that nearly £400k has been spent already on these 'discussions'. It does not say anywhere that the Knights will not be involved in further discussions. The Knights have already given the Council everything they could possibly require and more.

So if there's nothing to agree to, there's nothing to disgree with either. So why did Guildford oppose the plans? You can't have it both ways. Good job he's two-faced, because his first one has egg all over it.

Good lord, you have totally missed the point as well. Don't worry you're not alone. The point is none of us know what we're going to get yet we're being told to agree to it! Get this thing through planning, build the big shops and then what? A rubbish stadium, no way of making it sustainable, nowhere to train and rubbish facilities at the uni. That is the outcome the knights are opposed to. Good luck to whoever is working to make sure that doesn't happen - including guildford.

Well that isn't what he's saying in this article at all!

J George101 wrote:

Yeahbutno wrote:

kanchelskis wrote: I think the point is there is nothing to agree to at present so like YCFC and the Athletics club the Knights are just going to wait and see what the Council come up with. Please bear in mind that nearly £400k has been spent already on these 'discussions'. It does not say anywhere that the Knights will not be involved in further discussions. The Knights have already given the Council everything they could possibly require and more.

So if there's nothing to agree to, there's nothing to disgree with either. So why did Guildford oppose the plans? You can't have it both ways. Good job he's two-faced, because his first one has egg all over it.

Good lord, you have totally missed the point as well. Don't worry you're not alone. The point is none of us know what we're going to get yet we're being told to agree to it! Get this thing through planning, build the big shops and then what? A rubbish stadium, no way of making it sustainable, nowhere to train and rubbish facilities at the uni. That is the outcome the knights are opposed to. Good luck to whoever is working to make sure that doesn't happen - including guildford.

That simply isn't true. The athletics people are pleased, YCFC are pleased, its only JG who wasn't. Somewhere to train will be part of the deal as promised by the Council. Surely Knights fans can also see the stadium will be better than HS, which those of us who have been there can only describe as soulless. It also difficult for Mr Guildford to complain too much about premises as doesn't he currently owe £23,000 relating to HS?
Lets not create difficulties where they don't exist; this stadium will be good for York, as simply facilities have benefited countless other towns and cities. Its our turn, don't let one man and a few self-interested traders ruin it.

Mr Guildford, being in the trade, should know the planning process better than most. The current application is to get an agreement in principal to the concept of a new ground, offices, etc. Its normal for subsequent detail to then be thrashed out and this will come from discussions with all key stakeholders.
This latest strange missive sounds more like a bit of smoke and mirrors to cover JGs rather embarrassing vault-face last week when he had to admit alternative stadium plans were nothing but hot air.
That said, its good to see him buying into the concept, albeit it in his own curious way. Please no more 'games' though.

Oh come on, AndyD. We've had all this about the alternative stadium 'plans'. They looked like good suggestions but the council maybe didnt want to admit that cos it would make them look stupid so gave them short shrift. It was a council decision not to progress them not guildford's. Maybe they were right maybe they werent, but please stop with this 'hot air' nonesense! Anyway we all know City are happy - theyve no choice. The athletics like the knights might be happy if they get decent and affordble facilities - but we still dont know that! Most knights fans i can assure you would rather play at a soulless HS than see the club go bust in a new one. Please try to see things other than through your blinkered rose tinted glasses. You're right about one thing - Guildford is the only one of the 'interested parties' who is in the planning/development trade. I hope you're right that it'll all end rosey but i'm not sure there's enough evidence of it yet.

Agree to disagree J.George. But at the end of the day, the plan was allegedly put out by JG as an alternative. Only when Alexander 'outed' it did he back track. I think the Knights are a great outfit and want them to prosper, so less of the rose tinted accusations; you don't know me. I respect your support for Mr Guildford, its your opinion, but many of us don't share it and not all of them are York City fans.

I'm not sure Alexander 'outed' anything. The Knights told the council it wasnt a planning application all along! All the council have now said is it wasnt a planning application! It was a suggestion for the council to look at to help them. The council for whatever reason chose not to look at it. Anyway why has noone asked why the council or city or oakgate didnt come up with this better plan in the first plac, rather than criticise the guy who did?! It was there job wasnt it? I actually dont support guildford any more than i support city but to be fair to the man, he points out problems with the scheme, like no training facilities, he gets moaned at. He says assurances need to be concrete not on some flimsy piece of paper otherwise the clubs could go bust, he gets moaned at. He comes up with a better plan, gets moaned at. He now says fair enough i'll leave it to you lot, and he gets moaned at. No doubt if it becomes a big flop and one or both of the clubs go bust it'll all be his fault! lol

J George

It all boils down to Guildford not attending meetings again. You can't tell me that these concerns have not been raised before now. These should have been discussed with the council years ago, when the meetings first started. Guildford could have approached local clubs like Heworth regarding the possible sharing of Training facilities and then brought them to the table. The Gym and Pool at Monks Cross are staying as far as i'm aware with the Oakgate plan. Most people are behind the only reallistic plans. I'm fed up of seeing and hearing Guildford in the Press crying like a baby. Once again, get on board or do we have to wait another 6 months before he starts criticising the next stage. His plans look ok, but months too late.

walwynwasgod wrote:
J George

It all boils down to Guildford not attending meetings again. You can't tell me that these concerns have not been raised before now. These should have been discussed with the council years ago, when the meetings first started. Guildford could have approached local clubs like Heworth regarding the possible sharing of Training facilities and then brought them to the table. The Gym and Pool at Monks Cross are staying as far as i'm aware with the Oakgate plan. Most people are behind the only reallistic plans. I'm fed up of seeing and hearing Guildford in the Press crying like a baby. Once again, get on board or do we have to wait another 6 months before he starts criticising the next stage. His plans look ok, but months too late.

Exactly. Sorry J.George, but you are in a minority if you think JG has been a driving force behind this issue. All I see are various spanners being thrown into the operation, an alternative proposal that was definitely trumpeted as an ALTERNATIVE until JA exposed things, and...well we all know the rest. Then there is the issue of the unpaid £23k? What is all that about. Agree to disagree - but personally and many others see professionalism from one side (Oakgate/YCFC/York Athletics/Council) and bizarre Press soundings off from the other. I do agree with you that time will tell though.

Yes yes and thrice yes, it was very much an 'alternative' - should the council want to look at it. But they didn't. It was their call. I dont understand why that's so hard for some people to understand?? I'd actually like JA to 'expose' why they didn't look at it, or why they didnt think of it, but it's all about saving face now and not admitting theyve wasted god knows how much money. About this £23,000, i've now idea but no-one else seems bothered by it so i suspect it's not a problem. About guildford not attending meetings - that's an old one and not really valid. All the issues with this scheme and the training and sustainability have been discussed with the council for about 7 years!! If they don't know by now they'll never know - which to me is a worry! But there you go. It might get sorted.

Yes yes and thrice yes, it was very much an 'alternative' - should the council want to look at it. But they didn't. It was their call. I dont understand why that's so hard for some people to understand?? I'd actually like JA to 'expose' why they didn't look at it, or why they didnt think of it, but it's all about saving face now and not admitting theyve wasted god knows how much money. About this £23,000, i've now idea but no-one else seems bothered by it so i suspect it's not a problem. About guildford not attending meetings - that's an old one and not really valid. All the issues with this scheme and the training and sustainability have been discussed with the council for about 7 years!! If they don't know by now they'll never know - which to me is a worry! But there you go. It might get sorted.

J George

How can you say that Guildford not attending meetings is not a valid point ? Is the man a mind reader ? It may be an old point, but its a valid point ! Yes, exactly, the issues will have been discussed in the last 7 years (hopefully with Mr G present !) and it will get sorted when everyone is working together. I have stated before that i want ALL sport to succeed in York.