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McGill rallies support for new stadium
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| Jason McGill |
YORK City managing director Jason McGill has called for supporters to exert pressure on the local authority to speed up the move to a new
stadium.
In his programme notes for last night's home match against Northwich, McGill also described the club's annual £200,000 outgoings as a "constant struggle" which "cannot be funded without changes to the framework of the football club".
Majority shareholder McGill, did not elaborate on what such changes would entail but a smaller first-team squad, wage budget and the possible
disbandment of the reserve side now seem inevitable next season.
City pay almost £140,000 a year as part of the £2
million Football Foundation loan acquired to buy back Bootham Crescent from previous directors Douglas Craig, Barry Swallow and Colin Webb.
McGill also estimates that £60,000 is needed every year for the maintenance and upkeep of the current ground, but added that some of the club's financial concerns would be alleviated if some assurances can be given over relocation. In a plea to fans, he said: "Please help us lobby and exert pressure on local council representatives to publicly advocate,
champion, endorse and fully co-operate with York City to provide a superior community stadium for the people of York.
"The major stakeholders and decision makers in the city must now decide once and for all if a
professional club is viewed as an important asset for the local
community. As a board, we are acutely disappointed by the lack of progress in determining the club's new stadium ambitions.
"There must be a general agreement on the need and desire for a new community facility for the city. This is a vital component and will be highly influential in deciding the future of the football club not only in the long term but also over the coming weeks when the board will have the difficult task of financial budget preparation for next season.
"The cost of preserving this (Football League) structure is excessive and unachievable with the club's current income streams."
9:15am Wednesday 26th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: speaks99, Wakefield on 9:41am Wed 26 Mar 08
When will the FA wake up and see what is happening to lower league sides financially. Rotherham are the latest team to hit administration and Gretna could also end up winding up.
When 3-4 clubs a season end up going into administration it is time the FA took their heads out of the sand and started taking action now to stop this from happening as it is clear to every lower league fan in the country that things can't continue.
When will the FA wake up and see what is happening to lower league sides financially. Rotherham are the latest team to hit administration and Gretna could also end up winding up.
When 3-4 clubs a season end up going into administration it is time the FA took their heads out of the sand and started taking action now to stop this from happening as it is clear to every lower league fan in the country that things can't continue.
Posted by: brummie-ian, south bank on 9:58am Wed 26 Mar 08
Am I the only one who assumed that this was quietly being "sorted" behind the scenes ? - is this not the case ???
Am I the only one who assumed that this was quietly being "sorted" behind the scenes ? - is this not the case ???
Posted by: yorkie1, Selby on 10:07am Wed 26 Mar 08
How funny that this comes out on the day of the Supporters Trust AGM!
How funny that this comes out on the day of the Supporters Trust AGM!
Posted by: brian, york on 2:56pm Wed 26 Mar 08
i thought there was a least three choices doing the rounds? nestle site,behind the railway station and the old Britsh sugar site?
i thought there was a least three choices doing the rounds? nestle site,behind the railway station and the old Britsh sugar site?
Posted by: I remember Tommy Forgan, Lancashire on 4:23pm Wed 26 Mar 08
Can someone tell us what exactly is happening re the new stadium? I think it's about 4 years since the plan was first announced - I can't remember exactly, the club's official website news archive is rather vague on this particular matter and the Trust's website no longer seems to exist!
Surely by now some kind of progress should have been made. Mr McGill seems to think it's all the local authority's fault. I have a feeling it may not be that simple. Since it's costing the club £140,000 a year in interest charges to stay at the Crescent I would have thought that there would be more of a sense of urgency from someone. Information please!
Can someone tell us what exactly is happening re the new stadium? I think it's about 4 years since the plan was first announced - I can't remember exactly, the club's official website news archive is rather vague on this particular matter and the Trust's website no longer seems to exist!
Surely by now some kind of progress should have been made. Mr McGill seems to think it's all the local authority's fault. I have a feeling it may not be that simple. Since it's costing the club £140,000 a year in interest charges to stay at the Crescent I would have thought that there would be more of a sense of urgency from someone. Information please!
Posted by: Y-front, Surrey on 5:18pm Wed 26 Mar 08
speaks99, you have hit the nail on the head. Of course, the top heavy nature of the game, particularly the financial aspect, probably means the FA are not too bothered by grass roots issues. It's actually really alarming what is happening in small club land (not a place the authorities are familiar with). Witness the atitude of some of the "big" clubs to the FA Cup. No motivation towards cup glory, wembley history etc. when there's the Champions League troff to feast at. Ah well fingers crossed for Barnsley
speaks99, you have hit the nail on the head. Of course, the top heavy nature of the game, particularly the financial aspect, probably means the FA are not too bothered by grass roots issues. It's actually really alarming what is happening in small club land (not a place the authorities are familiar with). Witness the atitude of some of the "big" clubs to the FA Cup. No motivation towards cup glory, wembley history etc. when there's the Champions League troff to feast at. Ah well fingers crossed for Barnsley
Posted by: pfycfc95, Acomb, York on 5:49pm Wed 26 Mar 08
All this article says to me is reading between the lines is that we are out of ideas, McGill is trying to look caring and loyal but he is really thinking that he wants out!
He states"The major stakeholders and decision makers in the city must now decide once and for all if a professional club is viewed as an important asset for the local community. As a board, we are acutely disappointed by the lack of progress in determining the club's new stadium ambitions."
The first line to me says its a serious problem now that we could be out ofmoney and become part time, maybe worse!
I think McGill has had enough of been here! Maybe people agree or maybe your all going to slate me but end of day he is driving around in posh cars, designer suits and we are going nowhere and he hates it, not for the fans reasons of wanting to be a league side but because we are not a good investment till we are bankrupt and he gets his B shares back!
All this article says to me is reading between the lines is that we are out of ideas, McGill is trying to look caring and loyal but he is really thinking that he wants out!
He states"The major stakeholders and decision makers in the city must now decide once and for all if a professional club is viewed as an important asset for the local community. As a board, we are acutely disappointed by the lack of progress in determining the club's new stadium ambitions."
The first line to me says its a serious problem now that we could be out ofmoney and become part time, maybe worse!
I think McGill has had enough of been here! Maybe people agree or maybe your all going to slate me but end of day he is driving around in posh cars, designer suits and we are going nowhere and he hates it, not for the fans reasons of wanting to be a league side but because we are not a good investment till we are bankrupt and he gets his B shares back!
Posted by: marcali, spain on 6:31pm Wed 26 Mar 08
What you mean chairman gets to own large share of ground and then wants out.....I'm sure I read that somewhere else some years ago !!!
What you mean chairman gets to own large share of ground and then wants out.....I'm sure I read that somewhere else some years ago !!!
Posted by: lmp, York on 6:59pm Wed 26 Mar 08
Speaks99 and Y-Front,
Just to play devil's advocate here, why should these clubs have a god-given right to survive if they cannot fund full-time football?
The money at the top is brought in by the top clubs, so why shopuld it have to be filtered down at all?
Isn't it time all these smaller clubs started living to their means instead?
If you look around the world, we have far more professional clubs than anywhere else. Most nations have just a couple of professional divisions, then part-time leagues, leagues full of bigger clubs reserves etc.
Maybe the reality of all these clubs nearly going to the wall is that they have been living past their financial level far too long?
Speaks99 and Y-Front,
Just to play devil's advocate here, why should these clubs have a god-given right to survive if they cannot fund full-time football?
The money at the top is brought in by the top clubs, so why shopuld it have to be filtered down at all?
Isn't it time all these smaller clubs started living to their means instead?
If you look around the world, we have far more professional clubs than anywhere else. Most nations have just a couple of professional divisions, then part-time leagues, leagues full of bigger clubs reserves etc.
Maybe the reality of all these clubs nearly going to the wall is that they have been living past their financial level far too long?
Posted by: appydaze, york on 11:31pm Wed 26 Mar 08
Jason Mc Gill and his family are the nicest people you could meet.Rob their father has been a York City supporter from a child.They saw that the club was in grave danger and they stepped in.The move must happen and wouldnt we all want our money back with a profit and the club to survive.Mc Gills are York through and through.
Jason Mc Gill and his family are the nicest people you could meet.Rob their father has been a York City supporter from a child.They saw that the club was in grave danger and they stepped in.The move must happen and wouldnt we all want our money back with a profit and the club to survive.Mc Gills are York through and through.
Posted by: Monkey, Newcastle on 8:50am Thu 27 Mar 08
When you take the interest into account The McGills stand to make more of a profit from YCFC than Douggie or Snatch ever did as chairmen- lovely people, you're right. You say that 'wouldn't we all want our money back with a profit'? What about the loan note holders- we didn't ask for profit, and in the end- didn't even get the money back we'd put in.
Face it appydaze- Jason's hardly saying what the hold up is, is he? I'll happily contact the Council and put pressure on them, but to do what? I'd imagine that the hold up is that we can't afford a new stadium, and JMP would like the Council to fork out for it.
[italic]If[/italic] we get a new stadium, at least it will be handy for Monks Cross and Asda. I'd have thought it's more likely that the club will slide towards oblivion, JMP will get the remaining 25% of the club and 100% of YCFC's income from the sale of BC- laughing all the way to the tanning salon
When you take the interest into account The McGills stand to make more of a profit from YCFC than Douggie or Snatch ever did as chairmen- lovely people, you're right. You say that 'wouldn't we all want our money back with a profit'? What about the loan note holders- we didn't ask for profit, and in the end- didn't even get the money back we'd put in.
Face it appydaze- Jason's hardly saying what the hold up is, is he? I'll happily contact the Council and put pressure on them, but to do what? I'd imagine that the hold up is that we can't afford a new stadium, and JMP would like the Council to fork out for it.
If we get a new stadium, at least it will be handy for Monks Cross and Asda. I'd have thought it's more likely that the club will slide towards oblivion, JMP will get the remaining 25% of the club and 100% of YCFC's income from the sale of BC- laughing all the way to the tanning salon
Posted by: I remember Tommy Forgan, Lancashire on 9:46am Thu 27 Mar 08
Monkey's comments may seem harsh but I think he's spot on. I've no doubt that the McGills are very nice people and love York City but Jason is a shrewd businessman and he had so many safeguards built in to the takeover deal that he can't lose out whatever happens. If the club fold, he'll get his money back when the ground is sold. If the club is successful he'll get most of his money back (by way of unnecessarily high interest rates) and still, in effect, maintain absolute control - the small percentage owned by the Trust is, in real terms, meaningless. It's hard to know exactly what the deals are because of all the confidentiality clauses that the McGills seem obsessed with. If i've misinterpreted the situation I'm sure someone will put me straight.
I. too, have given money in the form of loan notes, bucket collections, etc etc without any chance of getting it back - in fact my wife has threatened divorce if I give any more from my pension while we have a millionaire chairman.
Monkey's comments may seem harsh but I think he's spot on. I've no doubt that the McGills are very nice people and love York City but Jason is a shrewd businessman and he had so many safeguards built in to the takeover deal that he can't lose out whatever happens. If the club fold, he'll get his money back when the ground is sold. If the club is successful he'll get most of his money back (by way of unnecessarily high interest rates) and still, in effect, maintain absolute control - the small percentage owned by the Trust is, in real terms, meaningless. It's hard to know exactly what the deals are because of all the confidentiality clauses that the McGills seem obsessed with. If i've misinterpreted the situation I'm sure someone will put me straight.
I. too, have given money in the form of loan notes, bucket collections, etc etc without any chance of getting it back - in fact my wife has threatened divorce if I give any more from my pension while we have a millionaire chairman.
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