A few notes from tonightâs meeting â anyone else who was there, please add, amend as you see fit⌠about 25 attendees and PACSA made a few bob too, which was nice.
Meeting was ably chaired by John Simmonds, PACSA Vice Chair.
John S opened the meeting at 7:30pm and asked James to make some intro remarks, then invited Q&A until around 9:00 pm, then a raffle.
Jamesâs intro remarks:
1. There will be an open Fansâ meeting on 25th October and a general update and Q&A wil be held then â a bit hamstrung by what he could say today.
2. Players â new signing Bobby Reid, injuries to Reuben Reid and Peter Hartley may make them miss Saturday at Accrington but not long term problems.
3. Two major corporate announcements to be made soon â good news for the club, as follows (there was more on these issue in the Q&A).
a. Legacy position â related to balloon payments due by October 2016 due tomorrow or Monday.
b. The new stand â due over the next couple of months. JB said he was reticent to make comments that created commitments that could then not be met.
4. He was keen to reiterate his commitment to, and passion for, the club, however noting that if a better owner (one who could take the club forward more effectively and faster) emerged, he would have no qualms about handing over the reins, but he is not wanting and doesnât expect to sell the club.
5. He also reiterated the key to success on the pitch remains financial sustainability, while the long term aim of reaching the upper leagues remains.
Q&A:
Q: With the Bretonside development, it might appear that the City Council is working against you.
JB: Bretonside is a challenge, Plymouth does not need three multiplexes â the bottom line is that he does not want conflict between PAFC and PCC.
Q: How do you feel you are doing against the previously stated three objectives (from PACSA meeting in Launceston back in 2012), relating to progress on the pitch, better facilities for fans and treating fans as customers?
JB: With our budget last year (top 7-9 in the Division) and this, (similar) we should be looking to go up. We are investing in a good squad and things are looking up. Facilities and customer issues strongly tied up with the Grandstand but improvements being made in existing facilities where possible (see for example the family area). JB drew a parallel with Swansea in terms of style (of facilities for fans and of quality of football) as aspirations for us, we need to continue to create a virtuous circle he said.
Q: When will the new stand be built.
JB: It will take nine months after construction starts but there is an asbestos removal issue that needs to be done first â making it look like nothing is being done even after Grandstand fans are moved out. We are now looking to deliver the grandstand first - bringing its phasing forward relative to other development elements and are working to achieve that. It is this phasing that will form the basis of the announcement referred to above (to be made within a couple of months).
Q: It appears that the Grandstand is drifting, that the scale of HHP development is now acting as an impediment to Grandstand progress in some ways. Are there ways to stop the âdriftâ, e.g. through new partnerships, better use of existing ones (esp. with PCC), and if any changes in these arrangements are made, can this give the opportunity for making the Grandstand design better?
JB: We are very much looking to simplify the Grandstand process â this is our Plan B. Investors remain very keen to fund leisure development (esp. as the bottom has fallen out of retail), so it isnât a matter of needing to attract additional funds for the capital but of filling spaces. Simplifying the Grandstand process (and relatively fast tracking it) is the aim and it may well allow for some elements of the design to be improved. JB further noted that it is the cinema which drives the development finance.
Q: Stewarding problems in the Lyndhurst with stewards directing people away from some exits. Discussion among meeting attendees about when the happened, during and after matches.
JB: Undertook to look into the issue.
Q: Location of coach parking unsatisfactory.
JB: Undertook to look into the issue.
Q: Plymouth Albion as tenants?
JB: We have good relations with them but are not discussing this issue.
Q: Have we still got a licence for four concerts a year at HP?
JB: Yes but we are hoping HP will be a building site for a summerâŚ
Q: How will you fund the balloon payments and what happens if you canât? And how much is it?
JB: Canât give you a direct answer, this is what the announcement will be about tomorrow or Monday. Very confident that payment will be made, but for info, non-payment is same as for any corporate debt. How much? At this stage, approx ÂŁ1.4 to ÂŁ1.6m after paying off around ÂŁ2m.
Q: How do we report attendances?
JB: The standard is to report sold seats (i.e. including ST holders who do not come); PAFC applies this standard.
Q: What is your position on safe standing?
JB: If it was a (legal) option and if fans were in support, then we would do it. PAFC will support petitions for safe standing (JB noted it gives better market differentiation and so will help attendances etc).
Q: Problem of some clubs charging away fans more than home fans.
JB: Clubs are not allowed to do so â for similar accommodation, although they are allowed to do up to four (?) discounted games for home supporters per season. Argyle does not a=charge away fans more and wonât.
Q: Where do you stand on League 3 Proposal?
JB: Against. JB said he was surprised that someone as bright as Greg Dyke would come up with such an idea and thought it could never happen.
Q: Is football top heavy (PL Money).
JB: Yes and should be regulated better.
Q: Conor Hourihane. could/should we have kept him.
JB: We didnât want him to go but he was adamant he wanted to leave and pressed very hard to do so. We negotiated hard with Barnsley (their first offer was a mere 50k) and got every penny we wanted including significant add ons.
I think there was another question but I forgot to write it down!
Errors and omissions down to me.
Cheers, Peter Ryan.
