Quote ="mr. chairman"Just to keep everyone updated Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2013 4:47 pm Post subject: Lease update Further to our meeting on Monday, we can confirm that our solicitor has written to the Council putting forward proposals to resolve this matter on the basis that the club retains the bar. The council have rejected these proposals and have indicated that they intend to proceed with the bar take over on the 8th July. Should the Council take over the bar the revenue we can raise solely from rugby will need to meet all training costs (usually met in full by the bar profits). There will also be additional costs, which cannot be quantified yet, attributable to the loss of the bar. One of the major difficulties with this approach is that the expenditure and income we receive as a rugby club fluctuates wildly for year to year. We anticipate that the rugby club income may decrease as a result of grants, which have become increasingly difficult to source and because of a reduction of gate receipts this year. Expenditure on matters such as referees and transport increase year on year. As you will be able to work out the financial position for the club may prove catastrophic. The only way to raise additional revenue would be to levy considerable extra payments on members by way of increased subscriptions and membership fees and additional fund raising. As the costs we are talking about are significant (potentially £20,000 plus) these rises could be significant. The further problem is that the council have indicated that they will honour our free pitch hire subsidy of £ 21,500.00 for three years but will not guarantee that figure beyond that date. Should that subsidy be removed there will then be yet another massive financial demand on the club and hence its members. We therefore ask that you let us have your comments by email as to whether you could support an increase in membership fees and subscriptions and at what level of subscription you feel that this would be unsustainable to you. We would ask that you forward any comments you have to the below email address so that we can forward them on to the council, so please, only provide information you are happy for us to disclose. camcculloch@blueyonder.co.uk The council’s position is that they cannot afford to subsidise the club to the extent that it has and that any additional burden of expenditure must fall on the members as we have excellent facilities and must be expected to pay more for them. Firstly, this was never the basis upon which we were offered the club in the first place – we already pay more for training costs than any other amateur rugby club that we are aware of – and secondly that this will bring upon a financial burden on our members that as an amateur, volunteer led, rugby club, we will simply be unable to sustain. You also may wish to contact your local councillor with your concerns, details which can be found on the Council website. We have been told that a decision has been already been made by the Council’s Cabinet (although we cannot find any minutes of that meeting) and that it may be too late to overturn that decision. We were not consulted upon before a decision of such massive impact to our club was made and therefore were not in a position to put forward information to the Cabinet to enable it to make an informed decision. [We have also made Andy Burnham aware of our position and await hearing from him as to whether he is prepared to meet with us. _________________ Have wheels will travel. I can go any where I want!!!!'" Surely someone has a copy of the original contract offer that the council made to Easts. Just refer Back to the terms of that. I take it nobody at Easts was stupid enough to move without a watertight contract?

Quote ="mr. chairman"Just to keep everyone updated Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2013 4:47 pm Post subject: Lease update Further to our meeting on Monday, we can confirm that our solicitor has written to the Council putting forward proposals to resolve this matter on the basis that the club retains the bar. The council have rejected these proposals and have indicated that they intend to proceed with the bar take over on the 8th July. Should the Council take over the bar the revenue we can raise solely from rugby will need to meet all training costs (usually met in full by the bar profits). There will also be additional costs, which cannot be quantified yet, attributable to the loss of the bar. One of the major difficulties with this approach is that the expenditure and income we receive as a rugby club fluctuates wildly for year to year. We anticipate that the rugby club income may decrease as a result of grants, which have become increasingly difficult to source and because of a reduction of gate receipts this year. Expenditure on matters such as referees and transport increase year on year. As you will be able to work out the financial position for the club may prove catastrophic. The only way to raise additional revenue would be to levy considerable extra payments on members by way of increased subscriptions and membership fees and additional fund raising. As the costs we are talking about are significant (potentially £20,000 plus) these rises could be significant. The further problem is that the council have indicated that they will honour our free pitch hire subsidy of £ 21,500.00 for three years but will not guarantee that figure beyond that date. Should that subsidy be removed there will then be yet another massive financial demand on the club and hence its members. We therefore ask that you let us have your comments by email as to whether you could support an increase in membership fees and subscriptions and at what level of subscription you feel that this would be unsustainable to you. We would ask that you forward any comments you have to the below email address so that we can forward them on to the council, so please, only provide information you are happy for us to disclose. camcculloch@blueyonder.co.uk The council’s position is that they cannot afford to subsidise the club to the extent that it has and that any additional burden of expenditure must fall on the members as we have excellent facilities and must be expected to pay more for them. Firstly, this was never the basis upon which we were offered the club in the first place – we already pay more for training costs than any other amateur rugby club that we are aware of – and secondly that this will bring upon a financial burden on our members that as an amateur, volunteer led, rugby club, we will simply be unable to sustain. You also may wish to contact your local councillor with your concerns, details which can be found on the Council website. We have been told that a decision has been already been made by the Council’s Cabinet (although we cannot find any minutes of that meeting) and that it may be too late to overturn that decision. We were not consulted upon before a decision of such massive impact to our club was made and therefore were not in a position to put forward information to the Cabinet to enable it to make an informed decision. [We have also made Andy Burnham aware of our position and await hearing from him as to whether he is prepared to meet with us. _________________ Have wheels will travel. I can go any where I want!!!!'" Surely someone has a copy of the original contract offer that the council made to Easts. Just refer Back to the terms of that. I take it nobody at Easts was stupid enough to move without a watertight contract?

Keith,

I am not a member of Leigh East but - like many on here no doubt - I am deeply concerned by the position in which the club now finds itself and the stress and anxiety which this matter is causing to many of us. I hope that it can be satisfactorily resolved - and fairly quickly.

Can I though ask a couple of questions as an "outsider"?

1. What has brought this matter to the fore now? Is the club in arrears with any rent (I'm not asking you to state the amount, if any, nor to disclose any confidential information), is the initial lease at an end or is it the result of the financial pressures now being felt by the Council?

2. Did the club ever get a valuation of the old Grasmere Street ground as I feel that any renegotiations now should take into account the full market value of that land housing / commercial development purposes not forgetting that Easts's parcel of land is a key one for the whole site given that access to the site must now come from the bypass and thus cross the land which East occupied?

I doubt East would give up their own bar and any revenue streams at Grasmere Street without ensuring contractually they are afforded equal or additional revenue streams at LSV,

Surely?

I don't read things very well after a few glasses of vin rouge but why do the LSV want to take over the stewardship of the bar if Leigh East are doing such a sterling job?

So that they can pocket the profits I presume

I have to say that my vote will be with Leigh East all the way untill someone can show that they are irresponsible.

Don't follow either easts or miners but east must survive for the sake of our young kids who play junior rugby.

Would gladly donate to a fighting fund or something of a similar nature if it would help buy time.

What terms were Easts verbally offered before they moved from grasmere st and what are the terms now actually on offer?

I hope that there are minutes and recordings of these meetings kept because politicians and councillors have been known to bend the truth to there own agendas.

I hardly went watching Leigh Genesis, but felt sorry about what happened to them....BUT can't believe this can happen to Leigh East. Was amazed by the Coventry City situation, in the city of Coventry !!!!
The LSV should do ANYTHING to help the local community....THIS STINKS.
I HATE all this, I really do miss Grasmere St/Hilton Park, it felt REAL.
Keith 'Mr Chairman' really hope this has the 'ending' that it should have.
How do Leigh Harriers go on ?
Bet they have 'issues' going on surely.
Guess whilst Blackburn Rovers are paying their reserves to play there, LSV are happy enough with that.

You should all be emailing and phoning every news desk around here. Also see if a current affairs program can take up the story. If enough people do this then they will sit up take an interest into the story. This is not just a scandal it sounds illegal. Especially the way the councill took the Sport England money.

Can I just ask how many kids use the facilities at East? Surely one of your best arguments is to point out this out, especially when the Government are always banging on about the merits of kids doing physical excercise and participating in organised sports.

Good luck to everyone involved.

An interesting statistic to establish would be the number of kids who have passed through the red and black shirt over the years, and to publically ask for their support

The under 18s are in the National Youth Final at Blackpool next Saturday use this to get some press coverage and let it be known what's happening perfect opportunity IMHO

The Leigh Centurions Community Foundation is commited to

Supporting ALL local community clubs

So lets see it support Leigh East in this fight

Trevor Barton (I think)

Keith,
I sit on Centurions communication team with Rob and Andy. PM Andy to arrange a coffee and a chat,

Has any contact with other amatuer clubs been established to request their public support?

I will now publically request Leigh Centurions to publically state their support for Leigh East on this issue

This is not a time for ' Fence sitting ' or sing behind your pint in your club house bar, its time for everybody to decide on where they stand, those that have ' talked the talk ' on community need to now decide to walk the walk and state exactly where they stand so the public of Leigh can decide if they are true to their words

Make your minds up gentlemen, we are waiting

It really is a staggering story this. As a parent of 2 children now it is unbelievable to read that our council want to make it almost untenable for Leigh East to continue. Why would the council even consider this? Who do they think would use these facilities and spend money in the bar if East were forced out?

I've emailed the entire list Keith good luck with your battle.

Steve

Please see previous post to Keith, we are on the case.

Just noticed this subject hasnt been posted on Leighlife mish, is it something that could be discussed there?

Did Leigh East own the ground at Grassmere St or just lease it? If so did they lease if from the Council? Surely there must be compromise to be had to satisfy all parties. For the good and future of rugby league then we can't afford to let a club like Leigh East go to the wall. Everyone really needs to get behind this cause.

I would suggest the council do have another option, as I said time for everybody to publically state where they stand

I would imagine that the Council have a plan B for the site, they are devious not daft. This can be a massive opportunity for the Centurions Community Trust to prove their worth to the local game.

Foundation