Ok, I'm still trying to digest what was discussed last night, far wider than I expected. So what I'm going to do is drip feed stuff through as things get confirmed or become more relevant. Please keep an eye on this thread because it won't just be about the stadium, but also potential investors, ways to invest, ways to help if you so wish.

So I'll kick it off with the North stand. Part of the scaling back of the North stand was a cost saving, however it needs pointing out that there were other reasons for changing, not just the plan but also the method. In the past few years (since the original plans) the terrace has degraded faster than expected. Hence the original method considered was proving less viable. No need to go into too much detail, but rather than replacing the terrace we are now building over it. Below is an image taken yesterday that shows way better than I can explain just how bad the terrace has become. I was shocked as you don't really notice it on match day.

This form of over terracing can be taken further towards the back of the stand as required but for now the club deems the expected new capacity of the North stand more than adequate.

PLEASE PLEASE NOTE, there will be nothing about players so if you don't mind please refrain, there are plenty of other threads for that.

I stood in the North Stand for the first time in nearly 15 years against Hull KR and was shocked at how poor it really was. I walked past the bit you've highlighted and couldn't believe it was allowed in this day and age.

That change in level has been there since I can remember (1978 onwards), and it used to have those old tubular barriers against it, as well as some of that bent steel fence that still survives around some of the pitch. I used to notice it when wandering around the old program shed that used to sit there next to the old scoreboard. I don’t believe it is a new thing or is getting worse.

Sounds like a pretext to me.

Technically it isn't, that's part of the problem. We simply had to replace it, it wasn't a choice it was an order. It would have been closed for next year or at best reduced to a few hundred.

In a way it's as vital as the East stand in a different way.

As stated before, although the West terrace looks a bit of a mess, structurally its totally sound and requires no work to get a safety certificate.

How much of a shortfall in money Is there from the original plans to the new ones and is every penny which we have been given getting spent or is some getting held back

Wow that didn't take long.

S you know better than the council surveyors do you, unbelievable comment. Bore holes were sunk a few weeks ago and a scan was done, It's not just the shape which incidentally is worse it's whats happening underneath, but you being an expert you'd know that, incredible just incredible.

Tell you what you get on to the Council and you tell them they are wrong and shouldn't shut the terrace, tell them it's a pretext



I honestly don't know why we have directors or engineers or safety officers when all we need to do is consult you.

Don't think I'm talking out of turn here. The original plan was to hold a bit back. Not for players but purely to upgrade other parts of the ground. That's totally out of the window. For the past two months we have been chipping away at the plans just to keep them within budget. I actually got the impression that the directors had begged and borrowed a bit more to make up the difference, that's how bad it is. Prices of both labour and especially materials have gone through the roof.

For example steal price have virtually doubled, but the scrap price has fallen, yet the demolitions cost have risen- you can't win.

Nothing and I mean nothing has reduced in cost.

I know you’re not everyone’s cup of tea on here Vasty, but thanks for the information now and hopefully future re ground updates. I think everyone on here is keen for regular updates, and if it’s not from the club (disappointedly) then I suppose from you we have the next best thing.

Double post

I would assume that the work done to take into account the levels on the north terrace (I too remember the area which had loop topped fencing separating the levels) was either short term or sub standard… that said…I’m not at all surprised at the deterioration of the sub structure… hopefully the new structure is a long term solution…

It will be from the club, there are announcements to come so keep an eye on social media. What you have to remember is the club has to cross the t's and dot the I's so it takes time before they can comment. Can you imagine how they would be crucified if they got it wrong.

I have no such issues, I'm used to being abused and I'm not the least bit precious when it comes to this kind of stuff, after all I'm just a made up name on a forum so I suppose I'm a useful sounding board in both directions. Nice to be involved though, even if it's just a small amount.

I actually think that fans on this forum should be grateful that the BOD's are actually interested in what's posted on here, not many other club owners are. So although they will no longer talk directly on here, ruined by the normal idiots, they still take note of the opinions of the vast majority of reasonable fans and wish to answer them where appropriate.

With regard to the OP, Jeez, I never noticed it was that bad.....


Even when I stood there on my own for an acadamy game!


Thanks for the update Vasty.

TBH, that photo doesn't do it justice, it' worse in reality. It's not just uneven from side to side but all the terracing is sloping. So even when you are just stood still it's not even level.

Is Arsenic a further problem with the Northstand Vasty?

Yes, some of the concrete on the terracing does look bad, and not too long ago, missed a step, and took a little tumble.

No harm done to terracing though

Apparently not, the soil underneath is not toxic, just unstable - bit of an urban myth it would seen.

Oh right, it was mentioned regularly during the SWAG days, cheers Vasty

Just saying it as I see it. Granted, the "pretext" bit is a bit speculative. But the change in levels has been there for years. What I believe you may be suggesting is that the Council surveyors have identified some cavities below the legacy concrete surface hence the viability or providing an over slab now being in question, owing to a failed substrate. Therefore the suspended option was developed at a reduced area to maintain cost targets. If so, that would make sense, and I agree with you.

MC told me the material was akin to "slag" (or similar to the stuff that came out of mines) so not necessarily evil material per ce, but I got the impression that the Project Manager and Engineer didn't really want to uncover a great deal of it, hence the original plan to over cast the existing terrace.

So why did you say you didn't agree? Baffled.

Anyway lets move on and I'me sure we all accept that the upper terracing is horrendous and would have been closed by some councils years ago.

How I understand it, yes it is permanent. Pilings are driven down to ground level and concreted in place. These act as the foundations for the new superstructure. Effectively the new terracing is not supported or even attached to the old terrace banking. You could in truth dig up the old stuff and take it away, however that is expensive so leaving it in place is the better solution.All the crush barriers are also being replaced
as they need to be attached to the new steel framework.

Others may explain it better than I can.

Going back a long time before the flats were there that was slag,with a slope with steps of concrete .The North end of the ground was built on slag as well .

It's little to do with what it is but rather the cost of removing it. That is a huge amount of material to shift off site and then find a landfill site. So yes they don't want to really do anything with it. The mound is stable and not toxic in general terms and won't move but it's not right for laying fresh old style cast concrete using forms.

It would be far better if it were just a flat piece of ground like the south end. The best thing to do with the North stand is to get it fit for purpose and extend its life. The real area where we have true potential to expand is the south end, It's ripe for a no nonsense standing terrace with facilities underneath. Could easily hold 3-4000 standing as it's a big area. If I were planning the stadium after tidying up the west terrace I'd concentrate on the south and leave the north alone. However until we are pushing the 8,000 capacity what's the point.

Funny you should mention the south area. I was only thinking the very same last night. It’s an ideal site for a 3/4000 stand as you say which is basic with a concourse under and a couple of bars. In fact it probably only needs to be a 2000 - 3000 max one. It would be a bonus if you could have a couple of boxes in there for match days but probably not essential.

I’d personally consider leaving the west stand if as you say it’s structurally sound and look at getting the south done. That said you may lose some match day income from the boxes as they’d have to go.

There was talk in the past about us partnering with a football team.

Could this potentially allow access to funding to further develop facilities. I’m not sure if this is still an option or which local club may be interested. We had a brief connection with Leeds reserves and Emley. I wonder if it’s worth re-establishing some links or at least exploring it.

Wasn’t it it stuff the used to get as a bi product of the coke ovens?