Just watched Michael Carter on Calendar saying Wakefield must leave Belle Vue as the ground isn't fit for purpose.
The voice over to the filmed section stated that Planning Permission had been granted but progress had since halted. Strange that they didn't mention WHY it had stalled.

Maybe MC and the new owners can't agree on who pays for upgrade of Belle Vue and the terms of lease / rent depending on which party pays for upgrade. looking more and more likely a move away from BV.

No positivity from Mr Carter there.

He mentioned 'enticement of families and kids'. There has been little or none of this since the end of the season. The club may have communicated with its loyal fan base through social media and local themed radio, and managed to make some decent signings... but importantly, it has not held oustretched arms to the rest of the Wakefield public. In fact I think I am correct in saying that season ticket sales have fallen this year !! It also took an eternity for the web site to be updated and the virtual closure of the club shop during the close season was ridiculous.
A vibrant and successful marketing programme off the back of the Super Eight survival could have been a catalyst for the ground owner or others to feel confident about backing him ( and his sidekick Brereton ) and moving forward to make progress with some redevelopment. Even that Mr Vastman came up with a half decent plan for new terracing etc.
Their unwillingness to keep the ground in order, but instead to let it fall around them over the last three years or so, does not sit well and must be a factor in help being so unforthcoming. I always presumed that businessmen were interested in growth and making their assets bigger, bolder and more impressive - there's been little evidence of this.
He seems very much resigned to a move away from the city. I truly hope it doesn't come to that.
Desperate, desperate times for the club.

Key point Fergus: It isn't their asset.

I thought you were talking about something else.

On Sky Sports last night, there was a very interesting documentary on the Silent Salute, the two American sprinters who gave the black power clenched fist salute on the podium when they received their medals in the 1968 Olympics.

It'll be on catch up on Sky somewhere.

There was a part where it talked about the aftermath and showed one of them sprinting across a grass pitch, and that pitch was of course Belle Vue (which had a soccer circle as well). I think the full piece showing Belle Vue can be found on that well known video sharing website.

And how would you feel about spending your money doing up a property you didn't own, regarding keeping the ground in order, I didn't see you at BV putting free time during the week and weekends in an effort to at least meet the safety requirements. My personal opinion is get off MC and CB backs. We can talk until the cows come home about who should've done this and that in past years. I hope for a revamped BV or even a new stadium like the majority, but the powers that be seem to have other ideas not our owners.

If I had a spare grand I would enter the ground naming draw. And if I won I'd call it the Councillor Box Stadium. Just imagine his joy in having his name associated with such an iconic stadium in every press release and TV & radio broadcast

On Demand Sky Sports 1.

What a pointless slot.

Some randomer watching - "B.V. is not fit for purpose & Newmarket has stalled" - the end.

In other news,troops to be rallied in the near future - maybe.

Agree with all of this. MC and CB have finally got the clubs finances back in order. The club has to work on a small staff due to financial constraints. We only need to look at Bradfords woes to see where we could be. Think the blame for the ground situation needs to be put at other doors than MC and the hard working club staff.

As always, very nice to hear from you Brian!
It would take £400000 to fix the north stand. That's milky, allgood, England, batch, max, Tom, and huby. If you think we'd be better off employing that money in this way, I salute you. Of course we still wouldn't own a brick of the ground. A ground we were actively warned off buying by influential people within the city, because all it would do is drive the price up for yorkcourt! The rest is history.
As for engaging with Joe public, our 'award winning' community staff engaged with over 30000 kids in the city last season. More then ever before.
Add to that, we currently have the young man of steel, and the Albert goldthorpe rookie of the year, and you think it's desperate desperate times for the club?? I guess you are still waiting for your prophecies of 1 year ago to come true!! Sorry you had us confused with where your son used to be employed!

Well said there Daddycool.

There is a lot of good things happening with this club, retaining talent that at one point wouldn't happen, the awards we have received with our community work.

The only thing that I think is holding this great club back is the stadium.

Nearly half a million pound to re vamp something you don't own is a lot of money to pay out.

Like KevW60349 said, wondering as to why planning permission was granted, but then stalled.

Very frustrating for Michael, Chris, and the remaining staff who put in the hard work, not to mention the supporters.

It dosn't seem to sink in with some people. The £400K is the cost of the work just to repair and up date the North Stand Terrace. Then you have the rest of the infrastructure around the place. Such as floodlghts,tuurnstiles,toilets,PA system, security systems. That's even before you then look at the really big expenses like the East stand and the west side.

The other relevant point to the Daddycool post is that I believe the club even considered buying back the ground but were told not to do so as it would keep the price low for Yorcourt to purchase it instead. Who told the club this, well it was our local council. Yorkcourt then once again did nothing and the rest is history.

I will also add my own two pence in here, the present owners of the ground did not get where the are by being charities or philanthropists, they have one mission in life and that is to make money. So for all you dreamers out there, forget it, we won't see a penny spent from them on any refurbishment.

This is the really maddening bit, Yorkcourt promised to buy the ground and then didn't - Why is that?? Between Yorkcourt and WMDC there is some explaining that needs to be done.

They've both had so many chances to do the right thing and failed - how much longer before we expose them for what they are? Surely we can't hold back in fear of upsetting them, its not like it will halt any progress is it?

HIGH COURT

What concerns me is that even if we move to Dewsbury, according to MC , we would not be allowed to make it a permanent move and remain in Superleague.
Perhaps MC could clarify that.
Does it mean we would we not be allowed to stay in Superleague if we relocated to Dewsbury , unless Dewsbury was upgraded, or is it simply go to Dewsbury full time and you are out ?

I can attest to that in a small way too.

My son was down at Belle Vue yesterday. (He's nine) They've been there a couple of weeks running doing a full range of education activities, not just rugby.
He interviewed Anthony England yesterday and loved it.
He's been to watch games occasionally before and calls himself a Wildcat fan but he isn't a diehard watcher yet. But he talks about these visits and wants to go more now.

His friends who are mostly footballers asked me lots of questions before hand so they knew who they were talking to and what questions to ask. They have never asked me before. They are not at a rugby school but he'll be at Outwood soon.

These kind of community programmes are invaluable and is I'm sure one of the reasons we are getting awards.

Zing!

Totally agree.

I feel they need exposing now. Fed up of the softly softly approach.

I agree. The part about 'influential people' warning us off the purchase of the ground then YC doing nothing about it just reeks of cahoots. I know there is some politics involved and some tip-toeing around in an attempt to come to some kind of compromise, but YC are obviously not going to do anything and neither are the council

If it's left much longer any noise made will be irrelevant

Just a reminder, whether you know who the actual poster is or not, use the User name not their real name.
I know some don't mind but it is easier to keep the rule in place for all.
Anonymity is part of the AUP. Intentionally outing someone is big deal.

I might be wrong PT, but isn't the poster suggesting the councillors who suggested we didn't bid should be outed not a poster?

Till reading on Twitter today I didn't realise Yorkcourt had changed their name in 2016, does that have any effect on our future claim? (Assuming we make one).

What are they known as now?

WMDC Yorkcourt?
See you in Yorkcourt?