Fleet announce preferred option

[David Holden]

The Fleet’s Board of Directors have concluded it would be best if they have a new ground of their own in the area rather than have Gillingham transported in.

 

“It is better for football, better for the town and better for the club” said Chairman, Brian Kilcullen. “If the powers that be decide they want a shared arena, then as a worst-case scenario we would still expect to be central to that scheme as we have council support and are the home-town club. However, we could well be in a higher division than Gillingham by the time the arena would be complete and so cannot understand why they should be crucial to any major leisure development in the area. We are confident we can plan out a landmark scheme of our own which meets the objectives of all concerned”.

 

On the subject of why the club had taken some time to make a further announcement, Kilcullen explained “we as a Board of Directors are first and foremost fans and the knee-jerk reaction to an opposition club moving into the area is to say no. However, we wanted to be open-minded in our deliberations and weigh up all the issues very carefully. In addition, any proposed development is a few years off yet and we have been focussing on meeting the ground criteria necessary for promotion to the Coca Cola leagues. Most importantly though, we felt we shouldn’t take a blinkered view and owed it to the Borough and its inhabitants to consider on a dispassionate basis whether the route we follow is to the detriment of the town and football in general – our conclusion is that overall our preferred option is the best one”.

 

There are obviously many factors that have gone into making this decision and the GNFC board is expected to enlarge on these in the coming weeks and months.

 

(Please note there will be no further comments this week from the club on this issue but we will be more than happy to expand on our thoughts as matters progress)

[Hempstead Gaz]

That sounds very positive. At last some good news. We must all be realistic and not expect a 10,000 capcity ground in 2 years time, though. That would be madness.

Slow and steady, let us keep it that way and a new ground is the light at the end of a lengthy tunnel.

Keep up the good work, and all strive for a realistic goal of full time football, in the Football league, in a new stadium - eventually.

[John@TheFleet]

Good news indeed. The board were totally correct in weighing up all available options and it's perfectly clear they have only the good of the club at heart. Good on them.

 

It would also appear that information that was given to me by a so-called 'reliable source' regarding Gills almost certain move to Ebbsfleet has turned out to be, shall we say, wildly inaccurate. Just goes to show it's worth waiting for official statements instead of listening to whispers. Mind you, it would make forums boring, wouldn't it??!!

[Hempstead Gaz]

And wasn't it sad to hear Scally on RK this morning so dissapointed that we would prefer to go it alone rather than groundshare his "astrodome stadia". <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/bawling.gif" alt="" />

[Hempstead Gaz]

I hear there is a site near Fisher Athletic - called the Dome.

Perhaps Scally might make a bid?

[Stu M]

Didn't hear that... what were his words exactly...?

[Hempstead Gaz]

Just a general bleat to John Warnett about how difficult it is making a stadium pay without other incomes. Well it would be trying to build a 250 million pound stadium on crowds of 6,000!!!

I think he was a bit miffed about Brian's statement that by the time his new ground was built, we could be in a higher league!

[Bloodnock]

Really relieved to finally get a statement of intent from the board, at least they have given it some thought, which in the cold light of day had to be done rather than make a knee jerk reaction to Scallys' plans.

I and others were quick to vehemently oppose any link with the man or his club,but then we could, as we have the luxury of being able to wear our heart on our sleeve if anything or anyone remotely threatens our beloved club.

Let's all now applaud the stance the board are taking and suppot them whole heartedly.