Joint Statement MFC & TDC

[Margate Football Club]

Plans to bring football back to Hartsdown Park from next season have been agreed at a meeting between Thanet District Council and Margate Football Club.

 

The Club had asked the Council to assign the current lease for the ground to a wholly owned subsidiary company, Hartsdown Development Company and legal discussions to assign the lease will now begin.

 

This would allow funding to be made available from the Club’s development partners, so that the pitch will be reinstated to Conference South standard in time for the start of the 2005/06 Season in August. Stands and terraces would also be erected at the site.

 

The latest announcement does not commit either side to commercial development at Hartsdown Park. The Council has told the Club that the independent evaluation of those plans has suggested that further information is required and that any further negotiations would require a robust business plan and a project plan.

 

Leader of the Council, Cllr. Sandy Ezekiel, said: “We have always said that we wanted to see football returning home to Margate and these plans will allow that to happen. This is completely separate from the plans for commercial development at the site. We will be keeping local residents and supporters fully informed of the progress in bringing the Club back to the town and any future development proposals for the site.”

 

Margate Football Club’s Acting Chairman, Mr Colin Page said: “There is now nothing standing in the way of returning to our home ground in time for the new season. We know this news will delight our loyal fans, who want nothing more than to see football being brought back to Margate again. This will also now give us the time that we need to put plans in place for future enabling developments at the site that are satisfactory to the Council and we will be continuing negotiations with them on this subject.”

[JohnKirby]

Absolutely awesome news. From near obscurity everyone involved with the club has clawed this back and we can now go ahead and move back home. Tonight at least we should all pat ourselves on the back, have a drink of our choosing, and get building tomorrow!

 

Who wants to start on The Sam Sodje Stand?!

[Cookie]

Agree JOHN, however, without trying to dampen the good news about the return to Hartsdown, would really liked to have seen the full agreement with the council on the full deal.

But, yes, for now we are able to progress back to our beloved home and that will do for me, for now.

Hope the rest of the commercial side can now be ironed out to a satisfactory conclusion.

A major step in the right direction.

[Hornet]

Great news! Shame it is'nt completely finalised but at least we'll have "home" games to go to next season-that drive to Ashford is really starting to hack me off now!

Onwards and Upwards-get them bulldozers down there pronto. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/drivin.gif" alt="" />

[TonyM]

IMO I think this is the best news we have had for a long time,at least we can all look to the future of MFC. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/excited.gif" alt="" />

[Gate4TehWin]

brill news we are going home!!!!

[MargateFan]

This is very good stuff and LONG OVERDUE.

 

Congratulations to the Club for fighting so hard for our future. Congratulations to the Council for actually agreeing to something at last.

 

There, it's not so difficult, is it?

[Guest]

This is great news and long overdue. Can't wait to get to Hartsdown next season.

 

The fact that are business partners are willing to put a not insubstantial amount of cash into this interim ground development shows that they are confident that the business plan is robust and that they can work with the council to ensure that the full development can come to fruition.

 

Although only the first step, it is the first step forward that we've had for a long time.

[Guest]

so next back at hartsdown with the commercial side still not approved, same position as a year ago, why didnt anyone think of this then???

Great news to be be back at last though!!!

[michael]

Someone may just wish to enquire on Thursday night how long it will take to reassign the lease.

 

I hope to be wrong but suggest legal paperwork could take 4/6 weeks and where does that put the build programme.

 

The council could stall over the reassignment, but suspect the club/developers have headed that one off.

 

I read it that the funds are there once the legal reassignment is completed.

 

All looks good but just being a bit cautious over timescales.

 

Also someone may ask (and i forget) that whilst we have planing permission for the ground aspect, was there a Section 106 agreement associated with that(i.e 'neighbourly 'goodworks').That would be another legal agreement to action-probably before ground can commence build- and indeed some additional funding to find.

 

Again ,not negative comments but these are the type of things that you run into and all need to be actioned/completed.

 

Might be worth asking these questions, simply to ensure everyone has thought of everything that delays things and so that contingencies can be put in place just in case that November 'completion' is a bit more realistic.

 

Again, i'm delighted with the news-even if we are only realistically back to where this started 3 years ago,but what the hell,rubbish happens in every walk of life and credit to those who have hung on to at least get us back there-

I'm just trying to keep timescale expectations on an even keel,but hopefully accurate reassurance on these matters can be given on thursday night

[Guest]

Im a little disappionted that we didnt get the full go ahead but good news that were coming home and live to fight another day!

[Lovepug13]

Quality, pure quality, I cant sleep soundly tonight.

 

Lovely bit of news.

 

Adam

[Cookie]

On reading the statement above Colin Page says that "there is now nothing standing in the way of returning to our home ground for the new season". But aren't there now to be legal discussions to assign the lease and dosen't it also say that "these will now begin".

Does anyone know how long these discussions are to take or how long it will take for the council to assign the lease?

I am as happy as pie but am like MM in that some questions such as these do have to be faced and answered. Remember that time is STILL not on our side.

[ooh!!bodyform]

[censored] the questions for the time being tony because.................................................................................

 

 

 

 

 

................WE'RE GOING HOME , WE'RE GOING HOME WE'RE GOING, WE'RE ALL GOING HOME <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/bounce.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/applaus.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/bounce.gif" alt="" />

[Guest]

By coincidence it's exactly two years today since the last game was played at Hartsdown.

[michael]

As above Cookie, just questions for thursday night.

 

I'm sure we will get there, but these things do take time.

 

Building regs will also have to approve the design of the downscaled 'stadium'.What is the design for the smaller scheme.

 

You can't just plonk up what you like.

 

Again not being negative,and i am sure experienced people are on the case and we will get there, but what is the contingency if completion is not until Nov(purely my personal view).

I'm sure MFC are talking to the conference-we may aswell get it sorted now.

I'm sure conf. would allow a groundshare until say November-but its no use trying to get it sorted in August-lets have a contingency now.

 

I'm sure most would accept a slightly longer wait as long as we are aware of the possibility.

 

What if the new ground is refused a safety certificate at last minute-it could happen and would get sorted, but these sort of things happen.

 

Again, i did think there was an associated Section 106 agreement needed to be funded and agreed even for the grounf planning permission-if there is -is that getting sorted.

 

Stress again, not being negative, but there is alot to sort as MFC and Mr Lever wil know very well.

 

 

[Megaphone_Matt]

At last I will finally celebrate and let lose after hearing margates word. I know somethings are shaky and need to be q and a but................................

 

We're going HOME!!!!!!!!!!! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/bounce.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/bigshock.gif" alt="" />

[Cookie]

Was there any need for that John. They are valid questions and no-one is more delighted with this news than I am but what I have questioned has been said and we have all been here before havent we? Bet you we are all happy with this news but also bet you that the majority are still concerned even if its in a small way.

[TonyM]

Tone I think we are all happy and also a bit concerned,after all the years we have had trying to get back to HDP.The light is at the end of the tunnell and I feel we have to put our trust in Mr lever to see us through this.A few weeks ago we felt we were dead but everybody made a stand,from the fans to the Chairman and today we are still going strong.If one thing has come out of this its our unity,it has brought the fans closer together IMO.

[Cookie]

Hi TONE. Am absolutely in trust of Mr. Lever but as you know my trust of the council still remains in the negative. Its them I am still wary of. Shall say no more about it. Shall keep my concerns to myself. My point was again about the time factor! Nuff said.