Slough At Old Dolphin Site Again?

[GarySTFC]

Heard on Star FM on the walk home something to do with Council Leader Richard Stokes being phoned up by STFC fans making enquiries about moving the club back to the Co-op/Tesco site where the Dolphin used to be and the five new retail units are going to go? I presume there's something in tomorrow's Observer about it all as it was being discussed when they had a lady from the paper in. Could be an interesting read!

[Martin]

Last week there was a story in the paper about what was going to happen to this site. Stokes described it as a disgrace that Tesco had allowed it to sit empty for so long. I thought at the time about writing a letter suggesting the return of the football club to one of our many former homes. I however did not make any phone calls. I understand that Stokes mentioned this so as to be seen engaging with the football club. In actual fact the site was awaiting planning approval for 5 retail units and I understand the story in tomorrow's press is that this has now been approved by John Prescott.

 

I suspect Stokes' involvement is a smoke screen with him trying to involve himself in local issues as opposed to banging on about Iraq (I am fairly certain that it wasn't Slough Borough Council that voted for war). I just hope that the voting and football supporting public are not fooled by this "gesture".

[BFR]

They shouldn't be. ODPM gave the go ahead for the units last week and old Dicky knows it. My understanding regarding the co-op site was Tesco were allowed to buy the Co-op site so long as they vacated it as soon as the main store was redeveloped. They kept their bargain. It has been red tape at government that has held up what happens next.

[Martin]

Exactly. So why did Tricky Dricky Stokes bring the football club into it? Who knows the workings of a politician's mind.

[BFR]

More to the point, who in their right mind would ring him up to suggest it??? When supporters have supposedly phoned him before it has been to allegedly harass him. Now he is getting chummy with supporters who want to move the club back to the Dolphin!

 

I can't help but think he read my post on the Observer forum where I jokingly suggested the club should take over the site.

[Martin]

Quite possibly. Either that or Stokes has started hearing voices. Instead of God he is hearing the voice of Slough fans - which is nice.

[Burnham Lad]

Sadly, it needs to be the Club Board of Directors engaging with the politicians and potential sponsors if we are ever to get back into Slough, but there is precious little evidence of that. Perhaps Tesco could have been asked....<img src="/forum/images/graemlins/whistling.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/whistling.gif" alt="" />

 

It seems that the new Board as as uncommunicative about the real long term issues as ever. We do get information, but only when they really have no choice but to give it, and if there is a plan going forward, it is being kept as close to chests as ever...... Still, we might even find out where we are playing next season - anybody bet on it being in the Observer of 2nd June, when there is no time left to consult....?

 

Consult? - I apologise for using such bad language...... <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/ban.gif" alt="" />

 

PS Please Note: This post is about the CLUB Board NOT the Trust.

[Guest]

From the Observer today

 

FOOTBALL fans’ dreams of returning to the Dolphin Stadium greyhound track site have been dashed.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott granted planning permission on Thursday for five retail outlets on the land in Slough, previously occupied by Tesco and still owned by the supermarket giant. Slough Town fans have been lobbying borough council leader Richard Stokes for a new football stadium on the site in Uxbridge Road. But he said this week: “Tesco not Slough Borough Council owns the land. I can’t imagine they would give the land to a football club.

“Slough Town played at that site over 25 years ago when it was also a greyhound track.”

Slough general manager Roy Merryweather said: “Any site in Slough is one that we would consider. I am hopeful that when any sort of land does crop up that the club is considered at the earliest opportunity but perhaps the horse has bolted this time.”

The Rebels played there until 1973 before moving to Wexham Park Stadium and again to Stag Meadow in Windsor in 2003.

Plans to build a new stadium in Britwell, were kicked out after the Labour administration lost power in the elections in 2004.

The club hopes to announce five candidates for the May elections in Wexham Lea, Langley St Mary’s, Haymill, Foxborough and Britwell in the fight for a new stadium. The club pays £25,000 per year to Windsor & Eton FC to ground share and are in negotiations to extend the deal.

[BFR]

Has anybody been lobbying Stokes about the Co-op site or is he trying to look good ahead of the elections?

 

A complete non-story

[Rebel Kay]

Two of Stokes pet hates in one place, Tesco and STFC. He'd have a field day.

[HorshamRebel]

could it be mis-information.....

 

Councillor trys valiently to get football stadium but fails !!!!!!!!

 

Especially as what has happened to the site was always going to happen.

[Martin]

Exactly HR. It is Stokes trying to look good a week after it was announced we were trying to field some candidates.

[Guest]

Its an election ploy ..nothing more northing less..got worried that we may be fielding candidates...it maybe up to 5 this year, but if they don't do something it maybe all places next year...

 

I f he wants to play silly buggers then he has been warned..our club needs to get back to slough, with everyone helping..its the least our town deserves to have its most senior and oldest club back where it belongs in SLOUGH...

 

Who is stokes trying to kid...still no meetings ever held with us or the club...even though he promised to !

 

up the rebels...

 

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