Dorking Fc-Report 21/11/07

[eye1]

 

Sports Football Article

 

Fate decided in the New YearNov 21 2007

 

 

 

 

By Daniel Jones

 

 

DORKING FC's long-term future at Meadowbank will be decided at Guildford County Court early next year,following the outcome of last Friday's initial hearing.

 

The District judge at Reigate County Court decided that Dorking's application for an extended 25-year lease at Meadowbank was an important matter of public interest and should, therefore,be heard before a more senior official. The decision also allows Dorking FC more time to prepare their application.

 

While Dorking's vice chairman Ray Collins welcomed the delay in proceedings,he remains furious that the council should see fit to throw so much taxpayers money at the case.

 

"We were as pleased as we could be with the outcome," said Collins."What we were happy with was that Mole Valley District Council have now conceded that we are a protected tenant and therefore have every right to apply for an extended lease.

 

"However,it's still very disappointing to be in this situation. It could all be avoided if Mole Valley (District Council) would just negotiate with us properly.

 

 

 

 

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"It is a real David versus Goliath situation. The council have very deep pockets,they have my money and other taxpayers' money to throw at this case.

 

 

"It's going to cost us somewhere in the region of £10-15,000 to prepare for the case properly and it's going to have to be privately funded. Certainly the football club haven't got that sort of money."

 

 

Despite the daunting prospect of taking on such a large financial obligation, Collins insisted he was in no mood to give up the fight.

 

 

"When you are backed into a corner,sometimes you just feel that you have to stand up for your rights," he said.

 

 

"They (MVDC) have never put a penny into the football club and now they run into a few professional people who don't believe justice is being done.If we just roll over and let them win, then where will it end?"

 

 

Council chiefs remain intent on evicting the Combined Counties Premier Division side from the Mill Lane site due to the poor state the facilities are in. However,only last Wednesday the club had a visit from the council's Health & Safety inspector who was pleased with the work that the club had already carried out.

 

 

"There are still one or two things to do but the inspector said that it was 95-98 per cent completed,"said Collins."It was a successful meeting and just makes the whole situation a little harder to understand."

 

 

Should the council eventually be successful in their quest for new tenants at Meadowbank, Dorking would not be the only club affected.

 

 

Bookham, who also ply their trade in the CCL Premier Division, rent the pitch from the Chicks and their vice chairman Bob Elcombe has revealed the crippling effect the potential eviction would have on his club.

 

 

"We would effectively be left with no ground,"said Elcombe. "We run five sides and have been in existence since 1921 so as a club we would survive.But as a first team playing at this level of football we would obviously struggle.

 

 

"The senior status of the club doesn't necessarily depend solely on what happens on the pitch."

 

 

Despite this,Elcombe insists that his club have had no negotiations with the council as to whether they could take full tenancy at Meadowbank should the eviction go ahead.

 

 

"Were the worst to happen and Dorking FC be evicted, then there will still be a ground here and I suppose we would be hopeful that there would be some sort of agreement that we could carry on using the pitch.

 

 

"However,we certainly have not had negotiations with the council about that and, as tenants of Dorking FC,we would not go behind their backs to do so.

 

 

"It would be against FA regulations - a club cannot act in a way that would do damage to another club.

 

 

"And to put ourselves forward as an alternative option would be construed as doing precisely that."

 

 

Elcombe went on to say that he believes the amount of time and money being spent on the imminent legal proceedings would have been better spent in rein-vesting in the facilities at the ground.

 

 

"There is work being done already," said Elcombe."But, if Dorking were granted a long-term lease then they would be eligible for an FA grant.

 

 

"As a step five club I would imagine they would be a highly creditable candidate,but there must be at least a 10-year lease in place for the FA to consider such action.

 

 

"In such a case the club could apply for a Football Foundation grant of up to £100,000. With that kind of money Meadowbank could be turned into a very nice little ground."

 

 

 

 

[Teflon]

Great typing there Eye1

[Jeff Hamnett TSF]

from what ive read and heard the potential bidders for the tenancy at Meadowbank would let Bookham stay.

 

no guarantees in any of this and I feel sorry for them and wish them well.

 

pity Bookham have no say I guess in how the Dorking board spend the rent from Bookham.

[Big J R]

Sorry eye1 !

 

I hadn't seen you'd taken the trouble to type Dan's article out.

 

I have posted a link on the other thread to the Surrey Mirror page in question.

 

Your fingers must be quite sore !