Long Term Ambitions

[Graffito]

Anybody considered that the long term ambitions may not be as long as we'd like and Cortese been given the task, with a timescale, of building up the club to sell it? Or does he love all things Saints?

[shurlock]

Why are you refusing to answer a simple question? You have made a statement, yet refuse to explain it. It suggests that you can't justify such a statement.

 

How about West Ham, Sunderland, Villa, Newcastle, Wolves, Leeds etc etc - all clubs that get attendances of 30K+ either now or when they were in the Prem and have failed to get near the top 4.

Can name you more teams that have been relegated than have made the CL with your magical attendances. Proves nothing. Stop cherry picking

[colehillsaint]

In all fairness, only very few people know the real financial situation, so it's always going to about opinion based on the evidence we have to go on. Based on what I've seen I'm feeling very confident that we are not going to end up like those down the road. Stay sceptical if you like, i see no reason to.

 

I will stay sceptical. If yesterdays gamble goes tits up, we won't go bust because the Leibherr's have capital, but as soon as the decline begins, they won't be up for pumping it in to turn a juggernaut around. NC will be "ruthless" and sell to any joker, no matter what leverage they have used to raise the cash. I don't think anyone should underestimate the luck, and the lasts managers achievement in getting us up two leagues and stabilised in the short time that has elapsed. You won't believe how fast it will turn to rat **** if NC judgement has been poor.

[Turkish]

We are 15th this season and for much of it have been lower. Everton are 5th.

 

If Saints had a 40k stadium like Everton do and were 5th, do you not think Saints would average higher than the current 30k?

 

For example the big games vs Man Utd, Arsenal, Liverpool, Man City, Chelsea, Tottenham etc etc wouldn't be capped at 32k and Saints could boost the average like Everton can in a 40k stadium.

 

Oh, and btw to answer your question... BLACKBURN ROVERS won the Premier League and qualified for the Champions League with an average below 30k! You make this too easy Turkish!

 

 

 

- Everton 5th with average of 36,874 in a 40k stadium

- Saints 15th with average of 30,496 in a 32k stadium

 

It is easier to have a higher average attendance when for the bigger games you have a 40k capacity to fill, Saints can only get 32k max when the big sides come to town, Everton can get 40k which makes it easier to boost the average. Everton are also having a more successful season than Saints, yet only average 6k more.

 

One club 18 years ago who were smashing British transfer record fees on world class strikers. Yep, just like saints are doing. Brilliant example :lol:

 

Why do you keep going on about Everton? What Everton do does not effect what Saints do. Everton have qualifed for the champions league ONCE. Plenty of other clubs have never got there. Aston Villa, how about them. They spent a fortune when Martin O'Neill was there and never got above 6th. Please explain why we will do so much better than them.

[Matthew Le God]

How about West Ham, Sunderland, Villa, Newcastle, Wolves, Leeds etc etc - all clubs that get attendances of 30K+ either now or when they were in the Prem and have failed to get near the top 4.

 

Can name you more teams that have been relegated than have made the CL with your magical attendances. Proves nothing. Stop cherry picking

 

- Wolves have never averaged over 30k in the Premier League

- Newcastle and Leeds have both finished in Champions League places

- Villa have been close to the top 4 in recent years in terms of placing

 

No-one has yet given me a reason why Everton under the limited funding of Bill Kenwright can challenge for the Champions League, but Saints under Cortese and the Liebherr estate can't.

[Turkish]

Blackburn won the league with gates of 20k. And played champions league football as a result. Spurs were there last year with little more than 30k gates.

 

Gates of 27k actually at a time when they were smashing record tranfer fees. Oh and BTW Tottenhams average gate is about 36k, and they have a 13k waiting list. Yep, another great example.

[Thedelldays]

- Wolves have never averaged over 30k in the Premier League

- Newcastle and Leeds have both finished in Champions League places

- Villa have been close to the top 4 in recent years in terms of placing

 

No-one has yet given me a reason why Everton under the limited funding of Bill Kenwright can challenge for the Champions League, but Saints under Cortese and the Liebherr estate can't.

why cant we win the league..?

[Turkish]

- Wolves have never averaged over 30k in the Premier League

- Newcastle and Leeds have both finished in Champions League places

- Villa have been close to the top 4 in recent years in terms of placing

 

No-one has yet given me a reason why Everton under the limited funding of Bill Kenwright can challenge for the Champions League, but Saints under Cortese and the Liebherr estate can't.

 

Villa finished 6th 3 years in a row. why are we going to do much better than them?

sunderland have never qualifed for the champions league

 

 

Give me a reason why we will do so much better.

[Elmore]

Just dont see what this guy has done or offers us.

 

1) Espanyol fans describe him as average at best - they had 21,000 season ticket holders but in his last year they were getting crowds of 15,000. Thats 6,000 people that had paid but decided not to go.

2) Espanyol fans on twitter say he did not get the best out of the better players and players hated him

3) his record is shocking

4) since he left Espanyol the team has improved significantly

5) his transfers were a joke said one Espanyol fan on Twitter "wasted what little money we did have on below par player"

6) "has no plan B"

 

Who did you contact? Alpine_Periquito?

[Matthew Le God]

One club 18 years ago who were smashing British transfer record fees on world class strikers. Yep, just like saints are doing. Brilliant example :lol:

 

You laugh, yet you were the one that set the daft question in the first place. You thought there were none, yet were shown to be wrong. Remember the Mr Men books you like to use for me?

 

Why do you keep going on about Everton? What Everton do does not effect what Saints do. Everton have qualifed for the champions league ONCE. Plenty of other clubs have never got there. Aston Villa, how about them. They spent a fortune when Martin O'Neill was there and never got above 6th. Please explain why we will do so much better than them.

 

Yet again, you have failed to give a reason why Everton can challenge for the Champions League spots or even top 5 or 6 under Bill Kenwright but Saints can't under Cortese/Liebherr estate. Why is that? Because you can't think of a good reason perhaps?

[Chewy]

right..so when we spend more than everyone in the country (like blackburn)...then we may have a chance...oh, and start buying the very best strikers in the country too...like blackburn did....

 

maybe we should put a sneaky bid in for RVP in the summer....

 

as for spurs, they are heavily bank rolled by some billionaire in the carribean..unless you think they can afford the players they have and the northumberland project from premier league and europa league money....????

 

First I was answering a specific question (which you don't seem to like doing). Secondly, we are heavily bank rolled by a dead Swiss billionaire. Rvp is ridiculous because we are not in the champions league, but we all thought Ramirez was ridiculous, as is beating Liverpool to forren, and being linked with coutinho. And lastly, if we get him and astori we wouldn't be far off the biggest spenders in the league this season. See, it may be far fetched, but its not actually entirely unbelievable, and certainly doesn't warrant your level of incredulity. IMHO of course.

[SaintRichmond]

Anybody considered that the long term ambitions may not be as long as we'd like and Cortese been given the task, with a timescale, of building up the club to sell it? Or does he love all things Saints?

 

THIS ...... that is the true Leibherr agenda IMHO ..... with Cortese working to their "Business Plan "

[Thedelldays]

MLG...will we be challenging for the title..?

[Matthew Le God]

Villa finished 6th 3 years in a row. why are we going to do much better than them?

sunderland have never qualifed for the champions league

 

Give me a reason why we will do so much better.

 

You have yet again failed to answer my question, if you do it renders your question irrelevant. Give it a try...

[Matthew Le God]

MLG...will we be challenging for the title..?

 

Answer my question first.

[shurlock]

- Wolves have never averaged over 30k in the Premier League

- Newcastle and Leeds have both finished in Champions League places

- Villa have been close to the top 4 in recent years in terms of placing

 

No-one has yet given me a reason why Everton under the limited funding of Bill Kenwright can challenge for the Champions League, but Saints under Cortese and the Liebherr estate can't.

 

Alright Sheff U, Derby etc then...Nobody's denying that Everton did it but for your one example there are about ten counter-examples which makes your argument flimsy at best. I can name one person who won the lottery - doesn't mean I will.

[Turkish]

You laugh, yet you were the one that set the daft question in the first place. You thought there were none, yet were shown to be wrong. Remember the Mr Men books you like to use for me?

 

 

 

Yet again, you have failed to give a reason why Everton can challenge for the Champions League spots or even top 5 or 6 under Bill Kenwright but Saints can't under Cortese/Liebherr estate. Why is that? Because you can't think of a good reason perhaps?

 

It wasnt a daft question. One club, 18 years ago. ONe club who were smashing transfer records. That's how difficult it is.

 

Everton have had David Moyes, a top manager for over 10 years and have built a quality team gradually. They've qualifed ONCE. Please prove where i have said that we can never challenge for a top 6 place. I think you'll find i have said we can do it, but it would be a massive achievement and not something that is going to happen anytime soon or regularly.

 

Now tell me why we will be so much more successful than those like Aston Villla, who have tried and failed. Or all the other clubs who get crowds of 30k in the premier league.

[Thedelldays]

Answer my question first.

I have given my opinion..........now, do you THINK we will be challenging for the title..yes or no..?

[Matthew Le God]

Alright Sheff U, Derby, Leicester then...Nobody's denying that Everton did it but for your one example there are about ten counter-examples which makes your argument flimsy at best.

 

None of them had the kind of investment the Liebherr estate has already put into the club. They have achieved a lot already and put money where their mouth is, if they say they have ambitions of this kind why so quickly rule it out?

[Matthew Le God]

I have given my opinion..........now, do you THINK we will be challenging for the title..yes or no..?

 

You didn't answer the question.

[Turkish]

None of them had the kind of investment the Liebherr estate has already put into the club. They have achieved a lot already and put money where their mouth is, if they say they have ambitions of this kind why so quickly rule it out?

 

Its one thing to get out of league one and into the premier league,. Quite another to break into the top 4.

[Thedelldays]

You didn't answer the question.

mate, I cant be arsed...you are unbearable...yes, we could challenge for top 4..man u could get relegated...we could still in the league this season

 

when in fact, none of that will happen IMO

 

I will leave you to your black and white world...enjoy your debate with Turkish

[shurlock]

None of them had the kind of investment the Liebherr estate has already put into the club. They have achieved a lot already and put money where their mouth is, if they say they have ambitions of this kind why so quickly rule it out?

 

So your argument is as much about what Liebherr estate might do in the future -not what is currently attainable.

And it has more to do with assumed financial backing than actual attendances.

[CeeBee]

I would think Nigel had to get a minimum of 25 points by Christmas. He failed to do this and so NC made the change. Relegation is not an option and we are just too close for comfort. NA suited a lot of fans including me as he had a slightly surreal sense of humour and an innate honesty when answering questions. NC on the other hand has a vision for the club which far surpasses most of our expectations.

We had a five year plan to achieve premiership status which we duly did in 3 years. The new five year plan probably includes CL qualification within 3-4 years. Therefore relegation in the first year will not be tolerated. The new man must make his mark quickly to ensure PL status this year.

For next season, expectations would be for us to be in top half of league and the following season would be looking for top 4.

These are probably the ambitions of NC. Are they achievable ? Maybe. He is certainly aiming high and the new manager is the start. I really believe that he is aiming to make SFC one of the premier clubs in UK and Europe. We will have a new stadium or an upgraded St Marys and the power to attract both the best managers(JM, PG) and players. We have the buying power if required (possibly a lot more than we know about) although the academy will be expected to produce another 2-4 graduates for the first team.

Sad for Nigel as a person, but excited for the future. SFC onwards and upwards? I am hopeful, and looking forward to the next few weeks.

[colehillsaint]

I would think Nigel had to get a minimum of 25 points by Christmas. He failed to do this and so NC made the change. Relegation is not an option and we are just too close for comfort. NA suited a lot of fans including me as he had a slightly surreal sense of humour and an innate honesty when answering questions. NC on the other hand has a vision for the club which far surpasses most of our expectations.

We had a five year plan to achieve premiership status which we duly did in 3 years. The new five year plan probably includes CL qualification within 3-4 years. Therefore relegation in the first year will not be tolerated. The new man must make his mark quickly to ensure PL status this year.

For next season, expectations would be for us to be in top half of league and the following season would be looking for top 4.

These are probably the ambitions of NC. Are they achievable ? Maybe. He is certainly aiming high and the new manager is the start. I really believe that he is aiming to make SFC one of the premier clubs in UK and Europe. We will have a new stadium or an upgraded St Marys and the power to attract both the best managers(JM, PG) and players. We have the buying power if required (possibly a lot more than we know about) although the academy will be expected to produce another 2-4 graduates for the first team.

Sad for Nigel as a person, but excited for the future. SFC onwards and upwards? I am hopeful, and looking forward to the next few weeks.

 

Why do you think the appointment of an out of work spanish speaking manager from the bottom end of La Liga is an expression of ambition? I mean he might be brilliant, but he might not. If we had nicked away a manager from a club of twice our size that would be an obvious expression of ambition. I think like so many other posters on this forum you are just expressing what you hope rather than what is staring you in the face.

[Graffito]

THIS ...... that is the true Leibherr agenda IMHO ..... with Cortese working to their "Business Plan "

 

Thanks for keeping it on topic. Saints were a value buy. Ein schnappchen as ML called it. Buy low and sell high. Try as I might I can't see them in it for anything but the money. They also converted £30m or whatever of debt to equity. All well and good but they'll want it back.

[SaintBobby]

I will tell you why we won't qualify for the top 4:

 

1. We have nowhere near the resources of Man C, Man Utd, Chelsea or Arsenal. Over a 38 game season, it is simply inconceivable that we will have a better record than ANY of these four teams. I will only reappraise this if (a) one of these four clubs goes into total financial meltdown and (b) Southampton start spending utterly massive sums of money on new players

 

2. Even if something very weird happened to one of these top 4, it's supremely unlikely that we would have the resources to compete over a season with Spurs or Liverpool. The latter have had a tough time of late, but are still probably going to finish in the top 6 or 7 and are much better equipped than Saints for the forseeable future.

 

3. This leaves 7th position as the highest realistic attainable target - but even that would involve us overcoming a whole swathe of clubs of similar or greater size to Southampton - Sunderland, West Ham, Villa, Stoke, West Brom etc. I can easily imagine us finishing higher than any given one of these clubs - but to imagine a season in which we finish in a higher slot than ALL of them is on the extremely optimistic side, to put it mildly. So even if, say, Spurs, Arsenal or Liverpool have a truly disastrous season, it's unlikely that we will manage to finish ahead of all the other middle-ish clubs.

 

4. Everton are an extreme, over-performing outlier. Even then, their average finishing position since the 2000/2001 is still only 9th place. In the last five seasons, they have performed very well -always finishing between 5th and 8th place. This sounds like it's pretty close to the Champions League places, but - in fact - they have always missed the top 4 by at least nine points (and by an average of over 11 points). They did once secure 4th place, with a remarkably low points total of just 61 points (a total that would almost certainly never secure 4th place ever again). Under today's rules, this would not have been sufficient to qualify (Liverpool would have qualified instead in 5th place as holders). So, even if we can replicate the incredible success Moyes has had at Everton, which it is very hard to imagine we ever will, it is supremely unlikely that we would ever make it into the top 4 anyway.

 

5. Once the realisation dawns that a serious effort to get into the top 4 is beyond us, there are big risks in having a business plan predicated on a serious bid to secure Champions League qualification. We would presumably have to spend an absolute fortune on players - but would end up with the derisory crumbs of Europa League qualification at best. This runs the serious risk of starting a cycle of massive overspend that eventually leads to the sort of total financial meltdown we have seen before. Far better to have a strategy of stabilising in the Premiership, always steering a fair way clear of the bottom three and typically finishing 9th-14th. Perhaps very, very occasionally securing a trip to Wembley for a Cup Final.

 

HTH.

[Sour Mash]

But I really don't think we have enough fans. Sure, I guess we can gain fans, but I think our maximum potential regular attendance is around 40k. And I know that Chelsea only have around that, but I think if they were to increase their stadium size to say 60k, they'd fill that. We'd never do 60k. Not in the next 10 or so years anyways...

32k is about the right size for a club our size. Most normal, sensible people know that.

[Sour Mash]

None of them had the kind of investment the Liebherr estate has already put into the club. They have achieved a lot already and put money where their mouth is, if they say they have ambitions of this kind why so quickly rule it out?

So what do you think it's going to be? Only spending what we bring in or more debt for the club?

[Matthew Le God]

32k is about the right size for a club our size. Most normal, sensible people know that.

 

So you think we'd need the same sized stadium in the top half of the Premier League as we would in the bottom half?

[Sour Mash]

Everton after 22 games are still in with a chance of a top 4 finish.

 

- Everton 5th with average of 36,874 in a 40k stadium

- Saints 15th with average of 30,496 in a 32k stadium

 

It is easier to have a higher average attendance when for the bigger games you have a 40k capacity to fill, Saints can only get 32k max when the big sides come to town, Everton can get 40k which makes it easier to boost the average. Everton are also having a more successful season than Saints, yet only average 6k more.

 

Everton are hardly "wealthy", nor have they had anywhere near the net spend and investment Saints have and Saints can out do them in the transfer market.

 

If Everton can challenge for the top 4, then why couldn't Saints in the coming years?

MLG do you think we will challenge for 3-4th place in the next couple of years? What do you think NC's aims are? And timescales for them?

[Sour Mash]

So you think we'd need the same sized stadium in the top half of the Premier League as we would in the bottom half?

Well we're not going to change it's size week to week depending on where we are in the league are we?

[SaintBobby]

So you think we'd need the same sized stadium in the top half of the Premier League as we would in the bottom half?

 

Yes. I do.

 

We might put the prices up a fraction, but there won't be much more interest in Saints being 8th or 9th than there is in us being 14th or 15th.

 

A 9th-placed Saints v Man Utd is not obviously a much more attractive game than a 15th-placed Saints v Man Utd.

 

Similarly, matches against Wigan, West Brom, Norwich etc don't become enormously more exciting.

[CB Fry]

Yes. I do.

 

We might put the prices up a fraction, but there won't be much more interest in Saints being 8th or 9th than there is in us being 14th or 15th.

 

A 9th-placed Saints v Man Utd is not obviously a much more attractive game than a 15th-placed Saints v Man Utd.

 

Similarly, matches against Wigan, West Brom, Norwich etc don't become enormously more exciting.

 

You know this is correct, I know it. All sensible human life knows it.

 

Don't bother arguing with that idiot.

[Matthew Le God]

MLG do you think we will challenge for 3-4th place in the next couple of years? What do you think NC's aims are? And timescales for them?

 

I have no idea as to the timescales (sacking Adkins suggests he wanted more than mere consolidation this season), Cortese has mentioned Champions League football for Saints, early plans for stadium expansion at St Mary's and I'm sure he is fully aware of how much it would all cost. I wouldn't be quite so dismissive of his ambitions given what has been achieved so far. None of us know the extent of the resources behind the club, it appears Cortese is confident he has what he needs.

[Sour Mash]

I have no idea as to the timescales (sacking Adkins suggests he wanted more than mere consolidation this season), Cortese has mentioned Champions League football for Saints, early plans for stadium expansion at St Mary's and I'm sure he is fully aware of how much it would all cost. I wouldn't be quite so dismissive of his ambitions given what has been achieved so far. None of us know the extent of the resources behind the club, it appears Cortese is confident he has what he needs.

No, sorry, I might not have made myself clear. I'll re-phrase it and make it into two parts. 1) What do you think NC's plans are? What do you think is achievable and by when?

[Matthew Le God]

Well we're not going to change it's size week to week depending on where we are in the league are we?

 

I didn't say that did I. If Saints become an established top half team that isn't going to suddenly change the next season if investment continues.

 

Yes. I do.

 

We might put the prices up a fraction, but there won't be much more interest in Saints being 8th or 9th than there is in us being 14th or 15th.

 

A 9th-placed Saints v Man Utd is not obviously a much more attractive game than a 15th-placed Saints v Man Utd.

 

Similarly, matches against Wigan, West Brom, Norwich etc don't become enormously more exciting.

 

Saints will sell out a number of games this season whilst in a relegation fight. Had the stadium been bigger the average would have been larger.

 

Cortese clearly thinks we do need a larger stadium as he commissioned AFL to come up with early designs for an expansion. It is also foolish to think it is just about increased capacity. The plans revealed in the summer show extra building that would be used in increase revenue streams for the club. Something vitally important under FFP.

[Matthew Le God]

This is not the plan of a chairman that is happy with relegation fights or mid table mediocrity every season...

 

 

 

 

He is extremely ambitious and would be fully aware a development like this and funding a Champions League push will cost a lot of money. He doesn't strike me as the type that would say such things unless he really thought he could deliver it with the resources he has available. As a League One side he put in a planning application for a development at Staplewood that wouldn't look out of place in the Champions League and construction started whilst in the Championship.

Edited 19 January, 2013 by Matthew Le God

[Sour Mash]

I didn't say that did I. If Saints become an established top half team that isn't going to suddenly change the next season if investment continues.

 

 

 

Saints will sell out a number of games this season whilst in a relegation fight. Had the stadium been bigger the average would have been larger.

 

Cortese clearly thinks we do need a larger stadium as he commissioned AFL to come up with early designs for an expansion. It is also foolish to think it is just about increased capacity. The plans revealed in the summer show extra building that would be used in increase revenue streams for the club. Something vitally important under FFP.

We haven't seen any designs for an expansion.

[Turkish]

I didn't say that did I. If Saints become an established top half team that isn't going to suddenly change the next season if investment continues.

 

 

 

Saints will sell out a number of games this season whilst in a relegation fight. Had the stadium been bigger the average would have been larger.

 

Cortese clearly thinks we do need a larger stadium as he commissioned AFL to come up with early designs for an expansion. It is also foolish to think it is just about increased capacity. The plans revealed in the summer show extra building that would be used in increase revenue streams for the club. Something vitally important under FFP.

 

so you think a must win game in a relegation dog fight against QPR which is the difference between 17th and 18th will attract a smaller crowd than a midtable game against QPR where it doesn't really matter if we win or lose as it's the difference between 10th and 11th?

[Matthew Le God]

We haven't seen any designs for an expansion.

 

They have revealed very early ideas that they commissioned AFL to design.

[Sour Mash]

They have revealed very early ideas that they commissioned AFL to design.

You mean that drawing you posted above?

[Golac's Cunning Stunts]

Those designs are embarrassing. My how we all laughed when the skates produced similar ones. Pie in the sky.

[ThreeSixty]

This is all so very very tedious.

[Matthew Le God]

You mean that drawing you posted above?

 

Yes, early designs for a St Mary's expansion and development from the same architects (AFL) that designed the new training ground development at Staplewood.

 

Those designs are embarrassing. My how we all laughed when the skates produced similar ones. Pie in the sky.

 

Unlike the Skates, Cortese and the Liebherr's have a track record of delivering what they say. As a League One side Saints put in a planning application for a development at Staplewood that wouldn't look out of place in the Champions League and construction started whilst in the Championship and will be finished in 5 months time!

Edited 19 January, 2013 by Matthew Le God

[Turkish]

 

 

 

This is not the plan of a chairman that is happy with relegation fights or mid table mediocrity every season...How is it coming on??

[Matthew Le God]

 

 

 

This is not the plan of a chairman that is happy with relegation fights or mid table mediocrity every season...How is it coming on??

 

As I've already said...

 

Unlike the Skates, Cortese and the Liebherr's have a track record of delivering what they say. As a League One side Saints put in a planning application for a development at Staplewood that wouldn't look out of place in the Champions League and construction started whilst in the Championship and will be finished in 5 months time!

[Turkish]

As I've already said...

 

Unlike the Skates, Cortese and the Liebherr's have a track record of delivering what they say. As a League One side Saints put in a planning application for a development at Staplewood that wouldn't look out of place in the Champions League and construction started whilst in the Championship and will be finished in 5 months time!

 

The skates owners delivered European footballl and an FA Cup win, things which you fantisise about. It's fair to say they delivered as well is it not?

 

How sure are you it'll be finished in 5 months time?

[SaintBobby]

I didn't say that did I. If Saints become an established top half team that isn't going to suddenly change the next season if investment continues.

 

 

 

Saints will sell out a number of games this season whilst in a relegation fight. Had the stadium been bigger the average would have been larger.

 

Cortese clearly thinks we do need a larger stadium as he commissioned AFL to come up with early designs for an expansion. It is also foolish to think it is just about increased capacity. The plans revealed in the summer show extra building that would be used in increase revenue streams for the club. Something vitally important under FFP.

 

It doesn't follow that we need a bigger stadium just because we will sell out some games this season.

 

I'd say that our present attendances - about 92% of seats sold, suggests that we're about right in terms of size.

 

Also, of course, even if we felt that in a larger stadium, we'd get average attendances of 36,000, it doesn't mean you should necessarily expand to, say, a 40,000 capacity. Relative scarcity of seating means relatively higher prices. So, if you can sell 32,000 at £30 each (£960,000), it might be that you could only sell 36,000 seats at £29 each (£1,044,000). Not, on the face of it a brilliant revenue raiser - you've expanded your stadium by 25%, but have only increased your ticket revenue by 8.75%. You'd want to look very long and hard at the numbers before embarking on such an expansion. It might not pay for itself for many, many years - even many decades.

 

Are you still of the view that Wolves have done the right thing with their stadium expansion? How's that working out for them?

[Matthew Le God]

The skates owners delivered European footballl and an FA Cup win, things which you fantisise about. It's fair to say they delivered as well is it not?

 

They did that at the expense of the long term future of the club and was unsustainable with their small stadium and lack of other assets. Lack of infrastructure has also screwed them in the long term and made them less attractive for investment.

 

Improvements at Staplewood will benefit Saints for years to come. Cortese/Liebherr's delivered that, which should give them standing if they announce future projects. At the moment the stadium image comes with a "?" on the opening image, but I wouldn't be so quick as some on here to completely rule it out.

 

How sure are you it'll be finished in 5 months time?

 

That is the proposed finish date, as of a month ago it was on target for a summer 2013 completion. All steelwork is now up and wooden cladding going on and work on interiors has started. Landscaping of the site is well underway, 3G pitch is finished, work on spectator stand started etc etc.