Latest column in the MEN criticising the AJ Bell Stadium is an interesting read.

Everything he says is true. For all the good John Wilkinson did for the club, he hasn’t half left us in the sh*t with this stadium situation. As has been said by MK, the terms of the agreement are suicidal and can you imagine Salford City Council with the financial interests they have in the stadium allowing Salford Red Devils and/or Marwan Koukash planning permission to build another stadium within the City? Wont happen.

Unless he can get his hands on the stadium and you have to question whether he wants to anymore, things wont change soon. Without a wealthy benefactor Salford Red Devils will be history due to the financial burden of the AJ Bell.

Please don't forget it was Marwan who signed this latest stadium contract, not Wilkinson.

Also, what is the latest with the land at the Willows?

Nice to see Mario starting something positive for a change...

Oh wait.

It does not matter what the situation is with the willows, Salford city council will never allow another stadium to be built within the boundaries they control, while they hold a 50% stake in the AJ BELL, it would be madness for them.
Our only option would be to move over the border into Manchester , Man City training complex if MK can work out a deal with them that suits him and the club.
Dont all start shouting not going there etc, We followed the club to lego land , We as fans will follow then where ever they play, and they will always be SALFORD to us true fans.

The one where he openly states that he did so under duress? No agreement, no rugby club.

Fact is we shouldn’t be in this stadium and because we are it nearly wiped out over 100 years of history. The stadium we moved into in 2012 was not the same one which has unveiled and sold to the fans in 2008 and I am not just talking about the design. As soon as Red City Developments went bust in 2010 the writing was on the wall. Unreasonable rental costs and limited scope to earn money on usual match-day revenue streams will impact on the biggest of clubs, let alone us.

RE the Willows, no news since City West confirmed last year they intend to build 100 houses on the site.

Building work looks to have started on the old cricket ground and I think the Willows is part of the same new build.

I really fail to see why the council would not have sold for what they paid for the stadium, gets money back into the council accounts and also helps the city have a thriving professional sports team.

One thing I'm sure of, ifthe Doc got involved at the stadium it would begin to be much more profitable.

The Dr would like to buy the AJBell Stadium from the council at his price and not the one quoted by the council.

Belle Vue speedway are having a new stadium built for them. Trouble with Speedway is the pitch is narrow

Then there is FC United's new ground

Better to build a Salford/ Swinton new stadium, but where, Develop in partnership with Salford City footballs ground at Moor Lane.

Or the Dr could build his own pub/ resturant outside the AJ Bell

I don't know, we the supporters cannot do much, re the above, It's in the Dr's court

( I've done this in the slye of Mr Barker) Joke

Marwan has finally got it the crowd is poor because of the stadium location.The way he is talking we just have to put up with the situation. I thought the council wanted a team in the city,if that is the case and we say we are not paying the rent,are they going to pull the stadium down.Did the council not take out a loan to have the stadium built.we should tell Mayor Stewart the ball back with him.

I still find it strange how the club will complain about lack of public transport options yet not offer any proper alternative apart from one bus from the old willows site. I'm not saying it would have a massive impact on crowds however there should've perhaps been 4 or 5 services from different areas of Salford from when we first moved into the stadium.

Something similar to what Bolton Wanderers offer at their own out of town stadium but on a smaller scale would've been ideal really.

Whilst I think it's pie in the sky to expect another new-build stadium within the city, could the council really withold planning permission just because it would be competition for them? They could certainly refuse to sell land they owned for it.

I don't think the location will be such an issue in the longer term when the road system matures, there are a pub and other things near by, a few thousdand people working at the port next door, and you'll be able walk it from the Chill Factore in 15 minutes (and ultimately get the tram there). I wonder if Peel could be convinced to part with their share considering that they're selling their stake in Mediacity supposedly to part fund the port.

Is it possible that Marwan is saying all of this as a way of getting a better deal out of the stadium company for future negotiations?

It looks that way to me, he's obviously interested in buying the stadium he's said it from day one.

He may have shot himself in the foot though due to signing the new agreement and because everyone knows he's got $3 Billion in the bank (Apparently anyway). He's certainly not shy in letting everyone know he's got a few quid. Therefore the stadium management company might keep ripping the club off for rent so much so that he just ends up buying it at an over the top price. Peel love a good deal.

I don't agree with the claims that the stadium is in a poor location. It's one of the best locations for a stadium in Manchester. It's just the roads not finished yet, when that is done, it will be so much better going to games at the AJ Bell stadium. Until it's finished we are just going to have to bite the bullet I'm afraid. Which is really annoying because we should never have moved there in the first place unless the road was ready.

Peel have sold The Trafford Centre so for the right price they would be willing to sell their share in the stadium also.

The irony could be that in 20 years, the stadium could be surrounded by streets of terraced houses.



And their controlling interest has kind of been fulfilled now. Unless their end game is to have it bulldozed!

It sounds to me like this all comes down to whether the club needs the stadium more than the stadium needs the club. Either way, battle-lines have been drawn.