It was announced some time ago now that the directors had done some financial thing with their loans (I don't understand it so I'm not going to attempt to explain it) which suggests that loans may well be the way the directors have contributed their finance. We have also taken on I think three new directors this season. The sale of Knowsley Road, at £8 million, will also contribute to the funding for the stadium build.


Nope. No-one is thinking that. The idea of an investment is that it is something for the future. It will be loss-making for a few years but because we will have up to date facilities, including corporate facilities, and because we will have a stadium that people will want to go to and be able to go to - perhaps with a music licence for example (I asked if this was going to be considered at a meeting a couple of years ago and it was confirmed then that it would be considered) - then there will be a whole range of funding streams simply not available at Knowsley Road. Add to this the absence of the massive financial drain of Knowsley Road - apparently up to £750,000 a year (without any means of raising any money whatsoever except on match days and through sponsorship) - and I can see the attraction for investors with a bit of money to spare.


Personally, I wouldn't want Saints to take away any Widnes fans. I'd prefer to convert the uninitiated or persuade the disillusioned back again here in St Helens.

Genuine question again for any lingering Saints fans - whats this talk about taking the derby to Goodison Park or Anfield next season? Any truth in that? Any official comments?

The only official comment that has been made by McManus is that they are looking at the idea of taking one or two bigger matches to bigger stadia. No mention of soccer stadia.

True but the rumours are flying around that it's at Everton.

Im not being funny but what other stadiums are apart from soccer stadia that are bigger than halton stadium.

Warrington.

Wire is smaller than halton stadium FACT

Sure about that? Having had significant dealings with both Tesco and the planning process, I can assure you that they are nowhere near as benevolent as you may believe. A contribution towards the infrastructure of the stadium possibly - paying for it outright and then gifting it to a separate commercial entity, never!!!

If Tesco were so generous to Warrington - why haven't they done the same thing for Saints given that it is an almost identical situation (wanting a Supermarket on the edge of the town centre which is generally opposed by national planning policy)?

Quote: giwildgo "Sure about that? Having had significant dealings with both Tesco and the planning process, I can assure you that they are nowhere near as benevolent as you may believe. A contribution towards the infrastructure of the stadium possibly - paying for it outright and then gifting it to a separate commercial entity, never!!! If Tesco were so generous to Warrington - why haven't they done the same thing for Saints given that it is an almost identical situation (wanting a Supermarket on the edge of the town centre which is generally opposed by national planning policy)?'" Warringtons stadium is a very cheap build. The contract to build the stadium according to attached document link www.barr.co.uk/brochures/stadia.pdf was for only £6.8million. This link from a Warrington fan showing the clubs history indicates that the council bailed Wire out by buying Wilderspool and Tesco invited Wire to join their superstore plans. This was to enable the store to get planning permission. Without the Wolves stadium being built Tescos would never have been built. www.odeauk.fsnet.co.uk/archive/history.htm Enabling developments are very popular with Tesco. The actual money that Tesco have offered Saints and Wire, if any, will be the subject of confidentiality clauses. However its safe to say that without Tesco on board neither club would have had the cash to build a new stadium.

Quote: giwildgo "Sure about that? Having had significant dealings with both Tesco and the planning process, I can assure you that they are nowhere near as benevolent as you may believe. A contribution towards the infrastructure of the stadium possibly - paying for it outright and then gifting it to a separate commercial entity, never!!! If Tesco were so generous to Warrington - why haven't they done the same thing for Saints given that it is an almost identical situation (wanting a Supermarket on the edge of the town centre which is generally opposed by national planning policy)?'" Warringtons stadium is a very cheap build. The contract to build the stadium according to attached document link www.barr.co.uk/brochures/stadia.pdf was for only £6.8million. This link from a Warrington fan showing the clubs history indicates that the council bailed Wire out by buying Wilderspool and Tesco invited Wire to join their superstore plans. This was to enable the store to get planning permission. Without the Wolves stadium being built Tescos would never have been built. www.odeauk.fsnet.co.uk/archive/history.htm Enabling developments are very popular with Tesco. The actual money that Tesco have offered Saints and Wire, if any, will be the subject of confidentiality clauses. However its safe to say that without Tesco on board neither club would have had the cash to build a new stadium.

Didn't they offer to finance the build the structure for the proposed Everton stadium in Kirkby, but the club was to pay for fixtures and fittings? I thought that was the deal with the HJ, but I accept that I may be way off the mark.

IIRC, in regard to the Saints stadium the only contribution they would make to the stadium is if some of the funding fell through as the store cannot be built without the stadium being finished.

This is what we were led to believe that Tesco paid for the Stadium but Warrington then had to pay for all fixtures and fittings.

Lets not forget tesco bailed us out aswell with the sale of central park

yes they did, its how they get planning, they did pay as I was one of the managers that opened the store, its pretty common knowledge. Councils always hold them to ransoms to get things built, improved and extended to gain planning.

Have they sold wilderspool as I thought they still trained there?