I do sleep walk now and then ........ but not from Halifax to Normy.......

But that's the whole point. Once your part of the new ground gang nobody cares. He won't look stupid because no one will care, all they will see is shiny new stadium. We could play in a Bear pit so long as the stadium was being built.

The only fly in the ointment is Clans suggestion that it will take 3 years. Personally if we get the green light I reckon more like 2013 if all the funding is in place. However I'm in no position to be sure of that so I accept his point. What I am sure of is that if we are in by the start of 2014 nobody will give a stuff as to what did and didn't get done at BV.

Thats where I think you may be wrong Vasty. I think we'll have to tread very carefully and fulfill all the promises in our application. I think we'd be frowned upon and possibly kicked out if we stall on upgrading BV. I love the place and in all honesty I'd watch Wakey on Heath Common if I had to but the RFL don't look at it like that do they. It's a funny one but I think we need to be squeaky clean and prove we've moved on from the dawn of false promises

Only problem with that is that I am led to believe that we wont know the outcome regarding Newmarket until March.

The cost of upgrading BV will be seen as an acceptable opportunity cost, even if it only has temporary usefulness - it's a passport to SL, which in turn guarantees a million quid or so from Sky, plus all the commercial revenue that comes with playing in the top flight. If that weren't stark enough, the RFL made a point of reminding all the Grade C clubs when licences were announced that they could be revoked at any time if the recipients didn't do what they said they would do.

For those reasons, I don't believe that AG will sanction any funny business in respect of the ground improvements - in my view, he'll do them when he said he would do them in the way he said he would do them.

We will do what we said we would do otherwise we will be removed from SL and rightly so.

for me the three main things we'll be scrutinised over will be
1. Redevloping Belle Vue, not just because we will be in it for two more years (maybe 1 and half) but because it will be the first indication as to whether we are going to waffle or keep our promises.

2. £1.2M salary cap spend, also promised in the franchise doc.

3. The decision over Newmarket, out of our habds I know but crucial none the less.

Correct.

Provisional date for the report to SoS is 17th March (this date to be confimed early January after the PI ) It could be April before a decision is made.

Do we know if there is any update on ownership of the ground, and whether WTW will be still looking to buy it? Last time it was mentioned, it was too expensive for AG to consider.

I believe the ground has now been sold to a housing developer by the administrators for the BOI and that a rental is being charged for the ground.If has expected we were not to get a license them we were out on our derrieres.

Indeed. It's a case of hedging your bets to the last minutes. The best plans are those that can be changed at the drop of a hat - keep your options open as long as possible.

The decision over Newmarket is the total priority we dont get this ground we will allways be a selling club and will struggle to progress. Its a fact I love the mighty Trin as much as anyone but unfortunatly we will allways be looking over our shoulders if this doesnt happen. NEWMARKET!

If NM does not happen we won't need to look over our shoulder, there is no one behind you in NL2

Well that gives you another 3 years then to write an application that isn't full of holes so that you don't miss out once again!!

You are SOOOOOOOO out of touch, there is no Woolworths