The View From The Hill. Chairman Nicholas Randall Speaks!

[Widdow]

Other thoughts, The academy building, he also admitted, is woeful. And it has taken four years for them to apply to category 1 status, when it could have been done at any time. Every club in the Midlands virtually is category 1. Derby have been for years. They have made it sound like a really big and ambitious move when it is actually playing catch up .

IF get permission to build stand, when will that happen? Not sure if it was me, but it seemed when he was asked that question he changed the subject.

They actually announced in January that the application would be submitted in the first quarter of 2021. So it has changed again. Yet we got to March 31 and absolutely nobody asking why, certainly not the interviewee .... just feels like a mix of apathy and people being disconnected maybe?

Applying for Cat 1 is not that easy.

You just cannot submit an application at any time; there is a three year cycle - if you are not in a position to apply when the opportunity come round, you wait another three years.

Any application submitted three years ago would have been dismissed out of hand as there are no Educational facilities on site; this is a pre requisite for Cat 1.

The application for planning permission for the Stand should have gone in during the first quarter of 2021, but there was a delay due to issues with the proposed apartment blocks.

Delays on a project this size are inevitable.

So you can only apply for CAT1 status every 3 years? 

Lets hope that is not the case, because if they mess up and fail the audit, then wont be able to apply till 2024?

What they actually said in 2017 was we would get a new state of the art training ground, with academy, in five years - thats not going to happen is it.

Yet look what Bristol City have done in far less time than that, its what Forest said they would do!

As for the stand and proposed apartment blocks, the issues raised with regards to the dwellings, was raised earlier last year, surely sorted that out by now.

Love to know how the cost of £2m (money spent so far on plans) is broken down, a lot of money and not even knowing when going to get the new application submitted, never mind a spade in the ground. 

He admitted nothing had been done with the ground as it is, but suggested it will be improved for when fans return, i wonder what that will involve, a spring clean getting rid of the cobwebs, a lick of paint, or actually improving the catering around the ground, improve the toilets, on top of what may have to do to make it covid safe?

And if they get planning permission, when will they start work on it, 2022, 2023?? Nothing been said on that, and Nick wasnt pushed, changed the subject.

In fact, everything the chairman has said, was all said when the owners first took over (not so much detail in the stand but to modernise and improve the City Ground) yet coming up to 5 years in tenure and all that's happening is talk, so it is a case of well done for doing the Q&A, but isnt it a case of repeating yourself?

He wasn't challenged, why not go through the points he made in his open letter right from the start?
What happened last January?
Why after nearly 5 years, you haven't got a transfer strategy and still relying on the likes of Modesto.
What was Angio's role?

As for his talk about the board members, we have ]We’ve got a Greek lunatic CEO (or passionate depends on your thoughts when you hear him screaming lol), a part time QC and a radio DJ, they dont even have board meetings, so cant have fans observers on the board

And makes me laugh that Nick blamed Covid on the bad results in his first interview ... couldn’t make it up!

I am pleased we have an ambitious owner, but its about time they delivered, at moment still all talk

[Sniffer Dog (Admin)]

JCK could you clarify this 3 year wait for me please?
My understanding is that Palace, Burnley and Leeds were awarded Cat 1 status in 2020. How come if there is a 3 year cycle we are applying in 2021 and not waiting for 2023?

Probably each individual club can apply for Cat 1 once at any time during a 3 year cycle.

In other words if we are rejected this time we have to wait until 2024. Alternatively had preparations been in place sooner we could actually have applied last year or earlier?

Yes exactly but I am only guessing I don't know that is the case for sure.

[Tricky]

In addition to one of Widdows questions, I would hasten to guess that a lot of the £2M fee would've been spent on Architects' fees towards the initial plan submissions, drawings etc, along with the detailed reports that would have to accompany a development of this scale. Add on top of that reviewed plans and reviewed reports.

In addition, there would've been fees paid to consultants to carry out the public consultations etc. All of these come at a cost!

[Jean_claude_killy]

Other thoughts, The academy building, he also admitted, is woeful. And it has taken four years for them to apply to category 1 status, when it could have been done at any time. Every club in the Midlands virtually is category 1. Derby have been for years. They have made it sound like a really big and ambitious move when it is actually playing catch up .

IF get permission to build stand, when will that happen? Not sure if it was me, but it seemed when he was asked that question he changed the subject.

They actually announced in January that the application would be submitted in the first quarter of 2021. So it has changed again. Yet we got to March 31 and absolutely nobody asking why, certainly not the interviewee .... just feels like a mix of apathy and people being disconnected maybe?

Applying for Cat 1 is not that easy.

You just cannot submit an application at any time; there is a three year cycle - if you are not in a position to apply when the opportunity come round, you wait another three years.

Any application submitted three years ago would have been dismissed out of hand as there are no Educational facilities on site; this is a pre requisite for Cat 1.

The application for planning permission for the Stand should have gone in during the first quarter of 2021, but there was a delay due to issues with the proposed apartment blocks.

Delays on a project this size are inevitable.

So you can only apply for CAT1 status every 3 years? 

Lets hope that is not the case, because if they mess up and fail the audit, then wont be able to apply till 2024?

What they actually said in 2017 was we would get a new state of the art training ground, with academy, in five years - thats not going to happen is it.

Yet look what Bristol City have done in far less time than that, its what Forest said they would do!

As for the stand and proposed apartment blocks, the issues raised with regards to the dwellings, was raised earlier last year, surely sorted that out by now.

Love to know how the cost of £2m (money spent so far on plans) is broken down, a lot of money and not even knowing when going to get the new application submitted, never mind a spade in the ground. 

He admitted nothing had been done with the ground as it is, but suggested it will be improved for when fans return, i wonder what that will involve, a spring clean getting rid of the cobwebs, a lick of paint, or actually improving the catering around the ground, improve the toilets, on top of what may have to do to make it covid safe?

And if they get planning permission, when will they start work on it, 2022, 2023?? Nothing been said on that, and Nick wasnt pushed, changed the subject.

In fact, everything the chairman has said, was all said when the owners first took over (not so much detail in the stand but to modernise and improve the City Ground) yet coming up to 5 years in tenure and all that's happening is talk, so it is a case of well done for doing the Q&A, but isnt it a case of repeating yourself?

He wasn't challenged, why not go through the points he made in his open letter right from the start?
What happened last January?
Why after nearly 5 years, you haven't got a transfer strategy and still relying on the likes of Modesto.
What was Angio's role?

As for his talk about the board members, we have ]We’ve got a Greek lunatic CEO (or passionate depends on your thoughts when you hear him screaming lol), a part time QC and a radio DJ, they dont even have board meetings, so cant have fans observers on the board

And makes me laugh that Nick blamed Covid on the bad results in his first interview ... couldn’t make it up!

I am pleased we have an ambitious owner, but its about time they delivered, at moment still all talk

"So you can only apply for CAT1 status every 3 years? "

That is how it was explained to me by people from the Academy.

With regard to having a new complex to house the training and the Academy; a site was identified which would have been ideal; unfortunately it was subsequently zoned for housing - apparently Nottinghamshire has an acute lack of houses and that is where the Councils priority lies

The search goes on; they have agents actively looking for a suitable site.

Cant help with the rest.

[Widdow]

"So you can only apply for CAT1 status every 3 years? "

That is how it was explained to me by people from the Academy.


Okay, so that at the moment is only hearsay, we don't know if that is the case?

If it is, after 4 years you think they would know what's required to get the award, and wouldn't risk waiting another 3 years?

As i said, it simply must be done just to catch up on clubs around us.

The Alternative is the Brentford model, which was ruled out by the chairman, the same chairman who hasnt got a clue if will get awarded it.

[Sniffer Dog (Admin)]

I think they do know Widdow, it's the likes of us who don't know.

[Jean_claude_killy]

"So you can only apply for CAT1 status every 3 years? "

That is how it was explained to me by people from the Academy.


Okay, so that at the moment is only hearsay, we don't know if that is the case?

If it is, after 4 years you think they would know what's required to get the award, and wouldn't risk waiting another 3 years?

As i said, it simply must be done just to catch up on clubs around us.

The Alternative is the Brentford model, which was ruled out by the chairman, the same chairman who hasnt got a clue if will get awarded it.

It is definitely not hearsay; reference is made to a three year cycle in the EFL's charter for Academy Players and Parents:

Requirement to be Licensed 
3 If a Club engages in the training and development of young players then it must: 
    3.1 obtain a licence to operate an Academy; and 
    3.2 operate its Academy in accordance with this section of the Rules. 
4 The maximum term of a licence to operate an Academy shall be three years, unless revoked earlier in accordance with these Rules or extended by the PGB at its sole discretion. 
5 There shall be four Categories of Academy.

They are aware of what is required; it is a case of it the work can be completed prior to the appraisal.

If the work is not complete but has been started the Club can gain interim approval, pending full approval.

[Salvatore Matrecano]

JCK could you clarify this 3 year wait for me please?
My understanding is that Palace, Burnley and Leeds were awarded Cat 1 status in 2020. How come if there is a 3 year cycle we are applying in 2021 and not waiting for 2023?

Not all Clubs are in the same yearly cycle but they all will have an anniversary that falls within the three year period.

Palace, Burnley and Leeds must be in the 2017 - 2020 - 2023 - 2026 cycle

We are in the 2018 - 2021 - 2024 - 2027 cycle

The Professional Development programme started in 2012; all Clubs taking part in the programme are appraised on a three yearly basis to ensure that they are maintaining the agreed standards.

This anniversary is also used for applications to upgrade.

Does that make sense?

This is how it was explained to me by one of the Academy coaches

That does make sense thanks. In other words we either applied back in 2018 when we were still sweeping up the mess from the former owner or we waited until this year so we haven’t wasted an opportunity. As an outsider I get the impression that we may not have focussed as clearly as we could have done on some issues until recently but lets hope we can get that provisional approval in the summer.