Re: where does the club go from here?
 

Keith Hill is leaving Rochdale for Barnsley apparently and Bury need a new manage, will it really be that long before an approach is made?

Re: where does the club go from here?
 

as nice as a shiny new ground would be, you have to kind of agree with that sentiment. The point of moving would be to ensure ways of building income throughout the year are included, can these ways be included into the existing footprint of The Crown?

Personally I'd rather stay at The Crown and develop it. It could be argued that the footprint isn't big enough but I beg to differ. We only need to add a couple of thousand or so onto the capacity or we'd look daft every week with a ground that is only 15% full.

Instead of spending £5-10m on a new ground we could do a hell of a lot with that money and what we already have. The main stand could be extended backwards by a good few rows and the 'offices' built under the extension. The offices could be built further towards the turnstiles at each end giving another 30 foot or so. The Cow shed can obviously be fully rebuilt the whole way down and used primarily as the family stand with massive deals built in with cheap food and family admission prices designed to fill it. At the new silly (IMO) prices you'd have to look at a family of four for £30 and a bucket of food for a tenner or something similar. The away end wants to be all seater and roofed, then we can rid the Clayton End of the disease of seating. Get the away fans sat down, insulate the roof with sound deadening egg boxes or summat and kill the atmosphere. Spend a right good chunk of money on the clubhouse. Embiggen (Homer says it is a word) it and tart it up properly, get some proper boxes built in so that they are separate (upstairs?) and then it can be used properly. I've always said that the clubhouse should be the heartbeat of everything, it should be used every day for a whole host of things and that is what we have to aim for.


Of course, we still don't fully know what Ilyas has in store or what his entire vision is. It might be that the isn't a cat in hells chance of doing what he wants on the current site. We do know that the stadium build isn't a gift to Stanley per se, but he wants it to be his legacy to the whole community. So perhaps that is why the Central Car Sales at Church is high on the priority list? To incorporate the Sports Centre into the whole shebang? We don't know until the great man speaks, but if that particular thing isnt going to come off then look at developing what we have and put a little more money into the squad and/or training facilities

Re: where does the club go from here?
 

There's hard graft, grief and tears built into the foundations of the crown; it's the spiritual birth place of ASFC 68 and the whole Stanley community has touched upon it in someway or other. The ultras and generations of supporters have built it's atmosphere out of the clay they've stood on. Why would we want a new shiny sterile stadium that isn't even in Accrington really. It's taken years for some to get over Peel Park; for other they never will accept any other place than the old battle ground.

The reality is that there's little or no change in the fortunes of the Town for years to come if ever. All Accrington has to offer is it's history and a big part of that is built around two Football Grounds and Two Clubs. The blood, sweat and tears of players and supporters is riddle in the clay. That's ours already and if we part with it the bulldozers have had their say and wipe it all away forever.

Re: where does the club go from here?
 

Well I chuck my 10 pence worth in.

As much as I have liked the crown over the years, this season we have seen it simply is not up to the job. Especially at hosting big games and everything that comes with them.

The main problem as everybody knows is the disaster that is the pitch. No matter what is done to it, we are still going to have the same problems as the run off from one side of the quarry leads directly underneath the pitch. Loads of rain = Raising of the water table = flooded pitch, it aint rocket science.

My ideal scenario would be to re-locate and incorporate the Sports Centre as part of ASFC, that way the club could earn money ALL day EVERY day from the use of the sports facilities. Our lads would then have a superb place to use the gym, astroturf pitch, swimming pool etc etc. Dont get me wrong I think moving over to Blackburn Rugby club has been a great move but we really could do with something we could call "our own"

Ive said it a few times, but something in a similar vein to that which Burton Albion have would be ideal. Its the perfect size, has everything a supporter needs and could easily be used for other sporting events and concerts if needed. Ok some people may not be a fan of the modern grounds but given the problems we have had, something NEEDS to be done.

As Proccy said on Late Kick Off the other week........... "The Crown Ground is rather past its sell by date" ........... I Would have to agree.

Re: where does the club go from here?
 

what other sporting events and concerts happen in accrington? we are in recession and i think we would regret moving any where at this time.stanley should build strong foundations and build on what weve already got building the support creating habits for the people of accrington so they will visit the crown every home game.lets not get carried away rome wasnt built in a day.

Re: where does the club go from here?
 

spot on smudge, yeh cant make a silk purse outa a sows ear, sentiment is nuts.

Re: where does the club go from here?
 

Whatever happens we are where we are for now and I would like to see some improved facilities particulary for home fans, last night was awash behind the Clayton End with people on the food & drink side of things which goes to show with promotions that people will use the facilities as they are.

It need not cost the earth I wouldn't have thought maybe some feasibity in some kind of awnings that could perhaps attached to the back of the Clayton End and could be brought down in inclement weather and popped back up when not in use it could also be prime advertising space.

Re: where does the club go from here?
 

onwards and upwards ....

Re: where does the club go from here?
 

Whatever we're going to do as a club, we'd better do it quick, as according to t'fishy site, we're starting our next season's campaign at the Don Valley Stadium a week on Wednesday!! :eek:

Re: where does the club go from here?
 

THat comment about Booth being a strong ref is a mickey take, if he'd been strong he'd have put a stop to Satanage's time wasting antics from the start - the only strong thing about him was his little legs as he sped off into the changing rooms - is it even in the rules that you can blow the final whistle after you've left the pitch??

Re: where does the club go from here?
 

Seen it too Wyn, couldn't believe my eyes, wheres the fixture list for next season?
Onto the thread though, Whilst I agree and disagree with a lot of the sentiments on here i.e. move to Central Car sales and Sports Centre site. That would be a traffic nightmare! To redevelop the Crown, Yes and no, we have enough problems with the residents of Livingstone Road, if the folk on the Whinney Hill Estate cannot watch the match for free, there will be uproar.
Seriously though, that would be my preferred option, Upgrade the Whinney Hill terrace to incorporate sponsors boxes and corporate facilities, roof over Coppice Terrace and make all seated. Generally upgrade facilities ie changing rooms and car parking. Macca I am not sure the current main stand could be extended to the rear, but I am no surveyor or Building expert. Whatever happens, as Macca says, we must wait for the IK to make the statement:)

Re: where does the club go from here?
 

Im sorry but there is no future for Accrington Stanley at the Crown Ground. Lets list some issues:

Access
Foundations
Neighbours
Expansion Capacity
Total need for complete re-haul
Car Parking
Lack of ownership

These are just off the top of my head without thinking.

Re: where does the club go from here?
 

i think the main issue pronto has to be the retained list n contracts, then see where that takes us?;)

Re: where does the club go from here?
 

would think a great place for the club to start to getting the accounts up to date at companies house

WebCHeck - Select and Access Company Information

Re: where does the club go from here?
 

Keith Hill is going nowhere, turned Barnsley down

BBC Sport - Keith Hill stays at Rochdale after talks with Barnsley