Craig

Stadium plans discussed as Fan Advisory Board reconvenes The latest Newcastle United Fan Advisory Board (FAB) meeting has taken place between supporters and senior club executives. The FAB consists of supporter representatives and is a key part of Newcastle United's ongoing commitment to structured, strategic fan engagement. During Monday's online meeting, a number of representatives from FAB were joined by Chief Operating Officer, Brad Miller, Chief Commercial Officer, Peter Silverstone and senior representatives from the club's supporter services, communications and commercial venue teams. Peter Silverstone provided FAB members with an insight into the club's growing commercial department, which has added 12 new club partners since last summer, introduced a new website and app, and recently launched the new St. James' STACK, presented by Sela. At the FAB's request, the club summarised the due diligence process that goes into building out a successful commercial partnership, which is supported by 'big four' professional services firms, and outlined plans to attract even more leading brands to the club's family of partners in future. STADIUM FEASIBILITY Brad Miller delivered an in-depth update on the club's stadium feasibility work to FAB members. As part of a comprehensive presentation, the club outlined that the study has now entered a crucial second phase, with more detailed analysis currently taking place to investigate project-related risks and opportunities before a decision stage in early 2025. Brad said: "This is an exciting but extremely complex project, and I'd like to thank supporters for their patience as we conduct this key phase of the feasibility process. "We aren't quite at a decision-making stage yet, but we are targeting the early part of 2025 to complete the next essential tasks. "We know what a transformed St. James' Park would give us and we now have a significant amount of data and feedback on our stadium footprint and surrounding area, so we are several steps forward. "But it is also clear that this option has several risks associated with it, so we need to fully analyse those risks against the opportunities to reach truly informed and intelligent outcomes. "We are challenging our appointed design team, and ourselves, to make sure our eventual chosen route delivers a fantastic fan experience - one that represents the fans, city, region and club, and aligns with the long-term ambitions of our ownership group. "But it must provide an investable return, and not least deliver strong revenue growth to increase our PSR headroom, which, as everyone knows, means we can invest more in football. "Part of the process is also to understand alternative options so that we see the bigger picture and, again, find the right balance between risk and opportunity. This is a once-in-a-generation investment, so we don't want to look back in years to come, as a club or as a city, and regret an opportunity missed. "Our objective is to select a scheme that is deliverable, affordable, and sustainable, so we are investing this time to make sure we are only going to spend money on the project where it will make the biggest difference - to fan experience, revenue, competitiveness, investment in football and operational efficiency. "All this requires a robust process that leaves no stone unturned.” Representatives of the FAB asked a number of critical questions throughout the presentation relating to the feasibility study, which the club will consider as the decision-making process continues. Brad continued: "We are very grateful to the members of FAB for taking on board some of the detail behind our reasoning, and we look forward to their continued input as we move this historic project forward in the near future."

It's your interpretation. The two situations are not mutually linked.

I get the point. But if they appoint the option that has the best opportunity to keep the Tories out of power, they'll soon replace them. Only a matter of time before some upcoming centrist comes along who makes them electable. Give them someone from the old guard that'll keep them in the wilderness due to their associations with the previous government, but who's not likely to do anything earth shattering.

I wouldn't give the right-wing cunts of this country the opportunity to test that theory

Jenrick is the big concern as far as I'm concerned. As a said a few weeks back it's saying something when James Cleverly is the most reasonable option. Tugenhadt seemed reasonable enough when it came to replacing Johnson but even he seems to have gone a bit crackers - he's still the 2nd best option. Badenoch then 3rd best with Jenrick being the turd of all turds. Which likely will mean he'll win.

How many people vote for Reform as a protest vote, knowing fine well that under FPTP they are not a serious contender on a nationwide level. I suspect many who voted for them may consider differently if it was under PR.

100% agree.

I think we'll win this, but not by much of a margin. Going for 2-1 - Barnes and Gordon to get a late winner and send the bitter dippers into meltdown.

In a nutshell. Surprise, surprise, as soon as Iran get involved, then they're getting interested and saying Israel has the right to defend itself. But Israel's incursion into Lebanon is fair-game? Quite how they expected to take out the leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah and not expect any retribution is utterly ridiculous. The US, and the UK should be calling for widescale de-escalation on all sides. But they won't.

We won, we're in the next round, all that matters. Pretty convince that won't be the side they put out against Chelsea.

First off, it's Luke Edwards so likely to be figures developed inside his own head but even if there is a modicum of truth in it, there could be a whole number of factors which mean a new stadium could cost considerably more than what Spurs paid. For starters, Spurs had a relatively straight-forward footprint, once they'd cleared out all the local businesses. We've got to give consideration to grade I listed buildings, parkland that no doubt has significant preservation orders in place and underground tunneling to consider. Complexity in construction adds £s very quickly. Secondly, Spurs had the luxury of being able to move out during the main construction phase. It's almost certain we won't so they'd have to factor in additional complexity in the build process, or the construction / removal of a temporary location if that's the path they take. Finally, if PIF are going to fund a brand new stadium you can bet your bottom dollar it'd be the most opulent stadium in the UK by some margin. They certainly wouldn't be scrimping on the price - particularly as Andrew pointed out, it doesn't impact PSR. But ..... I go back to the fact this is Luke Edwards, so likely bollocks.

I get the point being made, but the suggestion he betrayed / knife his brother in the back is a bit much. He was proposed and seconded by sitting Labour MPs and was democratically elected as leader by the party membership. IIRC the trade unions were massively in support of Ed which probably was the difference. I was surprised David didn't get it, but it was always going to be something of a busted flush - the new leader of a party who have just come out of over a decade of government is likely to be transitional. Foot & Hague were the same and the new Tory leader will likely be the same.

Fucking hell, I lost my Mam to Myeloma, it's fucking horrid. Hope he gets better soon.

It's a text message from someone who knows someone reporting on the PL AGM. You've got as much as I have

I can't be held responsible if you equate 'strong rumour' to actual news

Negative. You can search for midget porn all by yourself.

Nothing substantial. Rumblings from someone who is reporting on the PL AGM. Could turn out to be bollocks

Strong rumour that Man City have won their APT case. Game changer for us if that's the case.

I thought we have an explanation for your permanent grimace for a moment.

It's not unprecedented. The bloke who is owner of Nottingham Forest is also the owner and president of Olympiacos

Only Murders In The Building. Needs a Disney+ subscription but it's fucking hilarious. Gave season 1 a go and now halfway through season 3.

I'm sure KK said something along the lines of he looked into Jimenez and the only previous connection he found that Jimenez had with football was he used to be a steward at Stamford Bridge.