St James' Park

[JT24]

Just now, TheBrownBottle said:

They takes years to build - it doesn’t take this long to establish a scope and purchase a site.   

And it’s already been years. 

[TheBrownBottle]

Just now, JT24 said:

And it’s already been years. 

Yep - and while Isak is a cunt, I don’t doubt that he was brought in with promises of new training grounds and a new stadium as part of the ‘project’.  

[JT24]

Would love to see the theory behind continuing to spend millions to upgrade Darsley Park rather than focus on building on a new site. Could/should be well under way by now. 
 

Does not seem very financially (or environmentally) sustainable. 

[Wallsendmag]

24 minutes ago, TheBrownBottle said:

Yep - and while Isak is a cunt, I don’t doubt that he was brought in with promises of new training grounds and a new stadium as part of the ‘project’.  

 

Tbf any new stadium wasn't (and still isn't) even in the identifying and proceeding with a suitable site stage. If Isak really thought he'd be around for all that to happen, likely a couple of years and then for it to be build, likely a further 3 or 4 years on top of that, then he's a bit of a daft cunt really. Any new signing we make, even now, is 99% not going to be playing his home games for Newcastle anywhere other than at SJP.

[Dr.Spaceman]

12 hours ago, JT24 said:

I hope so, Luke. 

 

You should come and play in the Lockwood Cup, meet your hero.

[Dr Venkman]

34 minutes ago, JT24 said:

Would love to see the theory behind continuing to spend millions to upgrade Darsley Park rather than focus on building on a new site. Could/should be well under way by now. 
 

Does not seem very financially (or environmentally) sustainable. 

Genuinely interested in this. Has anyone at the club ever gone on record saying that a new training facility is part of the plan?

[r0cafella]

Just now, Dr Venkman said:

Genuinely interested in this. Has anyone at the club ever gone on record saying that a new training facility is part of the plan?

Mandy said they were looking for land 3 years ago

[Dr Venkman]

Just now, r0cafella said:

Mandy said they were looking for land 3 years ago

Can’t remember much these days TBH but I couldn’t remember anyone having said it.

[r0cafella]

Just now, Dr Venkman said:

Can’t remember much these days TBH but I couldn’t remember anyone having said it.

She said it in the athletic in one of those interviews with Caulkin. 

[JT24]

4 minutes ago, Dr Venkman said:

Genuinely interested in this. Has anyone at the club ever gone on record saying that a new training facility is part of the plan?

As close as confirmation gets I suppose was the line in the planning permission submitted piece from April this year. 
 

“We've submitted plans to extend our current first team Training Centre as work to identify a new site for a future training facility continues.”

[Dr Venkman]

3 minutes ago, r0cafella said:

She said it in the athletic in one of those interviews with Caulkin. 

I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s long been shelved TBH. 

[Dr Venkman]

Just now, JT24 said:

As close as confirmation gets I suppose was the line in the planning permission submitted piece from April this year. 
 

“We've submitted plans to extend our current first team Training Centre as work to identify a new site for a future training facility continues.”

Oh! Well that renders my post above meaningless!

[r0cafella]

Just now, Dr Venkman said:

Oh! Well that renders my post above meaningless!

It doesn't, everyone knows it doesn't take 3 years to find a bit of grass. It's definitely something which went on the back burner for whatever reason. 

[Dr Venkman]

Just now, r0cafella said:

It doesn't, everyone knows it doesn't take 3 years to find a bit of grass. It's definitely something which went on the back burner for whatever reason. 

If they said in April this year they’re still looking for land? Seems ongoing?

[r0cafella]

Just now, Dr Venkman said:

If they said in April this year they’re still looking for land? Seems ongoing?

It doesn't take as long as they have taken to fine land is my point. It's something which the board obviously haven't prioritised. 

[JT24]

Club could do well to hire a Jon Stemp (City Football Group Chief Infrastructure Officer) like figure. A sole exec that overseas all the infrastructure side of things, hopefully ideas the new CEO has. 
 

Work alongside Brad Miller to get these things off the ground and delivered, the more the merrier. 

[Toonpack]

24 minutes ago, r0cafella said:

It doesn't, everyone knows it doesn't take 3 years to find a bit of grass. It's definitely something which went on the back burner for whatever reason. 

 

Any CEO would want oversight of any major infrastructure project he's going to be responsible for delivering, ours got ill and the replacement isn't yet in place (which is lamentable) that'll be the hold up.

 

I really don't understand why folks are getting so uptight about it, it'll happen.

 

[Toonpack]

23 minutes ago, JT24 said:

Club could do well to hire a Jon Stemp (City Football Group Chief Infrastructure Officer) like figure. A sole exec that overseas all the infrastructure side of things, hopefully ideas the new CEO has. 
 

Work alongside Brad Miller to get these things off the ground and delivered, the more the merrier. 

PIF's infrastructure bloke joined the board, didn't he ?

 

Edit - Roger Thornton, not PIF but a new developments guy.

 

 

Edited September 3, 2025 by Toonpack

[Dr Venkman]

44 minutes ago, r0cafella said:

It doesn't take as long as they have taken to fine land is my point. It's something which the board obviously haven't prioritised. 

Yeah, I know. Everything takes too long, etc.

[JT24]

21 minutes ago, Toonpack said:

PIF's infrastructure bloke joined the board, didn't he ?

 

Edit - Roger Thornton, not PIF but a new developments guy.

 

 

 

He did but I don’t think a director on the board will have the same impact as somebody employed to do said job. Maybe I’m wrong though and he’s the guy, I just assumed he was the Reuben’s second designate. 

[Keegans Export]

21 minutes ago, Toonpack said:

 

Any CEO would want oversight of any major infrastructure project he's going to be responsible for delivering, ours got ill and the replacement isn't yet in place (which is lamentable) that'll be the hold up.

 

I really don't understand why folks are getting so uptight about it, it'll happen.

 

I suppose that's the unknown, how close were the club to making these decisions before Eales was taken ill?

 

If they basically had the majority of the background work done a year ago but now want to hold off to allow a new CEO to discuss/amend/sign off the plans then we'll hear something very soon. If we were still miles off confirming anything then the "imminent" arrival of Hopkinson isn't going to suddenly lead to a load of announcements.

[LFEE]

At the risk of repeating myself which i probably do far too many times already!…

 

The club if the noises are to be believed are looking at some fairly sensitive land and unlike other grounds we are talking in the very heart of the city and like it or not there will be push back from certain quarters you suspect.

 

So with that in mind the club are wanting to line up all the ducks and meet with all effected parties to come up with a resolution in private behind NDA’s. Knowing when they finally do announce the plans they will kick in as quickly as possible and all obstacles thrown in their way they’ll be ready for and can navigate easily. 

 

So in short the entirely opposite way to how Man Utd delivered theirs. I’d actually wouldn’t be surprised if we built ours quicker  overall.

 

I know the silence or perceived delays can be frustrating but they are with good reason I feel. The first being the diligence the Saudi’s operate. The second the fact Eales illness has possibly played some part. However the main one IMO was that they’ve clearly had their eyes opened to the event of the Cup Final Parade and realised 60K nowhere near enough nor likely is 65k and have revisited the plans to see if they can achieve something closer to 70K perhaps. 

 

Remember Eales was the one driving the smaller/no empty seat/high demand/high price thought process. He’s gone.

 

CEO is weeks away it seems so lets see what his vision is for the club when he no doubts presents it on his arrival. The fact that he’s an ex Real Madrid guy would suggest it should be ambitious.

 

 

Edited September 3, 2025 by LFEE

[Dr.Spaceman]

3 minutes ago, LFEE said:

At the risk of repeating myself which i probably do far too many times already!…

 

The club if the noises are to be believed looking at some fairly sensitive land and unlike other grounds we are talking in the very heart of the city and like it or not there will be push back from certain quarters you suspect.

 

So with that in mind the club are wanting to line up all the ducks and meet with all effected parties to come up with a resolution in private behind NDA’s. Knowing when they finally do announce the plans they will kick in as quickly as possible and all obstacles thrown in their way they’ll be ready for and can navigate easily. 

 

So in short the entirely opposite way to how Man Utd delivered theirs. I’d actually would be surprised if we built ours quicker  overall.

 

I know the silence or perceived delays can be frustrating but they are with good reason I feel. The first being the diligence the Saudi’s operate. The second the fact Eales illness has possibly played some part. However the main one IMO was that they’ve clearly had their eyes opened to the event of the Cup Final Parade and realised 60K nowhere near enough nor likely is 65k and have revisited the plans to see if they can achieve something closer to 70K perhaps. 

 

Remember Eales was the one driving the smaller/no empty seat/high demand/high price thought process. He’s gone.

 

CEO is weeks away it seems so lets see what his vision is for the club when he no doubts presents it on his arrival. The fact that he’s an ex Real Madrid guy would suggest it should be ambitious.

 

Good one 

[Danh1]

2 hours ago, ponsaelius said:

 

NUFC are doing the opposite. Progressing with an actual development in the shadows and only announcing when oven ready to go.

 

 

 

Yep, and I’d rather that. It’s clear that there’s things going on, they’ve appointed people specifically to help deliver it. If we are leaving our home we need to get it spot on. 

[Loki679]