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Certainly not how I've used a sauna in the past.

The keeper and defence were all doing what they are trained to do, be brave and play the ball out. Watt played a pass without looking, that wasn’t in the plan, the goal was on him.

AFAIK covered seating and toilet facilities are required for all SWPL teams, so they may have to include something if they want the Women's team to play there.

I think this is going to be a very tough game and we really need to get back to doing what we were good at. If big Thor fit it would be great as Maswanhise looks like a guy thinking of his next transfer. Below are just my own views and probably won't have anyone agreeing but still an improvement than trying to tell jokes. 🤪 1) as most know I was very critical of Ward at start of season but to be honest was quick to hold my hand up and acknowledge the improvement. However last game it was back to the crazy short passes out and were plenty warnings before that stupid 2nd goal which he was partly at fault for but Watt the main instigator. Also way off his line and almost caught out by Miller but it was a great save to be fair. 2) Watt another that seems to be believing the hype about him. Almost a billy big baws attitude with the one extra fancy touch, the world cup pass and haaland style celebrations. He needs to get back doing what he was good at and keeping it simple and retaining possession I do have fears about last 6 games but no reason why we cant bounce back and also hopefully have decent officials. COYW

No issue, seems you don’t mind waiting half an hour to wash yer baws.

Are saunas still a thing for footballers, or has the sports science moved on from that? I quite like the look of the plans and have zero concerns it doesn't look like a 5 star resort.

Expert is very generous, I did study architecture but never worked in practice. I did make a model of the Alfred McAlpine stadium in Huddersfield out of spaghetti (as it was far cheaper than balsa wood) for a second year precedent study, does that qualify me? There’s a couple more informed than me on budgeting and planning, StAndrew7 being one who deals with tenders and bidding in a slightly different field but most is transferable and his observations sound. What illustrates the issues with the design being a bit of a crowbar is little things you notice. Theres no pleasant communal/informal space for the players. There’s two shown which are effectively a glorified corridor between the main changing room and atrium which won’t be used in practice. Other wee things like a referees/management changing room with three showers, a home dressing room with the and a secondary one with only four ….. I don’t know if anyone has used the gym at Wishaw Sports Centre, it’s an enclosed wee space that feels a bit claustrophobic, there’s a reason commercial gyms are in spaces from 15ft to double height ceilings. A way to combat this is extend the building to join the garage. In that space make the gym double height and have a mezzanine, halving the current gym footprint on the existing plan. Move the lecture theatre upstairs to the carpark side and a player lounge overlooking the pitches. It opens space on the ground floor to make things less pokey. The space vacated by the lecture theatre, the secondary changing room could be moved over to make the west side of the building less congested and a changing room better befitting the u18’s and women. The warm and cold plunge pools is nice but surprised a ten person sauna wasn’t included, you can get one for £7k. In for a penny in for a pound. Come WS, pony up.

I wouldn't quite go that far, but yes, I don't see it as being "transformational". It is very much a low budget option. Will it benefit the club? Undoubtedly. As far as the overall package is concerned, I take it that there will be the same number of pitches as we have at present, albeit in 2 locations, if we include Braidhurst? It will be a significant advantage to have dressing rooms and catering facilities etc available on site. In the short to medium term, it will also free up space at Fir Park eg the current gym under the South Stand and allow hospitality facilities under the POD to be used commercially during the week. Presumably, the gym, treatment room, and other facilities will also be an upgrade on what we have already. As far as the new building is concerned, its utilitarian and won't win any design awards but that doesn't concern me. The internal layout won't concern me or the planning authority. It does seem a bit tight though as its designed specifically for 30 first players and 18 academy players. What if, further down the line a new manager or Board want to increase the academy to 20 players? A modest increase in costs might provide a degree of flexibility. As for the pitches, will the proposal allow the women's team to play their games there? If they do, that will save rental at K Park. I'm a bit disappointed that the proposals don't include plans for a modest stand i.e. 100-200 spectators. It wouldn't need to be an all singing all dancing facility. One aspect that does concern me is that there doesn't appear to be any obvious resolution of land ownership issues. Ostensibly we're forking out £1.5-2m on a building on another party's land. Likewise the new artificial pitch - will we have exclusive of that? One source of comfort is that the other party is a well known local charitable trust. Presumably we do have some kind of land use/ownership arrangement in place to safeguard the club's interests? As for the planning process, I doubt that will delay or disrupt the proposals. Thats not to say there won't be any objections. Its an established use on an established site and involves the replacement of an existing building. Apart from an on site bungalow, the nearest residential neighbours are about 230m away. The only aspect that might concern them is floodlighting in the winter evenings but then again, there may already be existing lights in place. I doubt that traffic will be an issue. The design statement is comprehensive, but obviously not written by planners, as can be seen from the language used. It could have been a bit more assertive. Presumably the water and drainage submissions will be added shortly. Iam concerned though about the manner in which the plans have been publicised; in effect through a fan picking them up from the Council's planning website (proposals had been posted there for weeks). We've also seen some media coverage in the Sun, Scotsman and BBC for example. The Society and club have promised us big news for weeks now but yet nothing on this. As I write, still nothing on the club or Society's media platforms. A bit disappointing from a fan owned club. The above is mostly my own observations and opinions but I have drawn on the well informed and expert views of Patient 91 on P & B. Well worth a read if you haven't already done so.

In 50 plus years, most of the time it has been the best football I have seen played and the best crowds ive seen too...if you can't see that , maybe you need some other hobbies too

More to spend on new players, fans would complain when we don't invest in the team and some will complain when we don't invest in training facilities...although we have

1 small section of cover behind both goals...with cover being added on the touchline from 18 yard to 18 yard during the summer

Not a bad idea at all this for anyone not going to Tynecastle Bellshill Athletic having a great season, and have a really good set-up

They probably went for as big as they thought would realistically pass planning and not annoy the posh neighbours into objecting too much .

It is better than what we currently have, any improvement has to be a good thing.

These plans look absolutely fine, I don’t know what folk are expecting, it’ll never be Murray Park or Lennoxtown. Budget wise, the plans look good and it shouldn’t take long to build/get in place.

That's the spirit!

Doesn’t seem transformational to me. Upgrading a grass park to 5G? and a new building barely the size of the existing changing rooms isn’t really going to make much difference other than the players and chef no longer need to report to fir park during the week. very much a low budget option, albeit maybe somewhat spooked by what Kilmarnock got for their (Bowie’s) investment

The main proof of that is the extra crowd numbers turning up at matches now and if you contrast that to the crowds starting to dwindle away during the kettlewell era , even the diehards were getting pissed off watching that rubbish. I know what I prefer to watch.

Controversial 😂

Great news...this has always seemed the most appropriate answer to our training ground conundrum, to me anyway. The pitches at Dalziel are good...the lack of proper facilities have always been the drawback.

It seems that the club has applied for planning permission for build new training facilities at Cleland on the site of the current but basic provision at Dalziel Park. https://eplanning.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=TBUC9BBAN5700 Thanks to Standupforthemotherwell on P & B for posting this. This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone on here. This development is long overdue. Its well known that interested parties can object to planning applications, but maybe not as well known that any party can also submit letters of support. Have a look. I'm just surprised, that as this is already in the public domain, the club hasn't announced it yet.

Aye, I was going to say something similar. As much as I despise the OF, it's the TV companies that the SPFL and SFA care about rather than those 2 clubs. Especially at this stage of the season.

That's not a con. That's proper football.

I cant believe we are having this debate, what type of football would you really like to see at Fir park, the eye bleeding hoof and chase under kettlewell, or the free flowing, tippy tappy passing, playing out from the back, rock solid defence (mostly) etc under JBA, i know who my vote would be for.

They have a great clubhouse,and bar experienced the hospitality last year as you say well worth it