Leaderboard

I'm entirely largely in agreement with you on our options G & F. My preferred solution is a new stadium and it always has been. Whichever direction we choose, and I hope the directors don't simply kick the can down the road, there are no easy options. If we do move, the significant challenge we face is of course finance, there's no hiding from that. However, we are in a healthy position. Yes there are challenges in dealing with the various agencies involved in the Ravenscraig redevelopment, but I would have thought that given that progress has stalled, the lead body would be keen to help us move there to kickstart development and demonstrate progress. Retailing proposals have largely had their day and are no longer an option there. . There are significant problems if we choose to remain at Fir Park. As G & F rightly points out, the current site is very limited and we'd have to shoehorn in any new POD replacement. I'd assume that the Chapman building would also be demolished to provide more flexibility. The internal space within the current POD is a real constraint. If we wanted to expand and improve facilities such as hospitality suites internally then that would necessitate very creative thinking and design. Expansion of these facilities is essential in my book and I'm not sure how that would be done. Fir Park is a money pit and there will always be ongoing maintenance and development issues. If the POD is rebuilt what then? Will the Hunter Stand then need a new roof or replacement? Substantial amounts of cash will need to be spent on infrastructure every year. Nimbyism? You can be sure local residents would pore over new nut and bolt and parking space and object to every dumper truck movement and every decibel of sound generated by demolition. As G & F suggests maybe Dalziel Park training ground proposals could be halted and subsumed into a new site. Our new Board has conducted transfer negotiations and managerial appointments very professionally and in secrecy which is to be commended but they need to lift their veil of secrecy over issues like this. No, we don't need to know every detail just their general direction of travel. We are a fan owned club after all.

Apart from the pay a decent deposit and take out a mortgage for the balance scenario, just like everybody else buying property does. Sell the naming rights for the stadium, rent out the facilities for corporate events etc,etc there are lots of ways to finance and raise the cash to service said finance.

Williams is a left-back and looks set to be first choice, given his experience and the fact we paid a fee for him. That suggests either Longelo is on his way out, or he’ll be pushed into a more advanced role on the left.

These others will not have Motherwell FC at the heart of any decision making. Self interest and making money is the whole story. The Americans,for example that have put money into Scottish Clubs will pull the plug when they have made enough money or lost enough of it. The Clubs are just a vehicle to making money. Staying at FP means we won't owe or answer to anyone.

If wrong change your name to magoo 🤣

I'm unsure what these reports give you in 2026. Now all anyone needs to do is visit their preferred AI engine, upload a number of background documents that give it context (our past five years of accounts, NLC development strategy, Ravenscraig masterplan, half a dozen news articles, stadium precedent studies, and a plethora of others) and it will spit something decent out, with graphs, projections and looking very professional. What you're paying for with a consultancy is their name and clout added to it. Five years ago perhaps the fee could paid be justified and information contained would be pertinent because it would have needed true analysis and human endeavour. Let's not overlook that in a subjective document that is open to so much interpretation and presumption, that any inference can be made to suit a narrative and most importantly sell a vision to the fanbase. The events of two summers ago shows that a significant part of our fanbase have no interest in getting close to any weeds let alone get in amongst them. I asked a question at the AGM ..... roughly went along the lines of due to the success of the team, we are looking at potentially realising a high seven-figure, possibly eight-figures of transfer revenue this summer. Does that change the thinking and direction of the board as to what we do next? Of course the answer was vague, obtuse and as secretive as we've came to expect of late. On the face of it, staying and redeveloping seems the simplest option, even if it means a season or two of disruption and hit to income. However, due to the transfer receipts we're likely to realise, we're now potentially discussing projects that were previously beyond us. We've effectively gone from talking about financing a new POD to having the sort of deposit that allows you to seriously consider a mortgage on a new stadium. Personally, I'd prefer the latter as Fir Park will always be limiting to any aspirations, for a host of reasons although I suspect the equalisation of season ticket prices across the three home stands points towards the first part of the club ultimately remaining at Fir Park and mitigating moving punters to other stands. However, you may want to look at it as Elijah Just and Lennon Miller effectively paying for two behind the goal stands, with Watt and Ward covering the training complex. That still allows JT's eventual income to go back into the football department. One thing is certain, if we redevelop FP or embark on something new, if we go less than a 13,000 capacity of which 5,000 is accessible to away fans, then we can't maintain our current financial planning and projected incomes. That is, unless our home support grows to a regular 7-7,500. As I outlined in the presentation @Kmcalpin covered way back, if for example we increase our capacity in a new stadium to 16,000 and give up those extra 3,000 to the OF/Hearts, over a 20 year mortgage we'd earn close to £8m just for those extra 3,000 seats from what FP currently holds. 3,000 extra seats allows us to maintain our current business model and pay off another stand. Increase to 19,000 capacity, it's all covered if done modestly, the trade off is hosting the ugly sisters means there is an 11,000 to 7,000 imbalance when we are the home team, but those extra 6,000 with their green and blue pounds buy us a fair bit of a stadium for 'free'. Things get tricky if we are relegated and don't bounce back up, but as we enter our 44th? season in the top flight then. Just trying to simply the above to make the concept sink in. There would be of course groundworks, new 5% plastic pitch, professional fees, contingencies and cost overruns all projects have attached. For me it's simple. Make the space(s) multi-use and able to be used 24-7/365 and monetise it, make it a destination venue in Scottish football, offer something truly unique and lower our current maintenance costs. Good design can enhance atmosphere which is a big reason people are wary of moves along with debt saddled to the club. An innovative approach at conception can address all of these fears.

You’ll have to tell one first before you can repeat it 😂😂

Ba dum tssssssss

Stunned to learn wilson is only 21 . He’s been around the first team for 4+ years . i can see why previous managers extended his contract but suspect the championship is his level

Wilson is not up to the standard we need , hes too slow, and his final ball is average at best he struggled for game time on loan last season and i cant see him getting much game time this year as well.

I had just assumed he was Welsh but apparently not

As someone who normally reads absolutely zero into pre-season friendlies, I have a similar feeling. To be honest, I don't even mind if our mindset is now to use our transfer hoard to strengthen the squad over the next few weeks at the risk of being papped out of Europe early again. But I'm going into the HB tie with zero expectation of success, at this point.

Dont think we need to owe anyone or answer to anyone (other than the bank) if we move to Ravenscraig. But we will need the co-operation of the local authority and other partner agencies if we are building new. Clearly a new purpose built stadium to see us into the future would be beneficial for all sorts of reasons, but it doesnt necessarily mean it is going to happen. One of the biggest obstructions is that local authoritues dont have any money for redevelopment of town centres and with the hit to the high street after Covid, Im not sure a new shopping/leisure development is even feasible anymore. It might be that remaining at Fir Park is the only feasible option right now.

Which way is the Motherwell end .

The order was decided by the draw, not by seeding. If we progress, the games will be: 6 August – Away at either HJK Helsinki or Coleraine 13 August – Home

Away first

Quite like to get Helsinki. Never been to Finland. Think it would be a cool trip. Looks like we will have the choice of a winnable tie with poor away allocation. Or A harder tie with better away allocation.

Demolish and rebuild the POD with something along the lines of the main stand at Tynecastle. It won't even have to be as tall as the existing and can also remain at the same length avoiding the need to purchase neighbouring properties. Imagine a beautiful glass facade with a nice hospitality lounge within, decorated with fresh tribute to our beloved number 10.

Regarding a replacement Main stand, it doesn't have to be as tall at both ends, could be rebuilt and moved closer to the pitch

Great post. Last season was special so this season definitely going to be different and we need to give AJ a chance

I think now would be a perfect time for the Chairman to address the fans and steady the good ship fanbase. No need for panic and no need to go into great detail but just a wee pep talk to sustain last season's momentum. We've heard plenty from departing players' agents and buying clubs about our players but nothing from our own club. Time for some leadership.

We should be selling, reinvesting in the future, growing sustainably, and playing entertaining football. Rinse and repeat.

Get that main stand built

By the sound of some folks experience of the “new” seats in the POD stand, maybe the club should put a first aid kit under every one of them.

A good way to improve fitness is to play games.

Invest in pampers