I don't think fans should have to contact the club over this. The club announced fans forums for February and these haven't happened. It's surely good customer service to issue a statement about why these haven't happened rather than expecting people to contact them to find out?

I get the impression that the club takes it's fans for granted over issues like this (as do most sport clubs). They know that the majority will keep coming back for more regardless of how they are treated. They know that fans will still buy clothing despite it being late, or poor quality. Had Burtons treated it's customers like the club did over the heritage shirts then they'd have lost a hell of a lot of money as people cancelled their orders, Saints fans didn't, despite being promised delivery on a number of occasions. They know that when the fans forums eventually happen most fans will still turn up to them, they know that when the new stadium is built, despite treating the fans like mushrooms over it's development they'll still turn up and buy tickets.

This situation seems to reflect that the club appears to have taken it's eyes off the ball in regard to fan communication. Most people don't want a statement every week saying 'There is no news as yet', they also don't want minute details of every line of the contract and who is doing what and when. What they do want is an explanation as to why announced meetings have been quietly ignored, with no news from the club. Perhaps they were over optimistic when originally announcing them, however if that is the case, then it doesn't excuse them not issuing an explanation as to why they made statements that have turned out to be untrue.

I think you are right, maybe the directors would like to enlighten us?????

Probably not

One of the good things that has happened at Wigan since Ian Lenagan took over is that he has had regular fans forums (all sellouts), whereby fans can ask their questions.

The fans don't always get the answers they would like (i.e no more new players coming in) but it is a great chance to hear the way the club is progressing.

It doesn't take a genius to know what the majority of questions are going to be.

I would imagine when the time is right Saints will do something similar, but I agree with BL that it is poor management to make no statement at all.
Even it is something as simple as "plans for the meeting are at an ([ichose the correct adjective)[/i" stage" and an announcement will be made at the appropriate time.

Saying nothing is inviting criticism.

Completely agree with you Billinge Lump, it has never been a case of knocking the club but just wondering the reason they handle themselves at times.

Got told tonight that the tendering process to build the stadium is down to the last two firms, the contract winner will be chosen next week.

Well if correct that is some progress, but it does not look likely that build will start then until April at the earliest, can't see any builder having everything in place before then.

As long as the plans are there, the builder would only need to have the machines brought to site on low loaders. If the site is clear and ready to dig out they could start straight away.

The 1st stage of the build is the digging out which providing the is no problems is quick. They will pour the concrete as they dig out.

If the ground is going to be piled then that takes longer and could drag the build out.

I know for a fact the the stadia will be mostly precast which also saves huge amount of time.

I've also heard some of the precast will be made in st helens local to the site.

So soon as the job is awarded it won't be long at all before you see the build start. It won't look like much is being done at 1st as we start from ground up.

Last summer we had a job in widnes, we poured 20,000 meters of concrete in 6 weeks, so you can see the speed these jobs can do.

These days buildings are thrown up in no time depending on problems and also the great English weather.

any chance of you getting a subcontract pete?

I'm in with big shout of being on that job. Fingers crossed.

St pete

I was just being "realistic" with the time span, if as you say it will happen overnight, some people may end up disappointed if that is the case, four weeks was not being "negative"

Your second comment and claim, about buildings being thrown up, many of us who own new property builds know that too well, unfortunately!

I was making a point that it don't take long for the ground work to start if the plans are all drawn up and in place.

It's just a matter of machines turning up and they could be digging out in few days after the machines arrive.

I don't get your point about new builds being put up fast, are you saying they not at a good level of build?

I assure you these new builds that are put up fast are top level builds and safe. The speed in which builds are put up is the way big building projects have gone. Builders employ more men to get these builds up so they can move on to the next project and avoid huge penalties!

For all those who arent sure where KC`s statue is going to be until the stadium is built heres a few pictures from this morning,(outside the Glass House Weatherspoons)







hope to show some pictures from the unveiling

Any pictures of the stadium build anywhere?

If you get on the job Pete, keep us all up to date, pics would be good as well.

Better put a guard on that statue, it will walk.

good luck mate, i'm sure a year or so of guaranteed work would be nice!

Either that or be destroyed.

I might not be able to fit this job in mate, I've picked up a huge job in airbus in Chester. I'm sure I could fit the new saints stadium in though.

glad things are going well pal

there is a JCB, working on the stadium site near the rear gate on the link road, and two wagons parked up near the gate with "porta cabins", looks like the JCB is making the ground good for the cabins.

could be wrong though.

Looks like we're underway







60 weeks from now is the end of next april/ beginning of may. Which would be nice

Aren't they more likely to be for the work being done on the new roundabout on the linkway?

No onsite work has started, so your 60 week ticker can't start yet (anyway, I was told 62 weeks by someone who works for one of the bidders).

The works being discussed are infrstructure stuff carried out by the council.

but still SOMETHING has started!