Yep, I did. It was horrendous. In one of the group's on Facebook, they are rallying for troops to volunteer to tidy it...even though it's not their job. With all the things away supporters already moan about, I'd rather not give them something else despite, as you say, it being nothing to do with us. I walked up there behind a family with a pram and they were struggling.

there's a mucky old mattress been in the ginnel behind St Catherine Street for months. If it's still there for the Wigan game I'm gonna have it.

sat through the entire interview last night and enjoyed every moment of it...

he is about 18 months younger than me so our experiences are very similar... my interest began in 75 but peaked around 78 through 84... home and away ... cars full of mates... moved away from Wakey ... worked in London and overseas

one of the most surreal times for me was about 92/3 waiting for the results being printed in the South China Morning Post!... and they were ...usually with a small write up.

seems a genuinely nice guy ,,, glad to have him on board.

I’ve met him once and he was very chatty in a good way. One of those instantly likeable types with no obvious edge.

Such a shame people like him and MC weren’t in a position to run the club twenty years ago. I suspect we’d be a lot further on if they had.

Don’t want to be snobby but Price Waterhouse partner versus market trader? I am one of the few on here who still appreciates what Ted did in his own odd way but there really is no comparison in terms of financial ability.

One thing he said was that we haven't decided whether to go with 4/5G pitch or go with enhanced grass.
I don't know enough about it but what is the difference, and what will sway our decision (apart from cost)

Longevity

If the stadium is going to be a genuine community facility then 4G, purely financially, is the way to go, both in terms of usage, revenue and especially maintenance costs.

However hybrid has its advantages.

On a 4G pitch you can play literally 24/7. A hybrid pitch could possibly sustain about 4 hours a day for training and two to three matches a week max in summer. In winter it could manage 1-2 matches a week but absolutely no training so long as the drainage is top notch.

However a hybrid pitch would appeal far more to a secondary sport such as Wakefield FC or Leeds RU for example. They are both winter games and with sensible fixtures they would only be used once or twice a week for games. The rent you'd get from one or both of these would be substantial.

In terms of revenue it would probably be fairly similar but your community usage would be limited to very occasional events (maybe one a month, BARLA finals that kind of thing).

From memory a hybrid pitch depending on the mix will give you roughly three times the usage and will be far more resistant to cutting up in winter.

It really depends on which market will provide us the best revenue and how accepting WMDC are.

I think Hudds is a hybrid pith, might be wrong. It sustains to pro clubs and always looks immaculate so it you could try and find out how many games a year are played on it by both clubs and reserves etc.

Ted was ok … he did his best… I met him many times

As with many of our owners he came along at the right time when the club was in need…

personally I’m no lover of PWC or any other of the big financial/ management consultancies… that said, there are some very good people buried in their archaic organisations.

Thank you. I knew you'd know.

PWC has many arms, not always popular as they deal with companies in trouble and audits but I have worked with the a lot and I can say with a lot of certainty they don't employ mugs. If Minnards was a partner then he's a great addition to our board who can easily match it with councillors and building contractors. More so than MC to be honest.

according to the Wakefield express the council have released 8.8 million for the revamp

Quote ="Kettykat"according to the Wakefield express the council have released 8.8 million for the revamp'" This is the BBC take on this: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/61813830 'An £8.8m sum to redevelop Wakefield Trinity's Belle Vue ground has been approved by councillors' [uapproved[/u by councillors?! What are they talking about ?!

Quote ="Kettykat"according to the Wakefield express the council have released 8.8 million for the revamp'" This is the BBC take on this: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/61813830 'An £8.8m sum to redevelop Wakefield Trinity's Belle Vue ground has been approved by councillors' [uapproved[/u by councillors?! What are they talking about ?!

Quote ="phe13"This is the BBC take on this: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/61813830 'An £8.8m sum to redevelop Wakefield Trinity's Belle Vue ground has been approved by councillors' [uapproved[/u by councillors?! What are they talking about ?!'" Sounds like crossed wires. I’d guess it’s the Yorkcourt cash which I presume has been held by the council for whatever reason? This I assume has now been released ready to pay the developer. Something like that at a guess. I certainly don’t think it’s an extra 8 million, unfortunately.

Quote ="phe13"This is the BBC take on this: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/61813830 'An £8.8m sum to redevelop Wakefield Trinity's Belle Vue ground has been approved by councillors' [uapproved[/u by councillors?! What are they talking about ?!'" Sounds like crossed wires. I’d guess it’s the Yorkcourt cash which I presume has been held by the council for whatever reason? This I assume has now been released ready to pay the developer. Something like that at a guess. I certainly don’t think it’s an extra 8 million, unfortunately.

That’s a massive hurdle we’ve just got over, the whole project rested on this money winging its way via the council from the developers , better Late than never I say

As far as I know the money has been in place for a while. I think this is old news repackaged tbh.

I agree however JM said a week or so ago the delivery plan had been submitted I believe the plan has been approved and the funds released/allocated

A other great podcast

V interesting to hear more on the stadium too

Johns route to chairmen an interesting one also

The guys on the podcast doing a really good job

Good interview that

Yes I think that article is about what John said about that delivery plan and waiting for that to be passed which I think that's what this is referring to that now it's sorted and we can now proceed with the demolition on the 4th July after wigan game

I Know PWC as an organisation well and dealt directly with many of their tentacles... as with many other of the big consultancies particularly KPMG and EY... they are huge international companies who I've crossed paths with in the UK, Emirates, Hong Kong and Australia... always from the client side

Found it very informative and insightful.

Couldn't disagree with his Wakefield 13.

I feel its good to know that our man at the helm is not just a businessman, but also a lifelong fan too.

I think the ginnel has been cleared...I drove down Donny Road a couple of times today and managed to get a quick glimpse down the ginnel and it looked as though the bins, trolley and barriers had been cleared but not sure about the overgrown vegetation ??

Good but it’s part of a wider issue. Littering has reached epidemic proportions. The scumbags who do it are beneath contempt and frankly make the argument for the return of flogging. I’m only half joking.

However councillors and officials are guilty of gross misconduct. Are they blind, do they not see the filth everywhere. Yet nothing is done and either in cleaning up or catching offenders. It’s yet another thing that nobody can be bothered to enforce.

I litter pick once a months as part of a group. It’s a thankless task but it’s better than nothing. However I shouldn’t have to do it nor should anyone else.

It can’t be that expensive to recruit extra road sweepers and even if it were the fines payed by the low lives would pay for it. However nothing will be done because the U.K. is run by apathy.

Never mind.

Thoroughly enjoyed this one, never thought too much of Minards but the platform gave him the chance to flex on his knowledge of the game and passion for Wakefield Trinity.