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Update from the Kingstonian Board (Yes it’s real!)
Views: 1485
Hi All,
I recently wrote to the Kingstonian FC board and have received the following responses to my questions:
1) What is the current position on finding a new ground?
We are in discussions with two leaseholders in potentially building a new stadium on their land within the Royal Borough of Kingston.
Both councillors and council officials have been fully involved in these discussions and have been providing assistance and guidance.
Various models have been suggested and are under consideration.
We will provide a further update on progress in due course.
2) Where will we be playing next season? Has any engagement taken place with Casuals, Hampton or Met Police?
We have commenced discussions with a number of local clubs on the possibility of sharing their ground for next season.
Again we will provide a further update on progress in due course.
3) When can we re-visit fan ownership models?
As supporters will be fully aware, a proposal and vote for community ownership was rejected by supporters before we moved out of Kingsmeadow.
We remain open to new ideas and welcome additional support.
4) What was the exact amount of money provided by AFC Wimbledon? How much is left? What has the money been used for to date?
The amount provided by AFC Wimbledon was widely available in the public domain and is accepted to be a seven-figure sum.
The current balance of funds remaining is and must remain private and confidential, as this would be prejudicial in current discussions around our proposed new stadium.
However we possess sufficient funds to progress the project for a new stadium when we reach agreement with a potential leaseholder.
Funds have been used to fund our groundsharing arrangements and to cover the legal fees required (for example) to confirm the Club’s taxable position relating to the AFC Wimbledon donation.
All withdrawals of funds have fulfilled the requirements of the Legal Agreement surrounding the donation and use of these funds, and have been signed off by Kingstonian and AFC Wimbledon Club signatories in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
5) What is the current strategy to keep the club alive or improve the clubs standing?
The directors remain committed to finding a suitable piece of land upon which to build a new stadium in the borough. But, as supporters will recognise, this is extremely difficult given the lack of suitable areas within the borough.
On more than one occasion we have entered fruitful discussions with potential leaseholders about the possibility of a joint project, but for various reasons (including the impact of the coronavirus) the other party has regrettably decided not to pursue the matter.
As previously mentioned, we are in discussions with two leaseholders in potentially building a new stadium.
Once we are able to take the project forward and build a new stadium we will be able to create new revenue streams and generate additional income from the new facilities.
This will in turn enable us to expand and grow.
However, a board of five directors cannot run and take the club forward on their own, and we remain extremely grateful to our officials and volunteers who give up their free time, not only on match days, to assist in the running of the football club.
We are also grateful to our patrons and season ticket holders, and to those supporters who generously provide financial support in sponsoring matches, match balls and, players’ kits and who contribute to the 12th Man Scheme.
We are always looking for new ideas and would welcome additional financial support.
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7 people
Re: Update from the Kingstonian Board (Yes it’s real!)
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We are in discussions with two leaseholders in potentially building a new stadium on their land within the Royal Borough of Kingston.
Does anyone know if this means two different sites that we're looking at in parallel, or one site that has joint leaseholders?
Beyond that, little of substance from the board as others have said but thanks to the new SC for trying.
Particularly worrying that they admit getting our own piece of land is extremely difficult given the lack of suitable areas within the borough but even after almost nine years of trying and failing to even clear the first hurdle, they still don't seem willing to go for an existing site like the athletics track instead.
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5 people 3 people
Re: Update from the Kingstonian Board (Yes it’s real!)
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It is two different sites. I think this has previously been communicated as such.
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4 people
Re: Update from the Kingstonian Board (Yes it’s real!)
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Thanks John. Yes it's been communicated before but I wasn't sure if something had changed.
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Re: Update from the Kingstonian Board (Yes it’s real!)
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Despite the fact these are all politicians answers, I'm optimistic about the second point because if we don't get the hell out of Tooting asap the rest of everything else is pretty irrelevant.
Although given how 'local' Tooting is I'm not sure I trust them on their geography.
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Re: Update from the Kingstonian Board (Yes it’s real!)
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Funds have been used to fund our groundsharing arrangements and to cover the legal fees required (for example) to confirm the Club’s taxable position relating to the AFC Wimbledon donation.
All withdrawals of funds have fulfilled the requirements of the Legal Agreement surrounding the donation and use of these funds, and have been signed off by Kingstonian and AFC Wimbledon Club signatories in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
The wording here is interesting. It doesn't say that funds have 'only' been used for that purpose, just that they have been used for that purpose.
We can see from the accounts that the amount has gone down year-on-year in bigger numbers than the rent we've been paying in various places across the south of england, clearly it's been used to support the playing budget.
Bluntly, who cares how it was signed off? Do AFCW care where the money goes? Why would they?
While it's good that the board have communicated, we clearly remain utterly fucked with no realistic prospect of a long-term home in sight, while every year the wombles money is frittered away on fights to avoid relegation.
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7 people
Re: Update from the Kingstonian Board (Yes it’s real!)
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"However, a board of five directors cannot run and take the club forward on their own"
"We are always looking for new ideas and would welcome additional financial support."
If only some assistance/help was offered by some concerned fans...
At least we have Ben Flatt though.
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9 people
Re: Update from the Kingstonian Board (Yes it’s real!)
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Exactly. This line had me choking on my samosas:
"We are always looking for new ideas and would welcome additional financial support."
KBH offered both of those and were treated with contempt.
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10 people
Re: Update from the Kingstonian Board (Yes it’s real!)
Views: 1110
I think you’ve got to give some credit to the board here, It takes a great amount of skill to answer every question there with actually answering one question directly. Well except from the stuff that we already knew about.
I find it hilarious that they’re always so quick to remind us that we turned down the chance to become a fan owned club. Of course they do this without mentioning that they gave us absolutely zero of the information needed despite the numerous times this was asked for ahead of the vote.
Given their track record I’m not sure any of us were expecting any kind of real update here.
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Re: Update from the Kingstonian Board (Yes it’s real!)
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*…. without actually answering one question directly.
Just realised the mistake I made earlier. Pretty sure you all knew what I meant though.
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Re: Update from the Kingstonian Board (Yes it’s real!)
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just seen the update via email before i came here.
i think the most encouraging thing i've read is the line "Whilst we’re grateful to the Directors for engaging with us and replying fairly quickly, their answers don't really add anything to what was already known and are incredibly lacking in detail. "
in the past, fans would be told that these are the best answers we can get. they're clearly not. it's contemptible, but at least that is recognised. good luck to all those trying to get the answers out from the current "custodians"
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Re: Update from the Kingstonian Board (Yes it’s real!)
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"the requirements of the Legal Agreement surrounding the donation"
Maybe we need to ask Dons Trust to help
campaign for disclosure of the Agreement. There's no justification for secrecy in my opinion. The headline amount is in Samuelson's book (£1.2m), the remaining amount is in the club accounts (£720 000) - why should the terms on which the money is used be hidden? Wombles fans should want to know too!
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7 people
Re: Update from the Kingstonian Board (Yes it’s real!)
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Perhaps the club paid corporation tax on the money from AFC FC. There is a reference to tax advice. That would account for 20 percent of it.
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Re: Update from the Kingstonian Board (Yes it’s real!)
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Absolutely spot on Taimour.
Thanks and congratulations are in order to the Supporters Club Chairman and committee for moving things forward. The board have been asked some great questions, answered them opaquely, and therefore invite a direct approach to AFC Wimbledon for information and discussion on the status of the stadium money.
Well done Filipo and all involved.
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