Splitting the ground and the club

[Bycarsbill]

I can see this thread turning into a what is Ryder playing at thread,lets give the guy a break,only my opinion of course.

 

I'm with you 100%--let's wait & see what is planned before we start all sorts of (unfounded?) rumours! As the complete owner, KR is clearly going to attempt to maximise the return on his investment. As long as a fair proportion of that return is invested on-pitch as well as off-pitch, I feel sure we'll be at least partially satisfied, if not totally happy--if he achieves total acceptance of all his ideas/business activities, I'll buy a season ticket to that other nameless outfit down the road on the A500!!!!

[Warren]

Port Vale can't go anywhere as a football club - well maybe League 1 - without a significant increase in income. That can come by growing the fan base by attracting people back and attracting new fans. But a lot of clubs now have significant income sources based around the stadium and other commercial rights. There is scope to do a lot at Vale Park and doesn't surprise me that Keith Ryder is probably looking at that and he will structure companies as he needs to in order to bring it about.

 

Like many lower league teams the football team itself as a business is not an attractive proposition to investors. It would not surprise me to see the commercial potentiality of Port Vale including the ground taken forward via separate company arrangements and in fact when trying to secure business loans or investment not having the direct drain of the team is likely to make things easier.

 

So things may get a bit more complicated than supporters like. I expect the Council and the Football League are contemplating all this before agreeing to sanction it - and they do have football at Vale Park as a clear priority. We will see, but we have to trust that whilst Keith Ryder may create business interests that give him a financial return he will also remain focused ultimately in football team's ability to compete at higher levels.

 

The forum to make enquiries is the supporters club.

[Fosse69]

Well put Warren, it takes a while for a former shareholder club to adapt, hopefully for the better. The supporters` club will be essential for our opinions to be made clear and discussed with KR, hopefully with better results than with MOLD. Let us hope we are all in this together. A lot of hopes there too.