Rick

Point one, I think I have you on So, as a Frenchman before the German invasion, you'd have given the Nazis directions to Paris Point 2, I have a graph that I have generated from Nationwide House Average House Price Data (filtered for the North West), but dont know how to put it up on here.

Perhaps your brain has been conditioned into acceptance by years of watching Latics. It's a bit like saying "I'd love to have a free France, but know that Hitler is coming". It doesn't make it right, just more likely to happen. To address your points, can you back up your first point? I have looked at the stats, and can't agree to your point. Are you trying to tell me that you could buy a house for the same price in 1989 that you could in 1979? Point 2, just seems to back up the opinion that we should stay and redevelop rather than move to Manchester. (sorry, the Manc thing is a bit of a for which I apologise in advance )

Please stop trying to scare-monger. The housing market is already showing signs of recovery. The Independant - yesterday bbc.co.uk - property values in OL1 2PA -3.6% Annual, +3.6 from April to June I didn't say that they shouldn't do anything for 5 years. It is clear that something needs to be done, and done quickly. In my opinion, moving to Failsworth is the wrong decision. Redeveloping the Boundary Park site is the correct decision. Like I say, I don't have an axe to grind - my job doesnt depend on the future of the club - but I have invested thousands of pounds into the club over the last 30 odd years, but feel this may come to an end if this Failsworth move is railroaded through. When did TTA take over the club Harry? Perhaps we could look at the official House Prices Index and compare the figures for then and now?

My advice to Oldham Athletic as a business would be that in a contracting market, the first thing you need to do is ensure you retain your current customer base. Making sweeping changes in such an economic climate should be viewed as a high risk strategy. Now of course, the risk:reward rules will still apply (the bigger the risk the bigger the potential reward), but it should also be bourne in mind that the normal ratio that you would expect to apply to your considerations will not necessarily apply at such times. I would also advise them that while the past cannot always be replied upon to predict the future, it would be fair to say that the land at Boundary Park has for many many years been more valuable than the land earmarked for the development in Failsworth and this is likely to be the case in the future as while the actual value may change, the differencial between the two vlaues is likely to be relatively constant (unless of course Oil/Coal/Gold is discovered while the footings are being dug ). My last point of advice would be that they shouldn't allow temporary conditions to overly affect their decisions. Everyone knows that free market economies around the world operate in cycles (also know as Peaks and Troughs / Boom and Bust etc), and the downturn in the market that we are currently seeing is not going to last forever. Having said all of that, if they wanted to cash in and walk away while maintaining some dignity, I'd probably suggest that they sell up at BP and build a small stadium somewhere else where land prices are relatively less expensive than their current location.

If he is that good, why isn't he playing in the Doncaster first team? I also said, that I hope it turns out to be a good signing, but I am not going to profess to see into the future!

Let's wait and see before declaring that this is a good move shall we? Boundary Park is like a graveyard for strikers sometimes regardless of their previous history. If he scores loads of goals, it will be a good move. If he doesn't it will not be a good move. I hope it ends up being a good move.

I've heard we are after Brett Ormerod

I could have listed.... had to go food shopping, have a gammy leg and don't want to get it cold, were on a promise off the wife on Saturday afternoon, needed to get a hair cut, lost their house keys, wanted to update their Facebook profile.... All the reasons historically wouldn't have stopped people going, but as the matchday experience is far from what it was, it is taking people increasingly less reasons to not go. For me the heart and sole was ripped out of the club and ground when they demolished the Lookers.

Why not stay and redevelop the current ground? Well, that ship appears to have sailed. The owners have decided that in the current climate the original plans simply aren't viable. Then wait and redevelop the site around BP. A move to Failsworth is a permanent resolution to a temporary issue.

This started as a decent topic before all the "lets meet up, you're not a real Latics fan" playground rubbish. I think that the OP was right. The attendance (of which I was one and my son was another) was extreemly poor. Why aren't people going? Probably for a few reasons. Money is tight, run up to Christmas, bad weather, swine flu, poor recent performances, no goals in last 3 games, don't like the stands they now have to sit in, don't trust the owners, don't support Failsworth......there are a multitude of reasons. What is clear however, that something has changed in recent months. Many regulars just can't be arsed going anymore. I personally think that the heart and soul was ripped out of the club when the Lookers stand was torn down (in my view prematurely). It leaves many people disconcerted with how valued they are by he club, add to this, the fact that no-one was consulted about moving away from the BP site into Failsworth, and I think may people have decided that they have enough reasons now to spend (low cost, high value way to spend your time and not money). I am also considering just doing away matches in the future. Its a much better craic and you feel much more appreciated. People can talk economics and justify the life out of the reasons why you should go to the game and why you should support a move away from the BP site, but football is about PASSION, not just MONEY and if people dont like going to the match, they wont bloody well go. ........end of ramble.......

Many people on this board know me, and know why I didn't go to the Huddersfield league game, Leeds cup game and wont go to the Leeds league match. It is about time that the fans of this club (not just the ones on this board either) were consulted about the next stage in stadium development - not after the decisions have already been made, and started acting like every other club - your existing customers are more important than those of the visiting club. Moving from the Lookers to the RRE was terrible. Being forced to move from the large to the small section is just about acceptable. Moving us out of the stand completely is a step too far for me. I will therefore not attend those games, and from watching the match on the Internet (with 3 former season ticket holders and regular supporters) it appears that I am not the only one. Before anyone comes back with "Credit Crunch / Money is Important / You knew that you'd have to move" rubbish, it doesn't matter. It is empty justification and the results of putting money before loyalty tipped the balance on Saturday where it certainly appeared that our fans were shamefully outnumbered at our own ground.

I used to, but am not sure anymore, but wouldn't say I do trust them, but wouldn't say I don't trust them. Oh, I just don't know.

You need to add a new "Eternally grateful for them stepping in and saving the club, but not behind them moving to Failsworth rather than redeveloping BP (what we marched for) and turning our ground to one where home supporters are regarded less favourably than away supporters money - and therefore becoming disillusioned with the club, the game and becoming increasingly less trustful of TTA because they will move us to Failsworth, sell the land at BP and walk away" button.

Ask yourself what happened to all the fans we used to get. Perhaps they became disillusioned and decided to go and do something else instead. Why didn't we make history again and ask for the tie to be held at the Gayfarm, but with us taking the net gate receipts? I listened to the game, and all you could hear were Huddersfield fans. Its a poor show and I am not surprised that our attendances are on a par with the lower end of our league and the higher end of L3 - coincidence? Dont think so.

whatever

Meanwhile, in the REAL world.....

Well, if the money is more important than the match day experience of long term and loyal Latics fans, then that's all good Dan.

BBC Radio Leeds I believe

Listening on Latics Palya, and it sounds like the game is being played at the Gayfarm. Must be really encouraging for the players. Time to be a home fans first ground like everywhere else. When the away allocation is sold, it is sold. End of.

QPR They used to be my second favourite team when I was much younger. Stan Bowles, Gerry Francis, Frank McLintock - it was a great team that. I also enjoyed the experience and atmosphere (up to a certain point of course) at the fateful playoff match. White Man in Hammersmith Palais was played at half time. A club on the up with clear ambition.

I've been supporting Latics since the 70s and have just read this post sat at home during the Huddersfield match. I am sick and tired of being taken for granted by the club. I feel that the club care more about money and away support than they do for me. Pulling down the Lookers stand was premature and has killed something within the club - the match day experience just isn't what it used to be and I am certainly losing the faith.

I'm in group 3

Or just switch the game to Elland Road

You are not supposed to spit. You are supposed to swallow.

You can borrow my Season Ticket if you like as I wont be using it against Huddersfield, Leeds in the Cup, Leeds in the League or any other match that the owners decide to blame the police and chuck us out of the RRE to accomodate away fans. It's bad enough not having the Lookers anymore, it's bad enough being kicked out of the large section of the RRE, but kicking us out completely is a step too far for me, so I will vote with my feet. If someone wants to borrow my ST, send me a PM. Cheers