Details from the Q & A with Nick Higgs...

Before kick off yesterday, Higgs took several questions in a Q & A session with the fans and didnt hold anything back and answered all questions.

I didnt attend but I have a breakdown on what was said and I will include below.

Here is Higgs at the session...

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Higgs said...

* Matt Macey has been offered a contract but will be going out on trial to other clubs. These clubs are Wigan, Bolton and Stoke over the next 3 weeks. If he decides to leave then that club will have to give us compensation, but that would be decided by a tribunal as he has come through our youth system.

* Sainsbury's section 106 could be signed by the end of the week.

* Aim is to start stadium build in August, and the process should take around 64 weeks (15 months approx).

* The stadium will be 100% owned by Bristol Rovers.

* Confirmed UWE stadium costs (roughly) a £40 million project cost.

* Out of the £40m, The cost to UWE for the land is £8m but NO money will actually be changing hands between Rovers and UWE. This £8m has been wiped out as it is absorbed by allocating money against the car park and continuous naming rights of the stadium along with all benefits to UWE such as full use of the stadium except matchdays along with allowing students to get involved in courses such as construction while the stadium is being built and then continued courses such as sports media, sports scicence. Thats the agreement set up between Rovers and UWE. UWE are happy to wipe out the £8m for the above benefits.

* The remaining £32m will be mostly paid by Sainsbury and that figure would not be disclosed for confidentiality reasons but it would stagger us if we knew and its way beyond what has been quoted by some on the forums. There will be money left over put it that way.

* We are entitled to a Football League grant to go along with stadium build costs. This amount wasnt disclosed either.

* To clear our existing debts (around £6m) - There would be money left over from Sainsburys that would be used to clear debts and also the naming of the UWE stands will go to sponsorships if the price is right for the club which should help clear any remaining debts. This will make us DEBT FREE.

* The stadium should be completed mid season so if not allowed to move in until a new season starts then the stadium will still be generating money due to schemes that will provide money up front like the gym, bar and function rooms which can be used straight away! So the stadium will be paying for itself while not being used.

* Club have lots of ideas to increase the fan base moving towards the new stadium.

* Intention is to be one league higher when we move in to the new stadium which means promotion next season.

* It is up to John how he spends his budget.

* The more money we can bring in, the more we can spend on the players.

* An offer to John Joe O'Toole has been made.

* Also in talks with Mark McChrystal and Steve Mildenhall to remain here.

* Very happy that we have secured the services of John Ward.


Your thoughts gasheads are welcome

 

It's good to have business men involved who are capable of ensuring that all of the requirements for the build etc. are self funding. Lets hope they have their numbers crunched successfully.