HopeStreetWalker

But its not our own stadium ! that's the point of my post. Let me summarise what I propose and the bullet points. Football is in crisis. Costs must be cut. FFC arrangements for the stadium not sustainable. To renegotiate FFC must have an option to walk away. To negotiate with another party they have to know you will do what you say if no agreement. Council are in financial straits and in no position to have a stadium white elephant. Never a better time than now to come to a new arrangement with the council.

Shadwell. We have to do something as the status quo is no longer an option. One of the few clubs that has an option to get out of the financial millstone a stadium is at this tragic time. That on cost could be the end of some clubs in the next few weeks. It's madness to shrug our shoulders and pay the council for facilities that are not being used. You can be sure every other company renting or leasing off the council are telling them some uncomfortable home truths telling them its new terms or we are off. Nothing to lose ! everything to gain. If you don't try you don't get. The council have treated and treat FFC with the utmost contempt, time to get down and dirty with that mob.

So an opportunity to come to a new arrangement. As the main income stream FFC call the shots in future. This is where having people that know what they are doing being involved in the negotiating.

Then with that mindset we are no more than the Councils bitch ! That's why we have to have an option and if its Stenny so be it ! The long term agreement on the rest of the stand is re negotiated separate if need be. Fallback maybe but when we sit down with the council they have to know we are serious. I have no affection or sense of empathy with the place and don't rate it as a stadium, its not even ours FFS. Companies terminate leases and rents and move to new locations all the times. Same applies to Football Clubs. For once not owning the stadium could work for us !

That's what is covered when you negotiate correctly ! Stipulate there will be instances when short notice hire will be required that overrides other hires.

Never know until you sit down and negotiate. This is a new business environment and old arrangements no longer apply. Most companies are reviewing contracts with suppliers and customers saying just that. For the first time since we moved there. Business dictates if the deal we have is not re negotiated to the clubs satisfaction we walk. So before they sit down with the council they are aware FFC have an alternative to go to. Let them squirm ! we owe no loyalty or goodwill towards the council. The realisation their only sizable income stream is about to go elsewhere should focus their minds. Walk in and sit down with the groundwork done. The council knowing they have to convince FFC to stay or its a financial black hole they have on their hands. Screw them to the wall. Peppercorn rent - 80% of car park fees to the club on match days - Long term lease on a rent to buy basis. That will do for starters ! There must be some hard nosed negotiator the club can get on board !

Stirling Uni !

Not an issue ! hire it for matches and leave the Council to it.

Don't know if we have and what the terms and conditions apply regarding termination. Maybe somebody in the know can clarify that. You and I have had discussions on our opinion of that barn of a stadium so we won't go over old ground again. Hire the place for matchdays just as it is hired for a concert and let that be the limit of our involvement.

Or Hibernation ! Cut all overheads and ride it out. For once Falkirk may be in a better position than most to do it. Vacate the Falkirk Community Stadium and cut all ties with it and leave the Council to enjoy their ego trip. If no certainty on a new season by the end of June and the impending loss of government job support. Then as sad as it is redundancy. Players signed for next season given a package to go and Miller and McCracken do not get their contracts replaced. Expenditure should be next to nothing and sit it out. Hopefully have a cash reserve to rebuild, other clubs will not be so lucky. When normal life returns Football will require 2-3 months to get its act together. There will be plenty of managers and players looking for a job. Cynical ? yes ! but hard decisions are required to save the club.

Very true ! what on earth were we playing at ?

No he did not ! and never looked happy in the position.

Heard that before but don't think Eddie May has ever commented on the subject so its just conjecture.

Appointing Eddie May was well intended towards a good and loyal club servant. But the guy did not have the skill set for the job as became evident game by game. Pressley's statement was trying to lift moral. In hindsight it was a mistake but can see his motive in doing it. Why he said it indicates that he recognised moral was in freefall and something had to be done.

Brown and Hay were a good partnership.

Marshall and Burgess were absolute steals from East Fife. You can say what you like about Dave Clarke it was a brilliant piece of business for two players that were good servants to the club and made money when we sold them on.

Some folk are never satisfied ! but that's football.

Spoke to a work friend of mine who was a Berwick diehard when I heard we had signed him. Lot of the support was glad to see the back of him. Kick the ball to Hughes and chase after it was how summed up his game plan. I had my doubts at the start, but my goodness his team played some great football. Heard a story that Jeffreys and Brown were away most weeks looking at players and that hard work paid off in spades !

They could both put a motivated team on the park.

Often wondered on Cunningham's thinking on moving Robinson on. The conclusion I came to that he saw Somner-Harley-McLeod coming through and hoped he was getting a player to replace Alex Scott who was in his last season.

Shadwell. Got a swop that trumps yours. Bryce for Robinson. Within 2 years the guy played for Scotland ! don't think Bryce got a first team game. Remember him on the bench but never the starting 11.

Stuart Rennie had this telepathic understanding with Tiger when he did these out heart in your mouth pass backs. Was told a story before he signed for Falkirk Stuart started as an outfield player and got put in goals due to a sending off and never played outfield again. Paul Leetion was in the Graeme Payne of Dundee United mould. Talented but did not have the build or mindset to cope.

Shadweel. Was engrained in their mindset long before Fergie. Eddie Turnbull's team were up to that sort of nonsense as well.

Shagger. Here are two you will remember. Alex Beckett and John Young. Both freed by Prentice signed by Cunningham at St Mirren and were fixtures there for the rest of their career.

Add George Connolly was not fit and the guy had personal issues. But in flashes, in these brief moments you were standing there slack jawed at what he did. Possibly the biggest unfulfilled talent that pulled on a Falkirk jersey.