The Alloa Advertiser are reporting that Clackmannanshire Council have changed strict criteria on the use of a building (the former leisure centre next to the Recs) that they own which Alloa had been hoping to buy, or lease. The change in criteria means that we probably won't be able to afford the building now.

The plan had been for the club to invest £500,000 in order to provide a base for a football academy, to provide a gymnasium and other facilities that could be used by the local community and, although I've only heard rumours on this, a social club for supporters. Instead there's a real chance that a community sports and leisure facility will be lost to the area.

Obviously I understand that councils need to balance their book and they may well be needing the money from the sale of the building to invest elsewhere (or to plug a hole in the budget), but it does seem strange to turn away from a scheme that would have benefitted both the club and the community especially when the area is crying out for new facilities and there would have been no cash outlay for the Council.

So how much help, or hindrance, do other clubs get from their local authorities?

I await the landslide of posts from Ayr fans

I was going to post on this today as well but I've been a bit busy this morning. Pretty poor decision in my opinion by our council leaders. They're quick enough to jump on the bandwagon when the team has a bit of success. This would have been a great facility for the local community. Good to see the Advertiser gave it front page. Maybe they'll be shamed into looking again at the decision but I doubt it.

Bunch of arseholes.

It will be interesting to hear the Council's side if this decision is set in concrete.

Agree with the point that they are quick to jump on the bandwagon when it suits them, but you would think they will be getting a wodge of dosh when they sell the ground off at the old Alloa Academy and the developers move in to build houses. This seems the Council's answr to everything, if there is spare land, build a house on it.

I would be astonished if Fife Council were to give us any help to be honest.

l8r m8 ... too busy, gota work some bile up 1st

There'll be an older Lichtie that can detail our move to Denfield, but I'm pretty sure the council scuppering that set us back by years.

Apparently South Ayrshire are in a bit of a shitter as they can no longer afford to put air conditioning into the sauna like classrooms at Kyle Academy.

Ayr (pun intended) conditioning in schools. When I went to school in Ayr, you opened the window to cool down in the summer and shut it to heat up during the winter, otherwise you sweated you bollocks off in the summer or froze them off in the winter. Kids get bloody everything these days!!! No wonder our councils are allegedly broke!!!

As for the topic SAC has done absolutely nothing for Ayr over the years. That is a fact. I really don't care what anyone says to the contrary. It wasn't that long ago when the leader of the council was a rabid K!ll*e fan, and allegedly hated Bill Barr. Was it conincedence when the same man stood for MSP in Ayr it was the only constituency in the whole of Scotland where the Tory's share of the vote actually rose? As a feverent SNP supporter it was the only time in my life that I actually voted Tory just to keep this man out. The same MSP after he was elected was only ever quoted in the press as being the chief exec of k!lm*rn$ck football club, and not as Ayr's MSP. Also as Ayr's MSP he never came out in support of the original Heathfield developement. Thankfully now he has disappeared from politics. I actually cheered when I heard the news that he had resigned. I believe he was the first MSP to resign from the new parliament.




I remember talking to an Arbroath fan about this developement. He certainly wasn't complimentary about the council. He seemed to think that Gayfield at some point was going to fall into the north sea and wen't on to explain what actually happened. I believe it was an SNP administration that allegedly screwed you over. I was certainly shocked to hear what happened, but it was that long ago I can't exactly remembered what happened. Perhaps someone can refresh my memory.

While I'm not advocating that the local councils should build us all shiny new stadia, like for example Livingston and Clyde, surely if a local football club is going to improve the local facilities then they should be helping. They would recoup their moneys invested no problem. Unfortunately with this council tax freeze I guess that it is the perfect excuse for them not to help anyone other than themselves.

sac have done everything in there
power to cause aufc as much grief
as they could for years and still do

I have watched this story with interest and i think the councilor who's name is English as a right a****se who else in this economic climate shall invest the same money into this facility other than Alloa.

This guy appears to be on a personal crusade against the club and it is comical that he takes his little camera to the home games and kids on he is a photographer.

Let me tell you this Mr English it is twats like you who are fake politicians that kid on they are for the people well in this instannce you are only in it for yourself and that is a shame because you will only ensure that this building becomes an eyesore that will require to be demolished with tax payers money.
causing your beloved council to lose even more money
I would ask that you spend more time persuing the members of you party that waste our money by building these silly little businesss units all over the county that are only about 25% full and use them for whatever stupid game your trying to play.

I personally hope Alloa Athletic buy this facility but for a fraction of the cost that you think you are going to get and in the meantime piss offf from the club you are not welcome............... leave us alone to run our own affairs and going by the current regeneration of recreation park its something we appear to be good at.

You would probaly want to be sure of your facts if youre going to make that kind of accusation. However I presume by 'previous role' you mean Mike Mulraney being Manager of the Alloa Leisure Bowl (is it even a previous role? He was still doing it at least a few months ago) and not Zones. Its irrelevant anyway, the previous council closed Zones because they couldnt afford to maintain it and that decision (and the funding the facility would get) would be their call and not that of the manager of the place.

As for the story itself its a pretty common tale around Scotland, hard up Council punting off leisure facilties to try and balance the books. Look at the amount of greenfield sites lost around the country for the same reason.

Alloa have had a decent relationship with the Council in recent times though and hopefully that will continue regardless of what happens over Zones. There are plenty of examples of the benefits of working with the local authority.

I'm led to believe that the last time Fife Council offered to help us, they were willing to built a new stadium and sports facilities on the outskirts of town.

But we would have to share it with East Fife.

Aye but now the council insisted on putting metal bars so the windows could only open 20cm so that no one can jump out

No one in football should expect too much of their local councils. They tend to be filled with junior politicians most of whom have exaggerated ideas of their own importance and have little or no thought for their local team.

So Renfrewshire Council must buck the trend when it came to St Mirren? They helped them out over the stadium deal and approved it by majority vote even when planners recommended refusal of a supermarket on Love Street. Even the Scottish Executive ignored that one- although perhaps Tesco had a slight interest. Even ignoring that the are leasing them old sports grounds as a training complex, albeit contentious with some.

Perhaps the only council I can think of that has really helped a football team out, but when you consider Labour let Paisley go downhill not surprising they didn't want to be partly responsible for screwing the football team too and keeping Tesco out.

Please don't post allegations on P&B unless you are prepared to back these up with hard facts, or face the consequences of your actions.

A friendly warning

Aye in Dysart I think it was




Can you do that in God like tone? I've got a picture of Charlton heston stuck in my head for some reason...

I fully expect loads of politicians and such like at Bayview over the next wee bit, must be something on in Central Fife. The one and only time Christina May, ex MSP turned up at Bayview, somebody shouted 'haw may, have you found they weapons on mass distruction yet?'...she left I believe.

Like all things east of KDY, Fife council ignores, although I hear, it is getting better.

It's a pity that Mr English and his ilk in the SNP took the chance of photo opportunities during the last election decrying the lack of leisure faclities in Clackmannanshire. When they get the chance to do something about it they turn a blind eye.
All Clackmannanshire councillers (bar 2 who will remain nameless) are inept and incompetent.

Since none have and I signed the petition to get the move...

About ten years ago, the local council were presented with two proposals: relocate the club to a site on the road to Brechin (as well as other leisure facilities), whilst building a retail park at Gayfield or build the highly successful retail park at the bottom of The Westway.

The council voted against the redevelopment of Gayfield, citing that it would be a blight on the landscape to build a retail park in the middle of what is essentially a leisure type area. Admittedly they really did do the right thing; however, it stuck in the throats of many Arbroath people that not only did they put the kibosh on a new stadium, but also on a Cinema and pair of astroturf pitches at the same time.

Ironically, but not surprisingly, the council later scuppered plans to place a major retail outlet in the retail park they voted for :

To me, that's the problem with local councillors. If I were to be elected, my first policy would be a £20million pound football, free sex, hamburger and alcohol velodrome!

It might mean that Meals on Wheels and Lolli Pop ladies would suffer, for a while, but I'm sure the benefits to the community would be immediate! Everyone knows councillors take the piss. Why not do it meaningfully!

And I don't just mean sex for boys......

.......you've got my vote

The Chippendales have already signed up to sponsor the family stand!

Well said my stirling freind, btw i hope we gub you tommorow