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Post by Finnish Gas on May 10, 2015 10:31:42 GMT
Dispute over Bristol's memorial stadium to be heard in courtBy Bath Chronicle | Posted: May 10, 2015 By Michael Yong A dispute between Bristol Rovers and Sainsbury's will be heard in court on Thursday. The trial, to settle a dispute over the redevelopment of the Memorial Stadium in Bristol, is expected to last seven days. The £30 million deal to redevelop the ground as a giant supermarket is key to the club's plan to move to a new stadium in Stoke Gifford. Based near the University of the West Of England's main campus, the stadium in Horfield will be able to seat 21,700 fans. It will be called the UWE stadium. The judges will decide if Sainsbury's could be held to its end of the deal. There have been protests over the supermarket giant's attempts to back out of a deal to buy the Memorial Stadium. Once sold, the club can then go ahead with their plans. Last December, it was revealed the club had taken up a £2 million loan avoid being "starved into submission". Fans have been clamouring for the deal to go ahead, with many going online to organise protests and boycotts. Sainsbury's announced this week it had lost £72 million over the last 12 months, and was planning to move away from large stores to small convenience stores. Britain's third-biggest supermarket chain is also looking to make redundant some 500 members of staff. Chief executive Mike Coupe reiterated plans to 40 stores across the country, insisting that small shops allow for more opportunities. The trial will start on Thursday, and is not expected to finish until the following week. Here is a timeline of how the events unfolded:June 2011: Plans for new £40 million stadium for Rovers at Stoke Gifford revealed. July 2012: Planning permission for 21,700 UWE Stadium granted. July 2012: New stadium will need to be funded mostly by sale of Memorial Stadium to Sainsbury's. January 2013: Sainsbury's given planning permission to create new store and homes. August 2013: Campaigners against a new supermarket form opposition group TRASHorfield. They submit legal challenge against Sainsbury's being given planning permission. November 2013: Full judicial review given permission to go ahead, and held in Bristol. March 2014: High Court judge Mr Justice Hickinbottom quashes judicial review. April 2014: TRASHorfield gives up fight and appeal, saying it was too expensive. May 2014: Rovers are relegated from the Football League. July 2014: MPs get in on the action, and ask Sainsbury's to reaffirm its commitment to supermarket plans. July 2014: Sainsbury's said it was "committed" but said legal challenges have held up the process. It insisted it is monitoring the situation closely. July 2014: UWE said it will not help fund the new stadium, but wants to see stadium built. August 2014: Speculation mounts that Sainsbury's is trying to pull out of deal, something that is denied by both parties. August 2014: Rovers issues writ against Sainsbury's, claiming the supermarket has breached its contract, saying it was costing the club £340,000 in legal fees so far. March 2015: Protests planned by fans online, who want to see Sainsbury's come through on the deal. May 2015: Sainsbury's confirms losses of £72 million in the last year. May 2015: High Court hearing set to start, with a decision expected in about seven days. Read more: www.bathchronicle.co.uk/Regional-Dispute-Bristol-s-memorial-stadium-heard/story-26473939-detail/story.htmlCountdown begins to High Court hearing between Bristol Rovers and Sainsbury's over Memorial StadiumRead more: www.bristolpost.co.uk/Countdown-begins-High-Court-hearing-Bristol/story-26470679-detail/story.html
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Post by Topper Gas on May 10, 2015 10:52:45 GMT
"Judges" isn't it just one Judge hearing the case/making the Judgement?
Just our luck we'll get promoted on Sunday then lose the case and be put into Admin the following week!
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Bridgeman
Alfie Biggs
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Post by Bridgeman on May 10, 2015 11:30:16 GMT
"Judges" isn't it just one Judge hearing the case/making the Judgement? Just our luck we'll get promoted on Sunday then lose the case and be put into Admin the following week! If you're going to be miserable go on the other forum, this forum is for positive fans, those who want the club to perform better, manage better, treat it's fans better and aren't willing to accept 2nd best  |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2015 12:29:04 GMT
I know that the board and some fans like to stick their heads in the sand ie 'relegation is not an option',but if the club did go into administration what are the consequences ?.
I am just interested,I want everything to go Rovers way.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2015 12:31:12 GMT
I know that the board and some fans like to stick their heads in the sand ie 'relegation is not an option',but if the club did go into administration what are the consequences ?. I am just interested,I want everything to go Rovers way. New owners and a bright future? Several periods of admin hasn't done Bournemouth too much harm. |
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dido
Predictions League
Peter Aitken
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Post by dido on May 10, 2015 12:51:17 GMT
Why do people use the word "trial"?
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Post by Finnish Gas on May 10, 2015 13:09:42 GMT
The key players!One of the country’s top judges at London’s High Court ......
Mr Justice Roth scheduled the seven day hearing to begin between May 11 and 15 (14th chosen) after being told that it is vital for the club to know by June whether it can hold supermarket giants, Sainsbury's, to a £30m deal to buy the current stadium. At the end of the May hearing, the judge will almost certainly reserve judgment to give a written decision, probably in June. However, in view of the urgency of the matter he could give an off the cuff decision immediately at the end of the legal argument and then give his reasons in writing at a later date. Rovers – whose lawyer David Matthias QC told the court - were currently "in the doldrums" in the Conference Premier following relegation from the Football League - seek to boost their fortunes by leaving the 12,000 capacity Memorial Stadium and moving to a new 21,700 all-seater stadium near the University of the West of England in Stoke Gifford. However, Mr Mathias said that the June date was important for keeping the University on board with the scheme. There have been complications over plans for a shared car park used by the University during the week, and the stadium on match days, he said. He told the court that it was felt that, if a result was known by June, it was likely that the University would "bear with us". In addition to seeking to hold Sainsbury’s to the deal the club also seeks damages for alleged breach of agreement by Sainsbury's. However, in respect of the latter part of their claim any compensation would have to be assessed at a second trial if the club are successful at the May hearing. Sainsbury's say that planning conditions were not met by a cut-off date last year, and so they were entitled to terminate the deal which was to buy the Memorial Stadium for just short of £30m. They seek a declaration from the court that the contract with the club is at an end - which would come as a devastating blow to Rovers' hopes of completing the move. Sainsbury's lawyer Mark Wonnacott QC agreed with the club that it was desirable that the hearing should be fast-tracked. He told the judge: "If we're stuck with this contract it's as much in our interest to know that quickly as it is the club's." Read more: www.bristolpost.co.uk/Key-hearing-pushed-forward-Bristol-Rovers-plans/story-25997409-detail/story.htmlNB: Mr Justice Roth - links gaschat.co.uk/thread/2294/justice-roth-football
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Post by Topper Gas on May 10, 2015 13:53:07 GMT
I know that the board and some fans like to stick their heads in the sand ie 'relegation is not an option',but if the club did go into administration what are the consequences ?. I am just interested,I want everything to go Rovers way. New owners and a bright future? Several periods of admin hasn't done Bournemouth too much harm. Not so sure Hereford Utd & Salisbury Town fans think the futures bright following their Admin? It does Admin in the Conference, for some unexplainable reason, to be treated far harsher than in the FL. |
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Post by PeterHooper57 on May 10, 2015 14:45:06 GMT
The issue is pretty simple is there a binding contract or not ? I am no contracts lawyer; however, I would have thought Sainburys would look to settle outside of court if they thought BRFC were likely to win the case. Only time will tell.
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Peter Parker
Global Moderator
Richard Walker
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Post by Peter Parker on May 10, 2015 14:52:16 GMT
The issue is pretty simple is there a binding contract or not ? I am no contracts lawyer; however, I would have thought Sainburys would look to settle outside of court if they thought BRFC were likely to win the case. Only time will tell. on the other forum someone apparently spoke.to NH at the FGR game and he.said no offers had been made and only one was acceptable Either giving nothing.away or telling truth. If true i guess sainsburys are confident |
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LJG
Peter Beadle
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Posts: 969
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Post by LJG on May 10, 2015 15:15:36 GMT
Why do people use the word "trial"? Because it makes it sound like we all live in a John Grisham novel. |
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Post by Henbury Gas on May 10, 2015 15:17:09 GMT
The issue is pretty simple is there a binding contract or not ? I am no contracts lawyer; however, I would have thought Sainburys would look to settle outside of court if they thought BRFC were likely to win the case. Only time will tell. on the other forum someone apparently spoke.to NH at the FGR game and he.said no offers had been made and only one was acceptable Either giving nothing.away or telling truth. If true i guess sainsburys are confidentWhy would they not be confident, if the loose then they get a plot of land which potenially would be worth a lot of money in the future and if they win well..... |
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Peter Parker
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Richard Walker
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Post by Peter Parker on May 10, 2015 15:34:38 GMT
on the other forum someone apparently spoke.to NH at the FGR game and he.said no offers had been made and only one was acceptable Either giving nothing.away or telling truth. If true i guess sainsburys are confidentWhy would they not be confident, if the loose then they get a plot of land which potenially would be worth a lot of money in the future and if they win well..... Well they want out,And dont want to psy nless they are just chancing their arm |
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Post by Topper Gas on May 10, 2015 16:44:27 GMT
They've nothing really to lose at worse the Judge will find in Rovers favour and they will have to pay costs, which they can still appeal against to drag it out even further, or the Judge will find in their favour to some degree and they are on to a winner.
You'd have thought our legal advisors must feel.we have at least a 50% of winning or surely we wouldn't have issued proceedings?
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Post by gasoline on May 10, 2015 17:37:35 GMT
The issue is pretty simple is there a binding contract or not ? I am no contracts lawyer; however, I would have thought Sainburys would look to settle outside of court if they thought BRFC were likely to win the case. Only time will tell. on the other forum someone apparently spoke.to NH at the FGR game and he.said no offers had been made and only one was acceptable Either giving nothing.away or telling truth. If true i guess sainsburys are confident Why would Sainsbury's try to settle before they need to? If, as we hope, they have only undertaken this process to delay having to make payment, they won't try to settle until the last minute. If you were Higgs and you received a call from Sainsbury's on Wednesday saying one off offer for that day only to accept £10m and walk away from the contract would you take it? For me, getting enough cash to develop the mem would be best case scenario. |
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Peter Parker
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Post by Peter Parker on May 10, 2015 18:05:53 GMT
on the other forum someone apparently spoke.to NH at the FGR game and he.said no offers had been made and only one was acceptable Either giving nothing.away or telling truth. If true i guess sainsburys are confident Why would Sainsbury's try to settle before they need to? If, as we hope, they have only undertaken this process to delay having to make payment, they won't try to settle until the last minute. If you were Higgs and you received a call from Sainsbury's on Wednesday saying one off offer for that day only to accept £10m and walk away from the contract would you take it? For me, getting enough cash to develop the mem would be best case scenario. What is enough cash to do the Mem, with debts to pay off, plus now we have BCC full of Green Councilors |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2015 18:20:23 GMT
Why would Sainsbury's try to settle before they need to? If, as we hope, they have only undertaken this process to delay having to make payment, they won't try to settle until the last minute. If you were Higgs and you received a call from Sainsbury's on Wednesday saying one off offer for that day only to accept £10m and walk away from the contract would you take it? For me, getting enough cash to develop the mem would be best case scenario. What is enough cash to do the Mem, with debts to pay off, plus now we have BCC full of Green Councilors Most of the debts are directors' loans, they could always consider admitting that they caused those losses, write them off, then place the stadium into trust so that whatever happens Rovers always have a home? |
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dagnogo
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Post by dagnogo on May 10, 2015 18:26:18 GMT
What is enough cash to do the Mem, with debts to pay off, plus now we have BCC full of Green Councilors Most of the debts are directors' loans, they could always consider admitting that they caused those losses, write them off, then place the stadium into trust so that whatever happens Rovers always have a home? You know who the directors are, right? In their minds they are always right, never wrong, the best owners in world history because they loan money for a personal profit and waste it. There's more chance of an oligarch coming in than there is Bradshaw, Higgs, Dunford or any of them putting the club above themselves, even though they could all afford to. There's less chance still of any of them admitting they were wrong. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2015 21:11:30 GMT
The issue is pretty simple is there a binding contract or not ? I am no contracts lawyer; however, I would have thought Sainburys would look to settle outside of court if they thought BRFC were likely to win the case. Only time will tell. Either giving nothing.away or telling truth. Giving nothing away it is then, the alternative is not an option with this bloke. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2015 21:14:06 GMT
Why would Sainsbury's try to settle before they need to? If, as we hope, they have only undertaken this process to delay having to make payment, they won't try to settle until the last minute. If you were Higgs and you received a call from Sainsbury's on Wednesday saying one off offer for that day only to accept £10m and walk away from the contract would you take it? For me, getting enough cash to develop the mem would be best case scenario. What is enough cash to do the Mem, with debts to pay off, plus now we have BCC full of Green Councilors Approximately the same. It's far cheaper to start with a blank canvas. |
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