Dwane Developments UK Ltd Dissolved

Who knows why Swiss posted it, whatever the reasons I rather doubt they will be positive.

Pete Robson's?

I do think there is something going on with the Fruit Market but that we are only part, hence the complexity/time. No inside info, just my belief.

I think BRFC/Dwayne need to to set themselves a deadline though and if external options (be it FM or elsewhere) are exhausted with no realistic liklihood of happening they must look to develop the Mem somehow.

Problem we have is that there has been no significant improvements to the Mem for 25 years because we were supposedly moving/developing it/knocking it down or whatever, so its been deemed not cost effective to do so at the time (which in isolation is correct, if the plans actually happen)

But because they haven't there has been 25 years of stagnation/decay and therefore we get further and further behind the curve when it comes to facilities.  The Mem is barely fit for purpose, hence clock is ticking.  

For same reasons  the club has always used this as an excuse/reason for not developing the clubs infrastructure, including training ground. So nothing happens.

But as a result when we do have some success on the pitch such as in 2007 or 2016 its unsustainable, and we drop back again soon after, and the same cycle continues.

WAQ ownership is the first one who has tried to break that cycle, however small the steps are with the Training Ground and the 21st century commercial approach.

That is reassuring to know Bath Gas. It would be good to have an update on work that has been carried out, the last photo/update/info that I can find, the loo’s were not completed and a single portaloo was propped up against the side of the building.

I think Nick Higgs tried to break it with UWE, and his predecessors tried to with Rodney's Swinging Balls and pick-a-seat (which was not a Pokemon)

but Wael is the one that has made tangible progress...

Pete was from a different time. I saw him 'educate' a Father and Son once. The lad had bought a piston and had broken the rings attempting to fit it, Dad thought it was Pete's fault for not giving his boy fitting instructions. 10 mins later they left with another new piston set, which they paid for.

Had a wedding car business as well I seem to recall.

One of his mechanics, Stan, kept the old workshop going for many years after the shop shut. Stan's still trading, fixing bikes and scooters, working in a unit not far from the stadium.

I don't remember many of the spares staff from Grosvenor Rd apart from Maggie.

Tormod Langli & Steve Gresham, the wild pair!

I think the stadium company may have owned one of the properties at the bottom of Muller Road near the entrance to the stadium. I remember seeing Vaclav Verner and Scott Autrey working on their bikes one afternoon on the way home from school, and getting their autographs.

They were often there there on a Monday afternoon before driving down to Exeter who they raced for on Monday nights. Exeter had the same promotors as the Bulldogs I recall, hence the link with the property I assume. Happy memories.

I don’t know about maximising an opportunity but having a gym on site, with modern equipment that the players are happy with is a big upgrade on what we previously had.

Is it?

This is where it starts to get difficult.

Once money is spent, it's spent, so if you are walking around and can afford a Bentley but buy a Ford and can now no longer afford that Bentley, with all the refinement and advantages it has over the Ford, you tell me, did you make the right choice?

The other thing that strikes me about this is that we appear to be setting Stevenage as the benchmark, Stevenage for goodness sake, they are probably still scratching their heads wondering how and why they are in the League at all, and Bristol Rovers supporters are having a debate about whether our training facilities are as good as theirs.