Letter from the Brentford FC boardroom, 11th September 2006
Dear Supporters,
Last Friday we had a Club board meeting and there are few of things arising from the meeting I would like to update you with:
One of my election pledges was to create a register of tickets that have been given away. Working with the Club, we have introduced a system to monitor all complementary tickets which I presented to the Board. We have agreed that, now we fully understand the full extent of the allocation of these tickets, we will use this as the starting point to review the benefits the Club gain from issuing them. Keith Dickens will be responsible for this review.
We have received tenders for the Ealing Road Roof. All of them were for prices higher than were budgeted for. Negotiations are currently taking place to see if we can reduce the quotes to an acceptable level. If we can, we will then seek the approval of the Football Foundation for the work to begin.
Last week representatives from the Board and Hounslow Council met with the GLA and LDA to discuss progress on Lionel Road. The meeting went well and a follow-up meeting is being organised to take place next month. The feasibility of this project is now reaching a critical stage. Brian Burgess will be giving his three-monthly update (see previous) on progress in October.
I attended the Orient match on Saturday and I have to say, after being “under the cosh” for the majority of the game, Sam Tillen’s goal was a welcome relief! Together with Brian Burgess and Keith Dickens, Matt Porter, the Leyton Orient CEO, gave us a tour of their new stands. This is the first time I have seen an “old stadium” redevelopment and it showed what could be done.
Together with Brian we then met Julian Martin, the Chief Executive of the community programme, who gave a tour of their facilities. The facilities that have been developed next to the ground are outstanding and have been earmarked as training facilities for both the handball and volleyball for the 2012 Olympics. It is also possible that the actual handball competition could be held there. The work of the community project really focused on health in the community and showed just what an impact this kind of work could have on both young and old. The Trust had been set up as a charity like our Brentford Community Sports Trust but the links between them and the Football Club are very limited. I believe this is something we need to guard against happening with our own Trust. As far as I am concerned our Trust and Club working closely together is beneficial to both organisations and, just as importantly, the local community.
Finally, I will be holding my regular monthly surgery in the Princess Royal public house before this Saturday’s (16 September) home game with AFC Bournemouth. I will be there between 1.15 and 2.15 pm. Please come along and meet me and tell me about anything that is on your mind concerning the Club.
Let’s work together!
Jon Gosling
Comments can either be sent to me on or directly via comments page.
14th September 2006