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    For those unable to read Sam Byrne's tweets Archived Message

    Posted by Nik on 2/8/2023, 7:20 am, in reply to "Re: Fans Forum "

    Fans forum:

    Director of Football Simon Wilson, C.O.O Tom Mahon, Manager Dave Challinor, Non-Exec Chairman Ken Knott, and Academy Director Damien Allen answering the questions.

    Threads get far too messy so I’ll quote tweet any updates! #stockportcounty

    Updates on stadium development?

    KK: ‘Need to acquire more land on the East Stand. Analysis on South Stand and North Stand on what to do. All except Cheadle End.’

    Hoping for capacity of 17.5k once all said. 1st stage can only be implemented upon promotion to L1 #stockportcounty

    Q on ticketing system.

    Tom Mahon ‘Been around clubs and no system is without its challenges but this one is particularly challenging.’

    ‘We’ve set expectations with Future Ticketing. We share frustrations of supporters & constantly looking at improvements. High priority for me.’

    Q: Local group concerned on wildlife behind Pop Side.

    KK: ‘Not sure it can be described as a sanctuary! We understand they want to preserve the area.’

    ‘We have v little ground to work with & we have duty to upgrade car parking. No prospect of us not being able to achieve that’.

    KK: ‘We will be working with residents, local action group, landscapers etc to bring forward this particular site in a manner which preserves trees in the area.’

    ‘At the same time, we have a real need to provide this parking.’ #stockportcounty

    Q on disabled car parking spaces - only 15 spaces at EP.

    TM: ‘This is in line with bays we have in the stadium overall.’

    ‘Parking is limited, and as Ken addressed we’re looking at solutions to that. We’ll always do our best to facilitate all fans but working what we have atm.’

    Q on ground developments & potential for debt on club.

    KK: ‘It’s in nobody’s interest to put loads of debt onto the club.’

    ‘Mark Stott very generous in my view, no debt on the club now, but these are costs (development) that really would need to be split between equity & debt.’

    KK: ‘We cannot expand stadium without taking on some debt.’

    ‘But we are exploring all options regarding the financial viability of stadium expansion, and we would not do anything that would load debt onto club or not be worth spending the funds on. That’s in nobody’s interests’’

    Q on moving training facilities to within Stockport.

    KK: ‘Ambition is still to bring training facility to Stockport. Not straight forward but we have identified a site and in advanced talks to acquire it.’

    ‘4-5 yr window for project to be done; we’re at Carrington until then’.

    KK clarified that rumours about buying Woodley Sports facility (Stockport Sport/Life Leisure) are not true.

    Woodley Sport site has been great for club but purchase not on cards. #stockportcounty

    Q on assurances that we will definitely never be moving from Edgeley Park.

    KK: ‘We are categorically not moving. Edgeley Park is the club’s spiritual home, and regardless the cost of moving would be astronomical. Unequivocally we are staying at EP’. #stockportcounty

    Q on new kits, stock issues, delays etc.

    TM: ‘Kits have been v well received. Issues last yr predated my time but we purchased a lot more this time around from Puma.’

    ‘Majority have received kits but we’re clearing backlogs ASAP. Have ordered top up of more sizes, due in Nov.’

    Q on ST sales.

    TM: ‘Still on sale but around 5.8k & still selling this week. We are overwhelmed by the numbers and shows fantastic uptake.’

    ‘We know issues around delivery - they are all on the way! Posted last Friday. Any day now, get in touch if not by then’. #stockportcounty

    Q on training facilities - is it all one site or to be sites around town?

    KK: ‘Preference is a single site, a single purchase. More expensive for number of locations. Spoke with Stockport Lads’ Club but no dice as unsure of land ownership issue. Definite preference of one site’.

    Q on loyalty scheme for away tickets.

    TM: ‘We don’t see consistent demand outstripping supply atm but always look at and do track it.’

    ‘Lot of STs linked so difficult to know who’s buying tickets, but when demand is outstripping supply regularly, we’ll always be mindful of it’

    TM: ‘It is definitely in our thoughts and I can assure you it has been discussed at board level.’

    ‘Atm not an option because of us seeing supply outstripping demand (generally speaking) but we do keep track of it all’. #stockportcounty

    Non-football section ends with a round of applause for Tom Mahon, who has been v involved in taking Railway End seats from away fans & keeping for #stockportcounty fans.

    Some tough questions (and a debut for Tom Mahon) but think most happy with answers! Football Qs after break.

    Q on the new Emerging Talents programme.

    Damien Allen: ‘It’s an opportunity to develop further and make that bridge between Academy and first team. It’s a real next step for players of that age’. #stockportcounty

    Q on ‘struggling to break teams down’.

    DC: ‘Totally agree on breaking sides down who sat back.‘

    ‘One thing we were missing was dribblers, ball carriers - probably one of lowest in league for dribbling. Louie Barry big addition for that, love to add another if we can’.

    Q on recruitment and whether it’s ‘done’ for the start of this season.

    DC: ‘Our work will continue until the window shuts. Happy with where we are but we’re looking constantly and receiving messages left, right and centre about players who may appeal to us’. #stockportcounty

    Q on the Preston game, thought they were slick, we were sluggish, can we change that?

    DC: ‘Preston are a Championship side & finished top-half. We always push players on intensity & how we want to play & will always do that’.

    ‘Friday/Saturdays games will be really good for us’.

    Q on injuries.

    DC: ‘Myles & Woots start of Oct. If earlier, great. They’re in a good place.’

    ‘Myles still recovering - we’re hoping Woots comes back an absolute animal!’

    ‘Little injures hanging on from last yr, Collar etc. WC not ready to start games but hoping for 1/2 weeks’.

    DC: ‘It has been a challenge with injuries.’

    ‘But we’re in a decent place, key players to come back, good signings. We’re really looking forward to Saturday but to the entire campaign’. #stockportcounty

    Q on Emerging Talents & club excited by that?

    S Wilson: ‘Reason for it is Academy only been going for a year, so bit of a talent gap between years 16-20.’

    ‘Joe Monks has held roles in youth recruitment @ Soton, Wolves etc. He knows what ‘good’ talent looks like for that group’.

    SW: ‘We’ll arrange loans in North West area where possible. They have chances to earn longer deals.’

    ‘If goes well they get extra years triggered and continue on that pathway towards first team. We can add depth to first team squad where possible too from that’. #stockportcounty

    Q on PO final & how some go one better, and some teams flop.

    DC ‘That process began in changing room at Wembley after game. Regardless of result, remember the feeling. No worse place to be in football when you lose.’

    ‘Experiences have always guided us - no different this time’.

    Q on ‘under-performance’ with no promotion, goes into stats, any lessons learned?

    SW ‘Come & work for us! We look at same stats.’

    ‘We scored very few ‘worldies’, high volume of chances from crossing. Wanted to add difference makers, feel we’ve got that with Powell/Barry etc’.

    The same fella is still biting back with questions on stats etc, fair play 😂

    DC feels we’ve worked towards addressing that this summer, Steve Bellis wraps it up with ‘any normal questions?’ 😅 #stockportcounty

    Q on Cody Johnson loan at Rochdale & if Rowan McDonald still here.

    DC ‘Great opportunity for Cody. We’ll look at similar perhaps with Ashton Mee after signing deal this week’.

    ‘Rowan still with us; we wanted ball player in that area. If he stays fit, can be really good player’.

    Q on penalties last season, fair few misses.

    DC ‘Paddy is our penalty taker. We’ve got plenty who can take.’

    ‘Hopefully we have plenty this season on the list. They’ll all back themselves‘. #stockportcounty

    Q on ‘World Cup’ style added time and new rules.

    DC ‘Big impact. Had a ref in going over rules y’day. On Sat, we could see players sent off within 20 mins across country.’

    ‘On added time, going to be very extreme. Goals scored, celebrations etc. Going to be some late nights’.

    Q on potential dark horses etc.

    Challinor: ‘Maybe not dark horses but Doncaster have recruited really well & could be real threat. Plenty of ‘favourites’ we already know about too.’

    SW: ‘My tip is AFC Wimbledon - nobody talking about but very direct, very athletic’. #afcw #drfc

    Q from a whopper (@NickTSBW)

    ‘Dave, please confirm for all my fellow nerds that Kyle Knoyle won’t be wearing #3’

    DC: ‘As Ken said on staying at EP, categorically no! He will be wearing #2’ #stockportcounty

    Q: ‘Did we bid £250k for Scott Banks?’

    Simon Wilson: ‘No! Please don’t believe everything you read.’

    ‘We’ve often done business quietly and we’ll always try to do that. We know there is some truth in some things that are said but don’t believe lot of nonsense!’ #stockportcounty

    That’s that.

    Some, erm…different questions but all handled well enough. 😂

    DC as straightforward and reasonable as ever, plenty of insight on off-field stuff too. 👋 #stockportcounty

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