Going back into the armed forces I believe. Probably best off out of this. Dorking have way too many old pro-s milking the owner dry and keeping the physio room busy at the moment.

@calvertskans Well at least it's pretty clear where the main issue is...

@adeb

To survive in the National League or above we need control of the ground so we can lay a grass pitch.

Ideally, we need to:

1. Purchase the freehold for the stadium with its surrounds.
2. Acquire the operating licence.
3. Buy out the SFA.
4. Erect the 100-seater stand that was bought on E-bay.
5. Lay a grass pitch.
6. Develop West Humble

But any idea how much that would cost? £5m? £10m? £15m?

More likely approach:

1. Acquire the operating licence (year 1).
2. Buy out the SFA (year 2).
3. Lay a grass pitch, etc (year 2/3)

So we need to find a sugar daddy so we can speed things up.  And/or we get a good cup run.

In the mean time we need to stay in touch on the playing side and avoid another relegation.

@dorkingtyke Yep you're certainly in the right direction there (I recently joined the senior management team working on all things Procurement)

The 3G Meadowbank pitch loses its certification at the end of this season

Whatever happens the replacement pitch (whatever it is) has to happen in Summer 2025.

I saw Aveley had their old pitch in giant 'rolls' in their car park (their ground opened 2017, so 1 year ahead of ours) and they are planning to have it laid on their training pitch (just behind the stadium) for use by juniors

I hope the Meadowbank can be similarly re-used up at Westhumble in the future

I've always wondered if it would just be cheaper to just build a ground from scratch on another site instead? I remember that was the original plan a while back...

@calvertskans Yes it was a few year's back as I recall. 

Don't think that would ever happen now, we value the site too much - I know Marc loves a town centre ground, and the potential really is huge given the space behind the dugout side, and the overall footprint. Could easily get a 6-8k stadium in there.

Just need to own it now...then we really will be a force to be reckoned with

Here you go;

https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/dorking-wanderers-owner-says-new-stadium-plans-can-put-town-on-the-map

Is that new news Ade?  A few years ago there was a proposal to build a stadium at Pixham but I'd heard that the Council actually wanted us to take over Meadowbank. It would be perfect if it came off because it's a massive site, a great opportunity.

If the pitch at Meadowbank needs to go this summer we would need to have the operating licence by then or SFA would just lay another 3G.

That article about moving was from 2021

Personally I think if we can replace the current 3G with a better 3G (almost all are better than our one lol) then I would do that, and then coin it in from the community usage

Just seen the injury update news piece. Nice of the club to do that update as lots of us are anxious about things today. Shame Josh has a foot problem, but I am positive about the good things some youngsters can bring.

@calvertskans 

Yes I think it’s clear some of these lads are done at the level too in terms of physically being capable of being available week out. Prior is the number one candidate of that lot.

Also as others have highlighted. There is no central attacking play at all, it’s way too predictable and easy to defend against.

You see intelligent footballers like Briggs who is still above the level making intelligent central runs. Just being ignored.

Only for us to slowly move it out wide, then do a long cross to the far side which goes over JP9’s head and results in a counter.

I think the players are stale and the coaching and patterns of play are also stale. 

If he is massively over paying much of this lot that cannot stay fit or perform at this level. Then good luck moving them out the building. As no club of a similar level to us will take them on the same pay, so they will just sit on their hands and continue to get injured and under perform. We saw a good number of those offloaded from last season now playing a level below where we play now, the only one playing higher was Hollis. 

Where will the club finish? I still think getting into the play offs is a possibility but no chance will this team “piss the league”. 

Posted by: @jacksonfairweather

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Yes I think it’s clear some of these lads are done at the level too in terms of physically being capable of being available week out. Prior is the number one candidate of that lot. 

I think the players are stale and the coaching and patterns of play are also stale. 

If he is massively over paying much of this lot that cannot stay fit or perform at this level. Then good luck moving them out the building. As no club of a similar level to us will take them on the same pay, so they will just sit on their hands and continue to get injured and under perform. 

All key points, all well made.

Marc has been incredibly loyal to his long term players. Probably in reality too loyal. Many of them were very poor at NL level last season, you could say 'past it'. His weakness was not being ruthless enough, because deep down he has a good heart and it's so hard. 

But in the past we've let the likes of Tolf, Sami, Isaac go. It's always hard but you have to eventually be realistic and not sentimental.

Tonight's injury statement suggests that bringing in loans is unlikely. It reads to me like we've done all the budget on this squad and have little to no wriggle room to bring anyone in, unless by some miracle Steve King gets a management job somewhere and kindly buys a couple of players off us to help his good mate Marc!

Overhauling the squad further isn't going to be an overnight thing, Marc has put all his eggs in this basket and has been a bit let down by a combination of bad luck and perhaps a bit of overconfidence in these players.

I have no doubt the support of the travelling regulars will be unwavering, draw, win or lose. It's more about the friendship group that is formed with each other than the position in the table. Marc's post match comments where he unsubtly 'reminds' fans about the need to be patient and stay loyal etc actually annoy me a little. It could just be he is a little insecure about recent form, but he really has nothing to worry about in terms of fans staying loyal, and doesn't need to keep going on about it.

Hopefully the home form holds up as home attendances are a big source of income. I still think play offs is very attainable if the home form stays good.

Starting to think 9 fit players might be grounds for a loan signing or two...

In the BoA finale from last season, Marc does a presentation to the players before the Rochdale game about what went went during the season. One of the points on there was about not utilising the loan market in injury situations...

That statement seemed to rule out short term loans, so the B team must be about to be raided on a grand scale?

And next up is a game on the Theatre of Rubber - you could almost start doing a sweepstake on next player to get an injury (Barry has been unusually fit recently so he'd be my guess). It's a bit gutting at the moment because we've all seen each individual player at their best at some point and it's a shame when things aren't going so well.

At least the comms from the club are frank and honest - realistic 'expectation management' if you like. And Weymouth are playing right now - so have 24hrs less rest than us, wouldn't surprise me if the gaffer is watching it, as he's very 24/7.