Chairman looks for new investment
In his final exclusive report, Latics’ chairman Simon Corney, who so far has looked back on his ten years at Boundary Park, takes a glimpse as to what the next ten years may hold for the football club.
The series of articles has provided a unique perspective on the struggles of owning a lower-division football club and the rollercoaster of emotions, the highs of beating the likes of Liverpool and Everton in the FA Cup to the financial challenges.
Here Mr Corney looks ahead with optimism, though he reiterates the need for the club to attract new investment.
NEW NORTH STAND
I will be proud when the new North Stand is finished as there is still a lot of hard work still to do.
By the end of January or early February we ought to have a good idea as to the shape as the frame ought to be up.
There is still a long way to go as we still have to attract tenants and also find some money.
It has been between six and seven years of hard work coming to fruition.
We had earlier unsuccessfully tried to relocate and while there were three of us, as opposed to one, it was right to move and an opportunity to do so.
Had it not been for a complete foul up by whoever it was, we would have moved. There is no question about it.
And because we didn’t move, that ultimately led to Simon Blitz walking away as he decided it was not going to happen.
It would also have been easy for me to walk away but I refocused and realised we have a home and we have to work out a way to make the best of the situation which is what we have done.
What started as a £2million stand, became £4million and now will probably cost £6million and it will be fantastic when completed.
NEXT TEN YEARS
I think the future looks bright as we have a good, young manager and a good youth Academy and a lot is going for us.
I also believe the next ten years will be smoother than the last ten, though that doesn’t mean we have an automatic right to get to the Championship.
The game is changing and becoming more favourable to the clubs in the fact wages are coming down and the Football League has suddenly realised it has been operating an insolvent, bankrupt, poorly run organisation and they have decided to do something about it.
It needed an overhaul and it I think it is happening.
I have made it public before that I am looking for somebody to invest in the club, the team and stadium. That is still the case.
I am not looking for somebody to come in and make a clean sweep and do it his way as I believe we are on the right track. If they share our vision and buy into it, then I will happily talk to them and bring them on board.