Back from my hols in Greece. Just catching up with the latest in the Northwich Guardian on the council's planning application to build 1,000 new houses in Wincham being accepted in a meeting that Jim and Steve didn't even turn up to. Witton say no to a ground move and Vics are out of the Victoria Stadium for ever. Also Thor are involved in a £11m expansion of their company and Wincham residents protest.

This despite Rushe and McNally saying they would fight Thor all the way. Sport England aren't doing much and they must be kidding themselves if they think the council are going to build them a new stadium, or provide them with any compensation with their track record with local businesses and how they lost us the ground.

Discuss. It's obvious there's no future for the current NVFC in Wincham/Northwich, but what about Witton? Wincham has never been meant for football in my view because it's too far from the town.

Both clubs have struggled with attendances, it's just that Witton have been the well ran community club. They probably see the housing expansion as a great opportunity to attract new fans, and have ever right to seize the chance to attract the future fan base with the plight Vics currently find themselves in. Thor haven't come from anywhere either, they have been around for a long time and are due to employ jobs in the local area, which is far more use than what Rushe and McNally can offer with any stadium. So I don't see what Rushe and McNally are fighting here? They got us in this mess.

I can see why Witton won't budge about moving, but could the Supporter's Trust not look into working with the council or Thor and having a ground built which could be used by both football clubs in the town centre. Then no one can complain that one club is favoured over the other and it would also be a far more sustainable option with neither club in control of the stadium and it back in the local community for real. Just an idea.

Ben wrote:
Ben,

As much as I agree with your comments there is one point regarding Witton not moving, they have no choice as the Construction people will soon also own the track leading down to the ground, enough said !!.

Bonnie wrote:
Bonnie

If WAFC don't own the road which connects WP with the public highway, I expect that they will have a legal right of access to their land over it. Hence, I doubt that the developers could prevent them accessing WP.

Witton do not own the land around their ground that is used as a car park and a training pitch. They could find it hard staying there if the developers purchase that and block access.

I would've thought Witton are just hanging on for the best possible deal, the more they dig their heals in the more they will get out of it I guess.

Frank Corrigans bootlace wrote:
Witton do own the land you mention, they sold off some of the site to the scrap people in hard times (when they were paying off 100% of a CVA). If planning permission for housing is obtained on the land they sold to the scrap people, just permission, not development, Witton recieve a large payment.