Leicester look to new Training Ground

[davieG]

Leicester City are planning to move from their Belvoir Drive training ground to a state-of-the-art complex befitting their ambitions to be a top-flight club in every respect.

After instant promotion from League One to the Championship, City are now eyeing the Premier League in due course and want their training ground to be up to that level.

The present facilities, comprising three pitches, an indoor "dome" and other training areas, indoor and out, have been built up over recent years to be the best the club has ever had.

But City chief executive Lee Hoos said: "For what we want to achieve at this club, those facilities fall short, especially in the area of sports science which is a very important factor now.

"The pitches are on different levels, not all the same size, and the building is not ideal."

City are now actively seeking the right land for the multi-million pound project, which will be financed largely by the sale of the Belvoir Drive grounds off Aylestone Road.

Hoos added: "The money we will have to spend on the new training ground will depend to some extent on what we get for the present one, but we feel this is a move we need to make.

"We are hoping to move to another site where we can construct much-improved facilities to take the club forward."

As I've predicted for some time since the arrival of Mandaric - no one can convince me that this is not a money making exercise.

[billyfox1]

As I've predicted for some time since the arrival of Mandaric - no one can convince me that this is not a money making exercise.

I don't think anyone buy's a football club without the intention of making money. It's business

[Jon the Hat]

As I've predicted for some time since the arrival of Mandaric - no one can convince me that this is not a money making exercise.

Not unexepected. Mind you if they can build a better facility for less money and flog Belvoir Drive for housing why the hell not. Any business would do it.

[Ajax Treesdown]

I don't think anyone buy's a football club without the intention of making money. It's business

Very true. What do Leicester fans expect?!?!

Mandaric is not a local boy. Make your money Milan whilst taking us to the Prem.

[Tommy G]

Would rather he spent the money on some new players. This isn't football manager. What a waste of £££££££££££

[davieG]

I don't think anyone buy's a football club without the intention of making money. It's business

And?

They're supposed to make it by building a successful team not by selling off assets, many a club has gone bust because of that approach! Granted we may end up with better facilities but some honesty would be appreciated.

Besides Mandaric regularly declares he's not in it to make money - obviously hasn't fooled me or you then!

[davieG]

Not unexepected. Mind you if they can build a better facility for less money and flog Belvoir Drive for housing why the hell not. Any business would do it.

Depends what he does with the profit. Personally I still don't trust the guy and don't believe he's put more than a penny or two into LCFC, I'm still a big believer in him running the club on loans. Also let's not forget that it wasn't that long ago that Hoos was all but running Southampton!

Admittedly success for Mandaric will more than likely mean success for LCFC but what will him being unsuccessful mean?

[MC Prussian]

He's only doing it for the sake of the club and its future.

I guess the costs for the new training ground (should it ever be built) will be recouped in the long term (aka adding value to the overall package that is LCFC), right?

Although it makes you wonder how you can make money out of a new training ground - renting it out to others can't just be it.

[Zingari]

looks a good move by MM

Grass roots investment ( no pun intended )

V sign to the cynics

[Sir Fynwy]

If Milan can sell the training ground, find a new site out of the city and develop it into a world class training facility and make a profit on the deal good luck to him. I'd be wary of him leasing land rather than buying though. It needs to be a longterm solution.

[leicesterseddon]

I always thought we had quite a good training ground?

Agree with DavieG about not trusting Mandaric though; I mean I'm still convinced he pushed the ST deadline forward this year as a safety mechanism in the event of us not going up, so he would have already bagged the cash and would cut his losses if he decided to sell. Remember, the decision on the deadline must have been made in January sometime, when we were still not certain at all of promotion. I for one don't think he would have stayed with us if we didn't go up this year...

Debt has increased under his reign, so it's obvious he's running us off loans, or if he isn't, he's not paying them off in any case (remember, we still don't own the WS). I have no problem with investors (foreign or otherwise) attempting to run a club for a long-term profit, but I've always thought Mandaric would 'do a Derby' on us if we do go back to the premiership under him - i.e. spend next to nothing on keeping us up, pocket the TV money and run into the distance.

The depressing thing is that such short-term profiteers are required by clubs of our size just to keep us going. Football's in a bad way at the moment really. But just trying telling that to the Mercury or flag-waving masses who sang 'there's only one Milan Mandaric' after the S****horpe game...

[Jon the Hat]

If Milan can sell the training ground, find a new site out of the city and develop it into a world class training facility and make a profit on the deal good luck to him. I'd be wary of him leasing land rather than buying though. It needs to be a longterm solution.

Hmm. Yes leasing could be bad. Leaves the clubs with not too many assets. Woolworths used to have a great property portfolio, sold it off and when things turned bad they had nothing to fall back on.

[Monk]

Loughborough University has one of the top Sports Science centres in the country. The Tigers frequently use their facilities -why do we not do so?

As for the training ground, it seems a strange move - this was our training ground for all of our premiership seasons in the past - why is it all of a sudden inadequate.

As said, it's clearly an exercise in getting cash into the business. I would imagine that we own our training ground outright, and that the new one will be financed by a mortgage secured on Milan's wealth. This would free up cash for players.

I think the comments above are a bit narrow - I dont think we are substituting player money for infrastructure money. You can take a loan to finance a training ground but not to finance buying a player. Also I think doing this actually increases the cash available to buy players whilst throwing in a new training ground also, which can't be a bad thing.

I don't mind us being highly leveraged so long as Milan has truly done the calculations on what would happen to the club if we do not get promoted. If we are sold off in the championship with large unsecured debts we could be screwed.

[davieG]

Loughborough University has one of the top Sports Science centres in the country. The Tigers frequently use their facilities -why do we not do so?

As for the training ground, it seems a strange move - this was our training ground for all of our premiership seasons in the past - why is it all of a sudden inadequate.

As said, it's clearly an exercise in getting cash into the business. I would imagine that we own our training ground outright, and that the new one will be financed by a mortgage secured on Milan's wealth. This would free up cash for players.

I think the comments above are a bit narrow - I dont think we are substituting player money for infrastructure money. You can take a loan to finance a training ground but not to finance buying a player. Also I think doing this actually increases the cash available to buy players whilst throwing in a new training ground also, which can't be a bad thing.

I don't mind us being highly leveraged so long as Milan has truly done the calculations on what would happen to the club if we do not get promoted. If we are sold off in the championship with large unsecured debts we could be screwed.

A lot depends on how much you trust Mandaric and Hoos for that matter then, I don't!

[Granno]

This is a good thing, as long as the playing budget doesn't get reduced.

[Babylon]

Sell training ground for £5m, buy another and build it for £2.5m.... £2.5m in the bank to finance the club and it's debts.

Obviously the figures are made up, but I can't see this move being made for any other reason than to free up some cash.

Worrying.

[leicesterseddon]

Loughborough University has one of the top Sports Science centres in the country. The Tigers frequently use their facilities -why do we not do so?

As for the training ground, it seems a strange move - this was our training ground for all of our premiership seasons in the past - why is it all of a sudden inadequate.

As said, it's clearly an exercise in getting cash into the business. I would imagine that we own our training ground outright, and that the new one will be financed by a mortgage secured on Milan's wealth. This would free up cash for players.

I think the comments above are a bit narrow - I dont think we are substituting player money for infrastructure money. You can take a loan to finance a training ground but not to finance buying a player. Also I think doing this actually increases the cash available to buy players whilst throwing in a new training ground also, which can't be a bad thing.

I don't mind us being highly leveraged so long as Milan has truly done the calculations on what would happen to the club if we do not get promoted. If we are sold off in the championship with large unsecured debts we could be screwed.

Southampton?

[General Smuts]

Can't say i'm surprised but i believe the Belvoir Ground facilities are much better than we get credit for.

Loved training their at the School Of Excellence.

[Munzie]

Progress is good. The facilities we currently have may have been sufficient during our Premiership years, but the game has moved on.

Sports science is a big thing today and with the advances in training methods, medical treatment (allowing injured players to recover at a faster rate), and the overall approach to football, we have to keep up with new techniques.

I fail to see how selling off and building a new training ground will mean profit to Milan Mandaric. With the economy the way it is, it wouldn't make financial sense to let go of falling property/land prices. The only up side I can see is that building materials and labour are currently a lot cheaper.

Of course our current operating costs are higher than previous. Name me one company that isn't experiencing a down turn currently.

Rather than the synical view, why not view this as ambition and progress?

[Dr The Singh]

I agree we need great training facilities but what about a reserve team\squad, Mandaric????

[Babylon]

Rather than the synical view, why not view this as ambition and progress?

Events of our past, have led me to believe synical is the best standpoint to take when our club does anything.

I mean, so what if the pitches are on different levels, it's not like they are training at altitude on the other pitches.

We play on different sized pitches every week, if it not good to play on different sizes?

Why not develop what we have?

[Monk]

I can think of a few reasons

- 1. Property prices are at their lowest. At this time we will get the best deals on buying land and labour. This money will all be borrowed

- 2. The existing training ground will raise cash because they already own it (I assume). If they cannot sell it quickly I imagine they will secure a loan against it until they can sell it.

- 3. Improved facilities for the existing squad can't be a bad thing

- 4. Statement of ambition to attract players to the club

[Munzie]

Events of our past, have led me to believe synical is the best standpoint to take when our club does anything.

I mean, so what if the pitches are on different levels, it's not like they are training at altitude on the other pitches.

We play on different sized pitches every week, if it not good to play on different sizes?

Why not develop what we have?

I would have thought that that has been already discussed. For what they have planned, maybe it just isn't a viable option.

I understand your view on past events. That said, we have a different captain and crewmates steering our ship. Having navigated stormy seas, lets give them a go at sailing to the promised land.

PS: Keep an eye out for icebergs

[leicesterseddon]

Events of our past, have led me to believe synical is the best standpoint to take when our club does anything.

I mean, so what if the pitches are on different levels, it's not like they are training at altitude on the other pitches.

We play on different sized pitches every week, if it not good to play on different sizes?

Why not develop what we have?

I don't agree. I'd rather be cynical.

[smudger63]

Sorry but to me, i see this purely as a money meking scheme to line the pockets of milan.

The facilities down at belvoir drive, are known to be excellent, and certainly premiership standard.

Indeed many players when they sign for Leicester make a point of commenting how good our training facilities are.

I hope milan proves me wrong, and invests any profit he makes,back into the club, but the cynic in me says, he wont, despite no doubt claiming that it will.