Leicester look to new Training Ground

[Father Ted]

Remember that 'Arkan' has no interest in Leicester or football. For a start he has a big army to train and feed:

Here in Voj we laugh at The Sunday Times Rich List and how old the figures are (at least 30 years out of date). Nobody here believes 'Arkan' is worth less than £1 billion. Like all good Serb spivs he pays for nothing and can see an asset to strip from a 1,000 kilometres in the dark.

Your training ground would have been just one cherry he would have spotted through his night vision goggles on the cliffs above Monte Carlo. You better pray that you reach the Premiership next season (I will go on special pilgrimage to Kosovo to help) or you will be watching your football team playing next to that War Memorial!

[Jon the Hat]

Remember that 'Arkan' has no interest in Leicester or football. For a start he has a big army to train and feed:

Here in Voj we laugh at The Sunday Times Rich List and how old the figures are (at least 30 years out of date). Nobody here believes 'Arkan' is worth less than £1 billion. Like all good Serb spivs he pays for nothing and can see an asset to strip from a 1,000 kilometres in the dark.

Your training ground would have been just one cherry he would have spotted through his night vision goggles on the cliffs above Monte Carlo. You better pray that you reach the Premiership next season (I will go on special pilgrimage to Kosovo to help) or you will be watching your football team playing next to that War Memorial!

Nice Pussy Cat.

[DJ Barry Hammond]

One way Milan 'could' make money is if he's arranged a SSAS Pension Fund through the club? This would allow Leicester to make 'contributions' to his pension, the scheme can then purchase the property for the new training facilities and lease this back to the club at a commercial rate.

Milan wins in two ways as the club's effectively purchased the new training facilities for his pension fund and will then be paying for the right to use it, thus building his pension fund even further!

[davieG]

From the Merc

Leicester City will be pulling out all the stops to find a new state-of-the-art training ground this year.

The present facility at Belvoir Drive is deemed "unsuitable" and chief executive Lee Hoos will be striving to find the right venue.

Now that Leicester's hopes of being a World Cup venue for 2018 have been kicked into touch, Hoos believes the time is right to progress.

Belvoir Drive could have been used as a training centre during the competition.

"The reason I didn't want to comment on it until now was because of the World Cup bid," he said.

"I didn't want to say anything that might cause people at the FA to say 'wait a minute, what is going on with Leicester's bid?' or cause any embarrassment for the city council. Now the decision has been made, the bid is over and we look to the future."

Explaining the thinking behind the move, Hoos said: "For where we want to take the club, the present training ground is unsuitable.

"We are very progressive and our sports science department is very important. You can't do pitch rotation because it is on so many different levels.

"There is actually only one pitch that is full size, the others are either not wide enough or too short, which presents a problem for us.

"The building itself needs a lot of work. You wouldn't have that building down at the far end of a training ground if you were starting from scratch, you would be starting in the centre.

"The physical lay-out is not conducive to how you would want to build a training ground. It is nice, but where we are going in the future it is not suitable.

"I will be looking for a new site for the training ground, it is something we actively need to pursue."

The process is in its early stages and there are already sites in mind. Hoos said: "It is fair to say that we have a lot of potential options available to us.''

No time-scale has yet been put in place and Hoos said: "With these kind of developments, and all the things you have to take into account, who can say? But it is something I'm going to be really pushing for."

[Ford Super Sunday]

I'm not very educated on the training facilities, but what's so bad about Belvoir Drive?

[Sir Fynwy]

I'm not very educated on the training facilities, but what's so bad about Belvoir Drive?

I don't think there is much wrong at the present training ground but selling the land in a high cost area and moving to a low cost area could make the club (MM) a few quid, they might even try moving training to luffbru uni so they don't have to buy new facilities.

[Matt]

I'm not very educated on the training facilities, but what's so bad about Belvoir Drive?

I always thought Belvoir Drive was a good training ground, camp, facility, When you hear of new signing's banging on about top class, premiership standard facilities and fanbase

But moving to Loughborough Uni can only be good (Under the current set up) with it being the best Sports uni in the country and best for Sports Science something I hear Pearson is very interest in, It would also raise money due to selling Belvoir Drive, only negative is we wouldn't own anything of our own - unless we could get a deal with Loughborough Uni to actually buy a plot of their land on campus

[Daggers]

From the Merc

Leicester City will be pulling out all the stops to find a large sum of money and in turn buy a state-of-the-art (cheaper) training ground this year.

The present facility at Belvoir Drive is deemed "unsuitable" which chief executive Lee Hoos defines as "worth a lot of money in development fees".

Now that Leicester's hopes of being a World Cup venue for 2018 have been kicked into touch, Hoos believes the time is right to sell off everything they possibly can including the training ground, Matty Fryatt and Filbert Fox.

Belvoir Drive could have been used as a training centre during the competition but will now play home to seventeen executive 5-bedroom houses.

"The reason I didn't want to comment on it until now was because we thought it would screw the bid process," he said.

"I didn't want to say anything that might cause fans of the club to say 'wait a minute, what is going on with Leicester?'. Now the decision has been made for Milan to cash in his chips and leg it and we look to the future and the bank balance."

No time-scale has yet been put in place and Hoos said: "We are happy to take bids on anything at all to be honest - everything must go, for example Pentney and Logan would make ideal candle holders."

Like we couldn't see that coming...

[Ford Super Sunday]

Would that not be a mild form (or even a blatant form) of asset stripping by our chairman, should he sell it for loads and then shunt us into rented facilities at Loughborough?

[MPH]

i dont know why people are stuck on loughborough... no one at the club has mentioned loughborough at all!

[Daggers]

Would that not be a mild form (or even a blatant form) of asset stripping by our chairman, should he sell it for loads and then shunt us into rented facilities at Loughborough?

Snap.

[Edmund]

Moan moan moan. Let Mandaric be. He has helped us no end and put us in a better position wether you like what he does or not. Even with relegation 2 seasons ago, were in a stronger position than we were a few seasons back.

When will people realise football is a business NOW and not just a jolly old piss up where money flows out the taps.

These are the same people who were constantly moaning at the start of the season about how poor the signings were, how we were going to struggle no end this season, Pearsons tactics would fail this season, Milan hadn't invested enough money blah blah blah

The fact which most of you are blindly missing is that moving to Loughborough will be a step up mainly because of the sports science department.

The England cricket team amongst others use the facilities. It just goes to show how high in regards the facilities are. Oh no I forgot, it's got nothing to do with sports, it's all about development fees

[davieG]

Moan moan moan. Let Mandaric be. He has helped us no end and put us in a better position wether you like what he does or not. Even with relegation 2 seasons ago, were in a stronger position than we were a few seasons back.

When will people realise football is a business NOW and not just a jolly old piss up where money flows out the taps.

These are the same people who were constantly moaning at the start of the season about how poor the signings were, how we were going to struggle no end this season, Pearsons tactics would fail this season, Milan hadn't invested enough money blah blah blah

The fact which most of you are blindly missing is that moving to Loughborough will be a step up mainly because of the sports science department.

The England cricket team amongst others use the facilities. It just goes to show how high in regards the facilities are. Oh no I forgot, it's got nothing to do with sports, it's all about development fees

It took you a while but you eventually joined up the dots and got there.

[Edmund]

It took you a while but you eventually joined up the dots and got there.

Well if their going to sell the training ground in a residential area then their going to make a profit aren't they? It's as if you're annoyed at the club for doing business.

You're blindly missing the point that they will be moving to facilities which are better than present if they move to Loughborough which is the main point in the move.

I don't understand, do you want the club to make a loss on the current training ground just so you can justify the move is purely for footballing reasons?

[davieG]

Well if their going to sell the training ground in a residential area then their going to make a profit aren't they? It's as if you're annoyed at the club for doing business.

You're blindly missing the point that they will be moving to facilities which are better than present if they move to Loughborough which is the main point in the move.

I don't understand, do you want the club to make a loss on the current training ground just so you can justify the move is purely for footballing reasons?

I'm not missing the point but I doubt whether being near Loughboro', not that it's actually been mentioned is the main reason for the sale, as you put it it's a business I accept that what I don't like is being treated like an idiot and given 'other' reasons as the main impetus behind the sale.

Selling Belvoir Drive is purely to make money I know that the rest is all so much bullshit.

The question is where does the money go, is it actually reinvested in the club or does it go into one of MM's many subsidiaries or perhaps he's planning on giving someone else a big bonus for their offshore account out of the proceeds.

[FantasticMrFuchs]

I don't see why we carnt use Victoria Park...... Just get the women who makes them nasty bacon cobs down belvior drive to relocate

[Edmund]

I'm not missing the point

Really?

"We are very progressive and our sports science department is very important. You can't do pitch rotation because it is on so many different levels.

"There is actually only one pitch that is full size, the others are either not wide enough or too short, which presents a problem for us.

"The building itself needs a lot of work. You wouldn't have that building down at the far end of a training ground if you were starting from scratch, you would be starting in the centre.

"The physical lay-out is not conducive to how you would want to build a training ground. It is nice, but where we are going in the future it is not suitable.

I know a few people who have either used the facilities or gone uni there. From what I've heard, it's up there with the best in England and a lot or professionals go there to train.

I know Loughborough hasn't been specifically mentioned in this article but I'm just going on what others have said and I'm sure we were linked with a move there not so long ago.

Selling Belvoir Drive is purely to make money I know that the rest is all so much bullshit.

Well that's your opinion and I respect that but your obviously going to look at it from a biased point of view to fund your anti Milan/corporate campaign.

The question is where does the money go, is it actually reinvested in the club or does it go into one of MM's many subsidiaries or perhaps he's planning on giving someone else a big bonus for their offshore account out of the proceeds.

I'd also be interested to know but considering he's pumped at least £15 million(probably more now) of his own money into the club I think he has every right to do as he pleases with the cash as long as the football club is in his best interests i.e. upgrade to better facilities.

[davieG]

Really?

I know a few people who have either used the facilities or gone uni there. From what I've heard, it's up there with the best in England and a lot or professionals go there to train.

I know Loughborough hasn't been specifically mentioned in this article but I'm just going on what others have said and I'm sure we were linked with a move there not so long ago.

Well that's your opinion and I respect that but your obviously going to look at it from a biased point of view to fund your anti Milan/corporate campaign.

I'd also be interested to know but considering he's pumped at least £15 million(probably more now) of his own money into the club I think he has every right to do as he pleases with the cash as long as the football club is in his best interests i.e. upgrade to better facilities.

The point is most of the reasons given in the report are minor irritations and could easily be replaced by different irritations through moving, oh and you don't need to move to Loughboro to use their facilities.

I accept Manadaric for what he is a business man out to make money, I've nothing against that per se but I am against being continually fed this 'he's a big fan' crap. He's a businessman first, last and every time.

The point I was making was like you said it's all a business and he's out to make a profit that's why the rest is bullshit or padding.

[Sir Fynwy]

Really?

I know a few people who have either used the facilities or gone uni there. From what I've heard, it's up there with the best in England and a lot or professionals go there to train.

I know Loughborough hasn't been specifically mentioned in this article but I'm just going on what others have said and I'm sure we were linked with a move there not so long ago.

Well that's your opinion and I respect that but your obviously going to look at it from a biased point of view to fund your anti Milan/corporate campaign.

I'd also be interested to know but considering he's pumped at least £15 million(probably more now) of his own money into the club I think he has every right to do as he pleases with the cash as long as the football club is in his best interests i.e. upgrade to better facilities.

Selling the training ground is a money making exercise which isn't a bad thing as long as the money made is invested back in the club rather than being taken out of the club, if we end up renting at Loughborough the club has lost an asset and if the University decided to terminate a deal at some point in the future the club would have to find money to build a new training facility.

PS. Milan has put nowhere near £15m in the club, he has guaranteed extra debt but this in no way equates to investing his own money.

[lou]

Selling the training ground is a money making exercise which isn't a bad thing as long as the money made is invested back in the club rather than being taken out of the club, if we end up renting at Loughborough the club has lost an asset and if the University decided to terminate a deal at some point in the future the club would have to find money to build a new training facility.

PS. Milan has put nowhere near £15m in the club, he has guaranteed extra debt but this in no way equates to investing his own money.

This is my concern. Id rather have our own training facility that belongs to the club. Theres nothing wrong with the current one that cant be fixed.

[Sparky]

This is my concern. Id rather have our own training facility that belongs to the club. Theres nothing wrong with the current one that cant be fixed.

For years we have been told how great it is, i think it would be a sad day if we lost Belvoir Drive

[Fox You Forest]

Martin Allen's out of work, maybe we could hire him to spruce it up a bit. A few flowers here and there.

[FantasticMrFuchs]

Me and my cousin had the oppertunity to film the U16's & U18's Vs Watford the other week, Was very impressed with the turn out of fans who went to watch the young un's and all the staff at the training ground(except the lady that served those rank bacon cobs in her hut) were really sound and looked after us with Tea's and even offerd us to eat with the lads after the game.

I didnt see anything wrong with the place, The only thing was the pitches on diffrent levels like Mr Hoooooooooooooooo's mentioned.

I dont think moving to Loughborough would be the best thing in the world IF thats where the club are looking at.

I don't know if Edmundo might work for Loughbrough Uni or just likes arse licking them

BTW: Milan has not invest £15million into our club Joker

[Kilworthfox]

Forgive me but, I have an excellent idea...

Lets keep things tight on the pitch as we are doing well, we look as if we will finish top 6 and be in the playoffs & that is a great success for this season. We don't need premiership football, so it matters not if we do not strengthen the side.

Also our training facilities are in an area where you could easily put up 17 x 5 bedroom houses say half a million each so there is £8.5 Million income for a builder, so the land has to be worth £x Million so that is pure profit to the club. that is great news no? Actually I think that Milan should take all of this money & place it into a high % paying Swiss or Cayman Islands Bank Account, he deserves no less for rescuing our football club from our debtors.

When he is found innocent against these false accusations surrounding Portsmouth F.C you will see I am right, also to those whom suggest he would do a similar thing at Leicester shame on you! He really really loves this football club, he would never put the club in a position above himself. It is as if you believe he is here just too make as much cash as possible & flog us, you have no faith!

What do we need a training facility for? When we sign players YES they comment on how it is up too Premiership standard & how impressed they are, but do we really need a nice area to train? Anyway I am sure Milan will once again get out his cash & build us a bigger better International standard Training facility to dwarf & eclipse our current one. Remember he has already paid out £25Million for us & we lost millions when we went into League 1 which we all really enjoyed

If you doubt Milan, You are not a Leicester City fan! He loves this club! He is there every game week in week out proper supporter! get behind your chairman, get behind your football club, and stop this moaning!

[davieG]

I'd also be interested to know but considering he's pumped at least £15 million(probably more now) of his own money into the club I think he has every right to do as he pleases with the cash as long as the football club is in his best interests i.e. upgrade to better facilities.

This from someone who berated Lisa for not having evidence.

What is a fact is that up to today Manadaric bought LCFC for approx £600k and that includes Belvoir Drive, spending £15mill on LCFC defies all logic for a man who's reportedly worth £75 mill, that's a massive proportion of his worth. Let's also not forget Hoo's constant pronouncements that the club needs to be self sufficient, which I agree with but is directly opposite to your perception of Mandaric putting in £15mill.

Finally if he really has put in anything like £15mill then heaven help us because that would indicate to me he's a shit businessman.