Following ongoing discussions with the Fan Led Group, Simon Blitz has agreed to an open question and answer session. This will take place on Monday, January 6th at the Oldham Event Centre.

The event will start from 7:15pm within the Broadway Suite and will give supporters the chance to put their questions to the Stadium Landlord. Doors will open from 6:30pm.

We expect demand for this to be high so we are asking supporters to register their attendance via Eventbrite, as you will need to be on the guest list for entry. Please register your attendance here. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/simon-blitz-q-a-tickets-87862239323?ref=eios

The purpose of the Q&A is so Mr Blitz can update supporters as to the position of Brass Bank and address questions regarding the Stadium and in particular the North Stand.

We will be accepting questions on the evening from the floor. However we are expecting a lot of duplication in terms of questions asked. Should anyone wish to submit a question prior to the event to be read out then please email them to david@2811sportmedia.co.uk no later than 12pm on 6th January 2020 and these will be read out on the evening.

 

Register Here:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/simon-blitz-q-a-tickets-87862239323?ref=eios

At last night’s Fans Forum, it was stated by Club Director, Mr Barry Owen that the current ownership structure of OAFC is that Mr Abdallah Lemsagam owns 97% with Trust Oldham owning the remaining 3% shares.

We understand this to be false.

We can confirm that we have been approached by a third party, on the basis of our proposals for the future, with an offer to sell to us a percentage of shares in the football club.  After negotiations the terms of this purchase have now been agreed.

We have now instructed our solicitors to take this matter forward to completion.

What this means is that the FLG, upon completion, will hold a percentage share of the Football Club.  These are A shares with full voting rights over and above all existing members of the current OAFC Board of Directors, aside from Mr Lemsagam.

Once the legalities are finalised we will issue a statement detailing the purchase, until this stage we are unable to make any further comment.

Open letter to the OAFC board 11th August 2019

The Fan Led Group note with interest today’s statement from the football club relating to the North Stand, OEC and the current situation. 

Yesterday we released details of the presentation event in the OEC to be held after the friendly game with Bolton Wanderers, here we will release the full plans for the Stadium purchase and developments. Tickets and full details on the event are available here – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/post-bolton-game-event-tickets-65555699863 

We do however feel that there are one or two issues that have arisen that we do need to clarify on a more immediate basis. 

Over the last 2 months, the Fan Led Group have contacted senior club officials on a number of occasions to request a meeting ahead of the new season to agree the details of the SLA (Service Level Agreement) for the Joe Royle Stand for 2019/20 season, an ongoing annual agreement. The Club has failed to reply to any of these requests. The first that the Fan Led Group knew of the closure of the Joe Royle Stand for the friendlies was through the Club’s website story on July 11 detailing this. 

The SLA for the clubs use of the Joe Royle Stand hospitality facilities and kiosks on a matchday was sent to the Club on May 9.

In terms of ‘unreasonable demands’ the proposed SLA for the new season has the same commercial terms applied to it as the previous 2018/19 season agreement, with a 4% increase to cover a rise in the minimum wage and food costs over the last 12 months. The Club have also been offered a guaranteed income from the kiosks, something that in previous season’s hasn’t happened.

There is no hospitality on offer within the OEC for either of the two home friendlies. The Broadway Suite bar will be open as a public bar before and after both matches. Due to the Club’s decision to close the Joe Royle Stand, there is no way for anyone to watch the matches from within. 

The Fan Led Group do not exist to hinder the Club in any way. As has been well documented, the people involved are long standing Oldham Athletic supporters. We prefer to deal with commercial agreements in a wholly professional manner.

The Club have refused all attempts to arrange meetings regarding the agreement for next season since it was sent on the 9th May. We would invite supporters to attend the event on July 27th to see the full vision of the Fan Led Group, and until then we will be making no further comment.

The Fan Led Group are delighted to be able to say that for the upcoming pre-season friendlies between Latics and Rochdale on Saturday, July 20, and Bolton Wanderers on Saturday, July 27 that we will be opening the North Stand hospitality area as a supporters bar.

The bar will be in the Broadway Suite for both fixtures and will open from 12pm until 2:45pm and then from full-time closing at 6.30pm.  The closing time will be later for the Bolton game, but more details will follow on that.

Entry will be via the main entrance with fans from all areas of the stadium pre and post match, and we also have several former players in attendance.

As the Rochdale fixture is for the inaugural Ernie Cooksey Trophy we will be holding a collection with all proceeds going to Dr Kershaw’s Hospice, Cancer UK and Prostate Cancer, and we will present the funds raised prior to the Bolton fixture.

At the Rochdale game we will have in operation our “bottoms up” draught dispenser which we hope to have in permanent operation within the new Fan Bar and Joe Royle Stand kiosks.

We will also be looking for feedback on a potential new pie supplier for the season, as the kiosks within the stadium are run and operated by the OEC.

We are running the fan bar as a trial at these two fixtures in order to see what the demand will be ahead of the new season, we hope to see you there for your pre-match pint!

In response to a number of questions we’d like to confirm that, following the completion of the purchase of Boundary Park, we will be offering fans the chance to become co-owners through shares.

Though we are unable to confirm the detail at this time, this will be in the form of both equity and/or investment bonds.  It has always been our view that our home should be in the hands of the fans, creating a secure base for the club going forward.

The ground has not been a part of the club since it was purchased by Oldham Council in circa 2001 even pre-dating the current landlords time.  It is time fans had a true part in it’s future.

As previously outlined, the purchase has been agreed and once this is complete we will be able to release further details on the next stage.

Further to our earlier announcement regarding the retention of Simon Wood, we are now delighted to announce the appointment of Simon Brooke as Operations Manager to oversee the day to day running of the OEC.

Simon will commence his role on Monday, May 20th as the fan-led group take over the running of the OEC. This key appointment is part of our progression plan as we purchase Boundary Park

Simon has fantastic experience and the knowledge that we need to build on the current conferencing and matchday hospitality offerings. This, combined with his knowledge of the North Stand, will be crucial to us as we develop the 2nd floor. 

He will be working with the existing team and his extensive knowledge of the current operation will ensure a seamless transition as we look to develop the OEC and eventually drive much needed revenue back towards the club.

To contact the OEC for meetings, conferences or celebrations, call 0161 785 5185 or email info@oldhameventcentre.co.uk

We are pleased to announce that subject to contract Simon Wood has agreed to renew his position as Executive Chef at Oldham Event Centre. 

Simon will open his 3rd restaurant next month, this time in Chester. 

This follows on from the success of his flagship Manchester restaurant, which achieved a Michelin Guide Recommendation and 2 AA Rosettes in it’s first year. His high-end Artisan Eatery concept, Woodkraft, opened in Cheltenham last year and is already a nominee for the prestigious SoGlos Cafe of the Year award.

With all that in mind we are delighted to retain Simon’s services, particularly in relation to the hospitality offering, and as we undertake the development of the 2nd floor where his expertise in corporate fine dining will prove crucial.

 

Further clarification to the earlier statement:

As part of the agreed purchase of Boundary Park, the group are acquiring the shares in Oldham Event Centre. Thus taking over the 364 day operations within the stand.

More details of our proposals will follow, but our stated aim going forward is to generate income for the football club to make it sustainable.

The agreement we are awaiting the club sign off on only relates to Matchday operations.  This is in line with that of previous seasons.  Increases in hospitality purchases in the 19/20 season will therefore directly benefit the club.

The belief of the group is that for Oldham Athletic to be successful going forward the asset i.e. the ground and particularly the North Stand should directly benefit the football club. Our plans involve ensuring exactly this happens.

In view of the fact that we will be making further statements next week we will be making no further comments until then.