WDC Leader wants talks with new owners of Wycombe Wanderers and London Wasps

5:10pm Sunday 1st July 2012 in Sport By Simon Farr

WDC Leader wants talks with Wanderers and Wasps owners WDC Leader wants talks with Wanderers and Wasps owners

A COUNCIL chief wants to sit down with the new owners of Wycombe Wanderers and London Wasps to discuss how the authority can work with the clubs in the future.

Wycombe District Council Leader Cllr Alex Collingwood revealed he emailed the Wycombe Wanderers Trust to congratulate the group on its acquisition of the League Two side from former owner Steve Hayes.

And the Blues’ heralded Centre of Excellence - scrapped last month - could still be saved, after Cllr Collingwood revealed to the Free Press that he wants talks with the trust this week to “see what we can do”.

He said: “I sent an email to the Trust asking if we can get together on Monday and look at planning for the future.

“The takeover means local people are taking back the ownership of the club they love and taking them forward.

“I want to sit down and find out about the finance behind the academy.

“I think by the sounds of it, it is very expensive to run and each parent is looking at paying £40 a month – if you have two children there it is a lot of money.

“So we want to understand how it operates, how it could be done differently, look at some of the training facilities and how we can help, whether that be in a modified form I don’t know until I’ve sat down with them and found out what the issues were and how to make it better.

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“Ultimately it is the Trust’s decision but at least we can have a chat and see what we can do about that and other issues.”

The contracts of the sale of Wasps from Mr Hayes to a consortium led by former player Ken Moss were also exchanged this weekend, with the takeover expected to be formally completed later this month.

And Cllr Collingwood still hopes to keep the former Heineken Cup champions in High Wycombe, amid rumours Wasps have been looking to up sticks and leave Adams Park.

He plans to hold a summit with the new bosses of the Aviva Premiership club as soon as the formalities of the deal have been completed.

Cllr Collingwood said: “That’s the plan (keeping Wasps in Wycombe) but ultimately it is the club’s decision.

“They have a fantastic fan base here, a fantastic academy, all the local rugby clubs feed into Wasps - so to try and replicate that elsewhere will be really hard. They are part of this community.

“We have some fantastic sports facilities here - swimming, football, plans for a new rowing club in Marlow - so what sport there is, the whole community gets a part of it.

“So how are Wasps able to integrate further into the community instead of being off to one side as it were - what we’re saying to them is; there’s a great base to work from here, how can we make it even better?”

Click on the links to read about the respective takeovers at Wycombe Wanderers and London Wasps.

Comments (17)

7:09pm Sun 1 Jul 12

evenflo says...

Balls in your court Mr Collingwood. You have played a significant part in the creation of the Trusts ownership and now its up to YOU to support it. The voters of Wycombe are watching!
Balls in your court Mr Collingwood. You have played a significant part in the creation of the Trusts ownership and now its up to YOU to support it. The voters of Wycombe are watching! evenflo

7:18pm Sun 1 Jul 12

laircm says...

Story about Wasps with a photo of Cllr Collingwood looking as though he's about to squat a wasp. I've commented on this before - surely its about time the BFP consigned this bizarre image to the recycle bin!?!? :-/
Story about Wasps with a photo of Cllr Collingwood looking as though he's about to squat a wasp. I've commented on this before - surely its about time the BFP consigned this bizarre image to the recycle bin!?!? :-/ laircm

9:49pm Sun 1 Jul 12

geoffW says...

If things go well for Wanderers and Wasps then he will claim he as part of it all. If things don't go well it will be everybody else's fault.
.
He is currently trying to claim credit for the Rye Lido which he was against and only supported after seeing just how many votes he would lose if he didn't!
.
Typical egocentric politician.
If things go well for Wanderers and Wasps then he will claim he as part of it all. If things don't go well it will be everybody else's fault. . He is currently trying to claim credit for the Rye Lido which he was against and only supported after seeing just how many votes he would lose if he didn't! . Typical egocentric politician. geoffW

10:10pm Sun 1 Jul 12

townraider says...

geoffW wrote:
If things go well for Wanderers and Wasps then he will claim he as part of it all. If things don't go well it will be everybody else's fault.
.
He is currently trying to claim credit for the Rye Lido which he was against and only supported after seeing just how many votes he would lose if he didn't!
.
Typical egocentric politician.
Yet again Tories quick to come forward when its not costing them anything-- Talk is cheap Collingwood!!
[quote][p][bold]geoffW[/bold] wrote: If things go well for Wanderers and Wasps then he will claim he as part of it all. If things don't go well it will be everybody else's fault. . He is currently trying to claim credit for the Rye Lido which he was against and only supported after seeing just how many votes he would lose if he didn't! . Typical egocentric politician.[/p][/quote]Yet again Tories quick to come forward when its not costing them anything-- Talk is cheap Collingwood!! townraider

10:43pm Sun 1 Jul 12

miccles says...

These councillors and leaders are all the same, they are trying to leave a legacy and score points against each other, no way are they doing it to benefit others, that is not how these people work, this blokes is trying to leave a trademark, ie Sports Centre, Running Track, and the dreaded Town Centre Masterplan, which will ruin the centre for good. Clarke was exactly the same with Eden.
His true colours are slowly coming out.
These councillors and leaders are all the same, they are trying to leave a legacy and score points against each other, no way are they doing it to benefit others, that is not how these people work, this blokes is trying to leave a trademark, ie Sports Centre, Running Track, and the dreaded Town Centre Masterplan, which will ruin the centre for good. Clarke was exactly the same with Eden. His true colours are slowly coming out. miccles

10:59pm Sun 1 Jul 12

wayneo says...

townraider wrote:
geoffW wrote: If things go well for Wanderers and Wasps then he will claim he as part of it all. If things don't go well it will be everybody else's fault. . He is currently trying to claim credit for the Rye Lido which he was against and only supported after seeing just how many votes he would lose if he didn't! . Typical egocentric politician.
Yet again Tories quick to come forward when its not costing them anything-- Talk is cheap Collingwood!!
Hmmm, that might be a fair comment were it not the case during the stadium fiasco, when not only did he put his political reputation on the line, but that of his professional too.

The easy way out for Alex Collingwood and his team, would have been to adopt the status quo, he and the committee didn't, he stuck to his brief the figures were scrutinised in spite of a powerful pig-headed bunch of old school politicians, stuck with with the fact that financially, the stadium did not stack up financially or indeed policy wise. So impressed with his performance, he is now leader of the Council and the only ammunition the opposition has against his performance, is slights against the mans character. I should say that is a key performance indicator that he is doing a good job.

All Political parties and the public are responsible for the new era that WASPs, WW are in, that Mr Collingwood has come forward and extended a hand towards these CLUBS, under new ownership should be applauded, not ridiculed with cheap jibes.
[quote][p][bold]townraider[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]geoffW[/bold] wrote: If things go well for Wanderers and Wasps then he will claim he as part of it all. If things don't go well it will be everybody else's fault. . He is currently trying to claim credit for the Rye Lido which he was against and only supported after seeing just how many votes he would lose if he didn't! . Typical egocentric politician.[/p][/quote]Yet again Tories quick to come forward when its not costing them anything-- Talk is cheap Collingwood!![/p][/quote]Hmmm, that might be a fair comment were it not the case during the stadium fiasco, when not only did he put his political reputation on the line, but that of his professional too. The easy way out for Alex Collingwood and his team, would have been to adopt the status quo, he and the committee didn't, he stuck to his brief the figures were scrutinised in spite of a powerful pig-headed bunch of old school politicians, stuck with with the fact that financially, the stadium did not stack up financially or indeed policy wise. So impressed with his performance, he is now leader of the Council and the only ammunition the opposition has against his performance, is slights against the mans character. I should say that is a key performance indicator that he is doing a good job. All Political parties and the public are responsible for the new era that WASPs, WW are in, that Mr Collingwood has come forward and extended a hand towards these CLUBS, under new ownership should be applauded, not ridiculed with cheap jibes. wayneo

12:10pm Mon 2 Jul 12

geoffW says...

wayneo wrote:
townraider wrote:
geoffW wrote: If things go well for Wanderers and Wasps then he will claim he as part of it all. If things don't go well it will be everybody else's fault. . He is currently trying to claim credit for the Rye Lido which he was against and only supported after seeing just how many votes he would lose if he didn't! . Typical egocentric politician.
Yet again Tories quick to come forward when its not costing them anything-- Talk is cheap Collingwood!!
Hmmm, that might be a fair comment were it not the case during the stadium fiasco, when not only did he put his political reputation on the line, but that of his professional too. The easy way out for Alex Collingwood and his team, would have been to adopt the status quo, he and the committee didn't, he stuck to his brief the figures were scrutinised in spite of a powerful pig-headed bunch of old school politicians, stuck with with the fact that financially, the stadium did not stack up financially or indeed policy wise. So impressed with his performance, he is now leader of the Council and the only ammunition the opposition has against his performance, is slights against the mans character. I should say that is a key performance indicator that he is doing a good job. All Political parties and the public are responsible for the new era that WASPs, WW are in, that Mr Collingwood has come forward and extended a hand towards these CLUBS, under new ownership should be applauded, not ridiculed with cheap jibes.
" ... he put his political reputation on the line ..."
... and now, as if by magic, he is leader!
.
He saw an opportunity to further his own "career". It is called calculated risk.
.
Where were/are he and his "team" when other Wycombe businesses were/are going under? Obviously not high profile enough.
[quote][p][bold]wayneo[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]townraider[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]geoffW[/bold] wrote: If things go well for Wanderers and Wasps then he will claim he as part of it all. If things don't go well it will be everybody else's fault. . He is currently trying to claim credit for the Rye Lido which he was against and only supported after seeing just how many votes he would lose if he didn't! . Typical egocentric politician.[/p][/quote]Yet again Tories quick to come forward when its not costing them anything-- Talk is cheap Collingwood!![/p][/quote]Hmmm, that might be a fair comment were it not the case during the stadium fiasco, when not only did he put his political reputation on the line, but that of his professional too. The easy way out for Alex Collingwood and his team, would have been to adopt the status quo, he and the committee didn't, he stuck to his brief the figures were scrutinised in spite of a powerful pig-headed bunch of old school politicians, stuck with with the fact that financially, the stadium did not stack up financially or indeed policy wise. So impressed with his performance, he is now leader of the Council and the only ammunition the opposition has against his performance, is slights against the mans character. I should say that is a key performance indicator that he is doing a good job. All Political parties and the public are responsible for the new era that WASPs, WW are in, that Mr Collingwood has come forward and extended a hand towards these CLUBS, under new ownership should be applauded, not ridiculed with cheap jibes.[/p][/quote]" ... he put his political reputation on the line ..." ... and now, as if by magic, he is leader! . He saw an opportunity to further his own "career". It is called calculated risk. . Where were/are he and his "team" when other Wycombe businesses were/are going under? Obviously not high profile enough. geoffW

1:18pm Mon 2 Jul 12

williamjames says...

Pehaps Mr Collingwood would like to write to the new owners and invite them to a meeting.
It would be an improvement on the lack of contact from him, he did not write to Mr Hayes or Wasps, after the end of the Booker Stadium debacle.
Pehaps Mr Collingwood would like to write to the new owners and invite them to a meeting. It would be an improvement on the lack of contact from him, he did not write to Mr Hayes or Wasps, after the end of the Booker Stadium debacle. williamjames

1:25pm Mon 2 Jul 12

gpn01 says...

williamjames wrote:
Pehaps Mr Collingwood would like to write to the new owners and invite them to a meeting. It would be an improvement on the lack of contact from him, he did not write to Mr Hayes or Wasps, after the end of the Booker Stadium debacle.
Is it the job of the Leader of a Council to go running after every business owner in the District?
.
Seem to recall he did state that he was open to having a dialogue with the Clubs but that they hadn't been in touch since last July (up to which point they, or at least WSDL, were VERY happy to have a constant dialogue going whilst they thought the Council was going to pay for a new stadium for them).
.
Surely the job of a Leader is to do as he has, and suggest that he's at least open to having a discussion? Thereby leaving the ball, so to speak, in their court.
[quote][p][bold]williamjames[/bold] wrote: Pehaps Mr Collingwood would like to write to the new owners and invite them to a meeting. It would be an improvement on the lack of contact from him, he did not write to Mr Hayes or Wasps, after the end of the Booker Stadium debacle.[/p][/quote]Is it the job of the Leader of a Council to go running after every business owner in the District? . Seem to recall he did state that he was open to having a dialogue with the Clubs but that they hadn't been in touch since last July (up to which point they, or at least WSDL, were VERY happy to have a constant dialogue going whilst they thought the Council was going to pay for a new stadium for them). . Surely the job of a Leader is to do as he has, and suggest that he's at least open to having a discussion? Thereby leaving the ball, so to speak, in their court. gpn01

2:42pm Mon 2 Jul 12

washondo says...

Now that there is someone to talk to! ......... he's doing what should be done.
~
Too many critics with time on their hands.
~
But "Wycombe Wasps" would be so much nicer, if they ultimately decide this is where they want to settle.
Now that there is someone to talk to! ......... he's doing what should be done. ~ Too many critics with time on their hands. ~ But "Wycombe Wasps" would be so much nicer, if they ultimately decide this is where they want to settle. washondo

8:25pm Mon 2 Jul 12

LifelongWasp says...

I'm afraid my answer on this matter is fairly simple. Cllr Collingwood you and your fellow cronies can jump off the nearest available cliff. I have read many posts on this story and many others on the BFP site, and feel it is glaringly obvious that the local community do not wish Wasps to be part of their blessed green and pleasant town.
I for one shall be sad as a Wasps fan that the decision will be made to move away from High Wycombe, but reading comments on all the pages relating to new stadiums, club administration worries and current situations it is clear that the vast majority of blinkered local do-gooders do not see for themselves what good actually comes from having such teams within their midst.
One such post made the point that they would be happy to see Wasps leave as they never wanted them in the first place, and that frankly they didn't want WWFC there either as they were nothing but a blight on their town.
I have supported Wasps for as long as I can remember and have very, very fond memories of Adams Park / Causeway Stadium,
And remember the days we played at Loftus Road and Sudbury, and was as happy as anyone when Wasps decided to move to a High Wycombe. It will be a sad day for me, and many wasps fans when we have to leave High Wycombe, but that day will come. The local people had the opportunity to embrace a club in need of a long-term stable home, and failed to do so. We cannot keep to Adams Park forever, rugby is ever more popular, and attendances are rising. We cannot expect to stay at a 10,500 capacity stadium when regular attendances at other clubs are regularly over 20,000.

So, again, with regret I say you are too late Cllr Collingwood, the talking should have been done months / years ago, not starting now. Go find that cliff...
I'm afraid my answer on this matter is fairly simple. Cllr Collingwood you and your fellow cronies can jump off the nearest available cliff. I have read many posts on this story and many others on the BFP site, and feel it is glaringly obvious that the local community do not wish Wasps to be part of their blessed green and pleasant town. I for one shall be sad as a Wasps fan that the decision will be made to move away from High Wycombe, but reading comments on all the pages relating to new stadiums, club administration worries and current situations it is clear that the vast majority of blinkered local do-gooders do not see for themselves what good actually comes from having such teams within their midst. One such post made the point that they would be happy to see Wasps leave as they never wanted them in the first place, and that frankly they didn't want WWFC there either as they were nothing but a blight on their town. I have supported Wasps for as long as I can remember and have very, very fond memories of Adams Park / Causeway Stadium, And remember the days we played at Loftus Road and Sudbury, and was as happy as anyone when Wasps decided to move to a High Wycombe. It will be a sad day for me, and many wasps fans when we have to leave High Wycombe, but that day will come. The local people had the opportunity to embrace a club in need of a long-term stable home, and failed to do so. We cannot keep to Adams Park forever, rugby is ever more popular, and attendances are rising. We cannot expect to stay at a 10,500 capacity stadium when regular attendances at other clubs are regularly over 20,000. So, again, with regret I say you are too late Cllr Collingwood, the talking should have been done months / years ago, not starting now. Go find that cliff... LifelongWasp

10:27pm Mon 2 Jul 12

Milo The Dog of JBB says...

laircm wrote:
Story about Wasps with a photo of Cllr Collingwood looking as though he's about to squat a wasp. I've commented on this before - surely its about time the BFP consigned this bizarre image to the recycle bin!?!? :-/
I think they are hinting that he is an alien searching the cosmos with his telescopic gaze, looking for the mother ship and possibly communicating with it telepathically.
[quote][p][bold]laircm[/bold] wrote: Story about Wasps with a photo of Cllr Collingwood looking as though he's about to squat a wasp. I've commented on this before - surely its about time the BFP consigned this bizarre image to the recycle bin!?!? :-/[/p][/quote]I think they are hinting that he is an alien searching the cosmos with his telescopic gaze, looking for the mother ship and possibly communicating with it telepathically. Milo The Dog of JBB

11:02pm Mon 2 Jul 12

gpn01 says...

LifelongWasp wrote:
I'm afraid my answer on this matter is fairly simple. Cllr Collingwood you and your fellow cronies can jump off the nearest available cliff. I have read many posts on this story and many others on the BFP site, and feel it is glaringly obvious that the local community do not wish Wasps to be part of their blessed green and pleasant town.
I for one shall be sad as a Wasps fan that the decision will be made to move away from High Wycombe, but reading comments on all the pages relating to new stadiums, club administration worries and current situations it is clear that the vast majority of blinkered local do-gooders do not see for themselves what good actually comes from having such teams within their midst.
One such post made the point that they would be happy to see Wasps leave as they never wanted them in the first place, and that frankly they didn't want WWFC there either as they were nothing but a blight on their town.
I have supported Wasps for as long as I can remember and have very, very fond memories of Adams Park / Causeway Stadium,
And remember the days we played at Loftus Road and Sudbury, and was as happy as anyone when Wasps decided to move to a High Wycombe. It will be a sad day for me, and many wasps fans when we have to leave High Wycombe, but that day will come. The local people had the opportunity to embrace a club in need of a long-term stable home, and failed to do so. We cannot keep to Adams Park forever, rugby is ever more popular, and attendances are rising. We cannot expect to stay at a 10,500 capacity stadium when regular attendances at other clubs are regularly over 20,000.

So, again, with regret I say you are too late Cllr Collingwood, the talking should have been done months / years ago, not starting now. Go find that cliff...
Personally I would much prefer London Wasps to remain at Adams Park. But that doesn't mean I think the Council should have spent £40M+ on building another stadium, let alone the impact on existing businesses and the harm to the Green Belt that the proposal entailed.
.
If the Club needed a stadium with a higher capacity then it could have redeveloped Adams Park. That would have meant the club finding the money itself though.
[quote][p][bold]LifelongWasp[/bold] wrote: I'm afraid my answer on this matter is fairly simple. Cllr Collingwood you and your fellow cronies can jump off the nearest available cliff. I have read many posts on this story and many others on the BFP site, and feel it is glaringly obvious that the local community do not wish Wasps to be part of their blessed green and pleasant town. I for one shall be sad as a Wasps fan that the decision will be made to move away from High Wycombe, but reading comments on all the pages relating to new stadiums, club administration worries and current situations it is clear that the vast majority of blinkered local do-gooders do not see for themselves what good actually comes from having such teams within their midst. One such post made the point that they would be happy to see Wasps leave as they never wanted them in the first place, and that frankly they didn't want WWFC there either as they were nothing but a blight on their town. I have supported Wasps for as long as I can remember and have very, very fond memories of Adams Park / Causeway Stadium, And remember the days we played at Loftus Road and Sudbury, and was as happy as anyone when Wasps decided to move to a High Wycombe. It will be a sad day for me, and many wasps fans when we have to leave High Wycombe, but that day will come. The local people had the opportunity to embrace a club in need of a long-term stable home, and failed to do so. We cannot keep to Adams Park forever, rugby is ever more popular, and attendances are rising. We cannot expect to stay at a 10,500 capacity stadium when regular attendances at other clubs are regularly over 20,000. So, again, with regret I say you are too late Cllr Collingwood, the talking should have been done months / years ago, not starting now. Go find that cliff...[/p][/quote]Personally I would much prefer London Wasps to remain at Adams Park. But that doesn't mean I think the Council should have spent £40M+ on building another stadium, let alone the impact on existing businesses and the harm to the Green Belt that the proposal entailed. . If the Club needed a stadium with a higher capacity then it could have redeveloped Adams Park. That would have meant the club finding the money itself though. gpn01

10:20am Tue 3 Jul 12

miccles says...

I think Collingswood wants to do this, because when and probably not if, Wasps decide to go, its going to be humiliating for the council, i don't think he doing this because he wants to, its because he has too.
I think Collingswood wants to do this, because when and probably not if, Wasps decide to go, its going to be humiliating for the council, i don't think he doing this because he wants to, its because he has too. miccles

1:40pm Tue 3 Jul 12

washondo says...

miccles wrote:
I think Collingswood wants to do this, because when and probably not if, Wasps decide to go, its going to be humiliating for the council, i don't think he doing this because he wants to, its because he has too.
Why is it going to be humiliating for the council ???
[quote][p][bold]miccles[/bold] wrote: I think Collingswood wants to do this, because when and probably not if, Wasps decide to go, its going to be humiliating for the council, i don't think he doing this because he wants to, its because he has too.[/p][/quote]Why is it going to be humiliating for the council ??? washondo

3:49pm Tue 3 Jul 12

miccles says...

washondo wrote:
miccles wrote:
I think Collingswood wants to do this, because when and probably not if, Wasps decide to go, its going to be humiliating for the council, i don't think he doing this because he wants to, its because he has too.
Why is it going to be humiliating for the council ???
Well its obvious, both parties (WDC and Wasps) are not bosom buddies, and never will be, the main reason they are going, or maybe going, is because of the council/stadium saga, now all of a sudden the council wants to talk and help them out, to me this should have been done last year, and both parties are at fault, because if Wasps go, they are going to say its because of the council who didn't want to know.
[quote][p][bold]washondo[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]miccles[/bold] wrote: I think Collingswood wants to do this, because when and probably not if, Wasps decide to go, its going to be humiliating for the council, i don't think he doing this because he wants to, its because he has too.[/p][/quote]Why is it going to be humiliating for the council ???[/p][/quote]Well its obvious, both parties (WDC and Wasps) are not bosom buddies, and never will be, the main reason they are going, or maybe going, is because of the council/stadium saga, now all of a sudden the council wants to talk and help them out, to me this should have been done last year, and both parties are at fault, because if Wasps go, they are going to say its because of the council who didn't want to know. miccles

6:59pm Tue 3 Jul 12

AnAllegoricalFigure says...

laircm wrote:
Story about Wasps with a photo of Cllr Collingwood looking as though he's about to squat a wasp. I've commented on this before - surely its about time the BFP consigned this bizarre image to the recycle bin!?!? :-/
Apart from wondering how one 'squats' a wasp rather than swatting one, I think this photo should have a caption or speech balloon competition, in which people write in and say what they think Mr Collingwood was thinking or saying to himself when this photograph was taken.
[quote][p][bold]laircm[/bold] wrote: Story about Wasps with a photo of Cllr Collingwood looking as though he's about to squat a wasp. I've commented on this before - surely its about time the BFP consigned this bizarre image to the recycle bin!?!? :-/[/p][/quote]Apart from wondering how one 'squats' a wasp rather than swatting one, I think this photo should have a caption or speech balloon competition, in which people write in and say what they think Mr Collingwood was thinking or saying to himself when this photograph was taken. AnAllegoricalFigure

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