Monday's AGM

[Kowalski]

Kow, get to the important issue mate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did Rocket attend ?

 

No sign of him.  I think he attends when Willie is up for re-election.

[Sandaldinho]

Not a great deal to report:

 

• There was a big crowd despite the weather
  
• All three directors re-elected, with each asked to backup their achievements and hopes for the future (apart from Martin Gilbert who wasn't there); Milne confirming things hadn't quite gone to plan 
  
• New stadium tenders are out; will go in front of council in February then expected to be called in by the Scottish Government;  Hopefully final decision in April (sounds a bit hopeful for the Scottish Government!); Contract to be awarded 1Q 2012; Construction to start 2Q 2012; Finished by start of 2013-2014 season
  
• Stadium to cost approx. £35M; £20M to come from sale of Pittodrie (approx. £17M), mortgage and share issue; Remaining money will be a combination of naming rights, sale/rent of offices inside stadium, and thin air
  
• Even if we get relegated, the plan is still to move to Loirston;  There is no Plan B!
  
• Soccer Academy would cost about £4M and funded separately
  
• Milne confirmed that the 10 team SPL is AFC's preferred option, seemingly its the only option that works 
  
• Willie Miller spoke at length with a great deal of passion about the youth development; we now have centres in Dundee, Glasgow and for the first time Edinburgh; He claims we have the best youngsters of any club in Scotland;  He also expressed his frustration about the hard time he gets when he is working hard behind the scenes on the youth development;  He also says he has been criticised for firing managers but pointed out that he has just hired his 3rd manager in the 6.5 years he has been Director of Football;  He spoke very well but he always does compared to Milne
  
• Milne confirmed that pay offs for the last management team won't affect the football budget
  
• Miller confirmed that Brown and Knox (who were in attendance) have total control over signings and anything to do with the first team; Hoping to make a couple of signings in January
  
• I got stuck in the snow on my way back 
  

 

Anyway, on to the best quote of the evening.  Hugh Little had to take over the proceedings during the re-election of Milne.  He confirmed that Brown and Knox both spoke to Fergie before accepting the job at Aberdeen.  And to quote Fergie directly, he told Craig Brown that "You won't find a better chairman in British Football!".  Presumably it was Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas!?

OMG i didn't expect such shock news from the AGM

[BigAl]

No sign of him.  I think he attends when Willie is up for re-election.

 

a quiet night tongiht then

[Stewart]

Great, my pet hate!

 

It's not my preferred option but any money coming in has to be taken.

[BigAl]

It's not my preferred option but any money coming in has to be taken.

 

is the correct answer.......everything in life, and i really mean everything has a price.

only problem with this however is that Stewarty will take the first offer anyone makes us.

[Madbadteacher]

Welcome to the Thain's Rowies stadium?

[tsr]

I thought the plan was to pay of the existing debt with the sale of Pittodrie, are they now saying we're going to move to the new stadium with the £13M debt still there?

[dave_min]

They can call it anything they like. I'm still gonna refer to it as Lauriston in conversation.

 

'SportsDirect.com' = St. James

'City of Manchester Stadium' = Eastlands

'whatever Livvys ground is currently called' = Almondvale

 

I'm quite happy for the club to take £1million for nothing.

[Madbadteacher]

'whatever Livvys ground is currently called' = Almondvale

 

It's called a shitehole

[Kowalski]

Oh yeah I forgot to mention the debt that is due to be paid in March 2011.  They are "confident" that negotiations with the bank will be successful, based on SMG and AAM still being part of the club (presumably guaranteeing the new debt after it has been re-negotiated).

 

I didn't get the feeling that the sale of Pittodrie would be used to pay off this debt.

[tsr]

I'm sure it will be also but have to say I thought the big thing about moving stadiums was to get that milestone debt off our neck so to speak.

 

Crazy they think the stadium will be ready for 2013 and we're just going into 2011? Did the RDU not take about 2 years on its own to build?

[Stewart]

It's called a shitehole

 

I think it's ace.

[dave_min]

I think it's ace.

 

For a 10,000 seater stadium it is excellent. Much better than either Falkirk or Hamilton or Parkhead.

 

Livingston itself is pish.

[Sandaldinho]

I'm sure it will be also but have to say I thought the big thing about moving stadiums was to get that milestone debt off our neck so to speak.

was it not more due to the fact they are spending more and more money each year just trying to keep Pittodrie up to a half decent standard, and that in a few years time it would no longer be fit for European games.......

not that we'll be in Europe

[Jute]

I thought the plan was to pay of the existing debt with the sale of Pittodrie, are they now saying we're going to move to the new stadium with the £13M debt still there?

 

That was my understanding as well. Looks now like debt will instead increase when we move to the new stadium.

[Stewart]

For a 10,000 seater stadium it is excellent. Much better than either Falkirk or Hamilton or Parkhead.

 

Livingston itself is pish.

 

Don't forget the night club.

[Jute]

Don't forget the night club.

 

Gone now. Livi took money from building firm to close it as they did not want a night club on the door step of their new development.

[Stewart]

Gone now. Livi took money from building firm to close it as they did not want a night club on the door step of their new development.

 

Poor show.

 

Was nae bad in there before a couple of games.

[manc_don]

For a 10,000 seater stadium it is excellent. Much better than either Falkirk or Hamilton or Parkhead.

 

Livingston itself is pish.

 

I never had the opportunity to physically go to livi, I was always under the impression that it was just the town that was shit. Surely it couldn't be worse than st mirren. Epitomy of a Lego stadium.

[TENEMENTFUNSTER]

I don't mind either stadium to be honest.

[Kowalski]

Miller’s shot at Old Firm as he underlines determination to develop young talent

 

Published: 21/12/2010

 

ABERDEEN director of football Willie Miller mounted a stern defence of the club's determination to invest in youth at last night's annual meeting.

 

Miller accused Celtic and Rangers of constantly trying to snare Aberdeen’s best young transfer targets before they can sign contracts with the Pittodrie club.

 

Miller spoke out in defence of Stewart Milne as the chairman's re-election to the club's board of directors brought questions from the floor. Miller insists the Aberdeen decision to invest £500,000 a year in coaching centres in the Granite City, Dundee, Glasgow and, for the first time, Edinburgh, had to be the way forward for his club.

 

Miller, who admitted recent dental work, a result of his playing days, was hindering his prowess as a speaker during last night's meeting, said: “These are the best crop of young players in Scotland. That has taken a lot of work from everyone involved to make sure we keep these young players. We have top players at under-16 and everyone in British football, not just in Scotland, is chasing these lads.

 

“We have to work really hard with the parents and the boys to get them to believe when I say to them: ‘Don't go to Rangers, don't go to Celtic, come to Aberdeen'. When they come here they see a pathway to the first team. If you go to those other clubs, you won't get a chance.

 

“Believe me it is a tough environment for these kids at 14. Rangers and Celtic are constantly at our games, constantly trying to tap up our players, trying to steal them away.

 

“I was talking to the parents of a young player and I was showing him where they can be in the first team in a few years. The reason I do it is to make sure there is a future for the club with the young players we have developed. I came to the club aged 16. We didn't develop kids from the age of eight and we hope to hold on to them until they reach the first team. When I was a young player at 21 I was nowhere near my peak. The young players we have in the team have a long way to go and I would hope the more experienced players in the team would help them more."

 

Miller was stubborn in his determination there must be patience from supporters as the youngsters develop.

 

He said: “I would love to have more experienced players at the club. It would make my job a lot easier. Is that the right way to go? We are committed to development and I would not be here if that was not the case. We spend a lot of money and I think it is right, not just for us, but for Scottish football in general.

 

“We have got to make the best use of the resources we have. Getting Paul Hartley was great for the club and he has brought a level of experience to the club, but we just cannot afford too many Paul Hartleys. If we could, of course, we would be a better team.

 

“We have to recruit at a level we can afford. We don't want to be another Dundee. We took a lot of stick last season when they put us out of the cup about the benefactor (Callum Melville) and why we could not attract him to the club. You look at where they are now, in administration, and do you want to see your club there?

 

“I would ask supporters to give us a little more time. If we had a bit more money to get more experienced players I would love to do that.

 

“It is hurting everyone to see the position we are in but for the future it has to be about developing players. It just takes a little bit of time."

[tsr]

Good speech, bit bizarre they mentioned dental work.

[mizer]

I don't mind either stadium to be honest.

 

Its a great looking stadium, its just the distance from the toon that worries me.

[TENEMENTFUNSTER]

Its a great looking stadium, its just the distance from the toon that worries me.

 

I meant St Mirren's and Livi's grounds.

[Madbadteacher]

Livingston is a shit hole