Friday 21 January 2011

£40 Million Loan to West Ham Approved

What a disgrace.  Newham Council have approved a £40 million loan to West Ham United to support the bid for the Olympic Stadium, supposedly to protect local jobs. O yes? So why would Tottenham moving to the stadium threaten local jobs exactly? Won't they need stewards, burger sales vans and the like? In fact, won't MORE jobs be created by knocking down the original stadium and building a new one?

With local services being cut left, right and centre, is this really an appropriate use of public funds? Sorry, we have had to close the local library, the local swimming pool and the local relief care facility for disabled children, because we have loaned £40 million to West Ham United football club. Crazy.

33 comments:

Anonymous said...

You really are a small minded idiot aren't you? Do you actually think your arguments through before making yourself look a tit on here??

Sav said...

And you call yourself a West Ham fan? What is wrong with you? Are you sure you are not a fanatic crypto supporter of Spurs? And yes, I really mean it this time!

Hammersfan said...

This has got absolutely nothing to do with which club I support Sav. I saw two news items on breakfast TV this morning. The first centred on parents of disabled children who were losing support because of funding cut backs and, straight afterwards, I learned about this £40 million loan. What right have Newham Council to make this decision? Many Newham residents will have absolutely no interest in football whatsoever. Others will support clubs other than West Ham. Why should their money be used to help a privately owned business exactly?

And tell me, what do you think is more important, the welfare of disabled and vulnerable children or a privately run football club? There is only one ethically correct answer to that question.

Zito said...

Let's leave club allegiance out of this and focus on what is right. Whether you are a West Ham fan or not, there is no mandate for any local council to misappropriate public funds in this way. The excuses surrounding' job protection and 'local economy' are weasel words designed to mask councils' cronyism and incompetence.

Councils and governments trying to 'pick winners' only make losers out of all constituents.

Let the bid (in fact any bid) for the use of the Olympic Stadium stand or fall on its own merits.

Spot on with this one HF.

Sav said...

Today 4 "noteable" persons spoke against the West Ham bid. Levy, Redknapp, Pele and you! The first three were co-ordinated and I am sure that the well known mercenary who still profits from an image of having being the World's best footballer timed his intervention perfectly as instructed by those who put him on to it.

Your comments against West Ham (from someone that calls himself "Hammers Fan") were an added and possibly unexpected bonus in the shit campaign Tottenham started to discredit the West Ham bid. Brilliant. Well done! And don't insult our intelligence by presenting yourself to be the Robin Hood of Newham. These comments are totally against West Ham and they do damage despite what your personal views may be. I bet we will soon have a Tottenham PR agent pointing out the same thing as you did so as to influence the decision in their favour.

Stani Army said...

It's all to do with the Labour Mayor of Newham, Robin Wales. This guy is total scum. He cares nothing about the community, whether it's the Queens market, potholes, dog litter or the rising costs of attending youth centres. Yet the people of Newham continue to re-elect this man. Why? Because every year, he puts on 2-3 music festivals in the local park to fool the people. These cost the community thousands, but he needs to to keep people happy and take their eye off the ball, eye off the things that really matter.

Gold, Sullivan and Brady have found the perfect man to jump into bed with. They are all made of the same stuff.

Hammersfan said...

Spot on Zito, and, for a change, Stani! ; }

Sav, your invective is extremely ill considered. I would not wish upon you or your family a handicapped child but, should you suffer that personal tragedy, you might start to understand why it is SO inappropriate that social services to the disabled and vulnerable are being cut whilst money is being lent to a football club that is paying £90,000 a week to one of its players. It is morally and ethically disgusting. If you cannot see that, then you are very blinkered indeed.

Anonymous said...

Tot scum you are tot scum you are! what is you problem - why do you do it - why can't you help yourself - it's easy to wind people up - but why do it?

Hammersfan said...

And Sav, I do not live in Newham, my taxes are not being used for this. But remember, the residents of Newham have already been paying through their Council Tax for the building of the Olympic Park! How much money has been wasted to host the Olympics? Another Blair legacy that we could have done without!

el martillo said...

Sav - there were a lot more than four "notable" people speaking out against West Ham's bid. For one there was Tony Gale who in my opinion is the media person who is most in touch with West Ham reality. In his opinion it will kill the club and that is an opinion that I for one share.

Hammersfan said...

1820, a typically intelligent contribution! Why not grow up? Try working with the mentally handicapped for a day. You might understand then why it is wrong to cut these services whilst lending money to a football club.

Hammersfan said...

There is, of course, the little matter of Wales being invited into the director's box and various club functions over the last three years. This stinks, pure and simple.

Stani Army said...

I'm always spot on HF. Whether it's Zola, Stan as a left winger, Grant, Gold and Sullivan or whatever. You know that :)

They're raping our club. If we move to Stratford, we're finished.

Sav said...

It is unfair for you to attack me as insensitive. I have never spoken against proper welfare for the needy and handcapped. I just pointed out that you are jumping on the Tottenham bandwagon in the campaign against the West Ham bid. These things have probably being going on for a long time and I do have my priorities right. People are more important than football clubs. Although it is never a straightforward trade-off of one or the other. But you coming out with this report today is very suspect to say the least. That's just my opinion.

West Ham needs to move into the Stratford Olympic Stadium (and stay in the Premiership) in order to meet its potential. It would be totally absurd and unheard of if Tottenham can pull this trick on us. Grabbing the Olympic stadium from our doorstep. They have the audacity to try and they build their carefully crafted campaign to help them achieve that. For you to air these views today is to say the least very unfortunate.

Hammersfan said...

I am jumping on nothing. The loan was confirmed today Sav, and I have responded today, delaying my departure for work to post the article because of the juxtaposition of the two news stories on BBC TV.

Just like Greece, we are experience HUGE cuts in the public sector in the UK and the weak and the vulnerable are suffering. Public funds should not be directed towards a privately owned football club in the circumstances.

You were extremely judgemental of me and you were out of order. I am not a Tottenham fan and it is crass to suggest I am. I am resident in the UK and perhaps have a better handle on what is happening over here at the moment than you do in Cyprus.

Hammersfan said...

As for you Stani, you are wrong about SO much that, eventually, just on the law of averages, you have to be right about something! ; }

Sav said...

It is only a loan HF! It is not as if they are giving away the money to West Ham. I am surely not in a position to judge whether they could use the funds otherwise or not. But you are making it sound as if they are giving the money away. They will get it back and with interest! That's exactly how banks make money too. I know, I am a banker.

This arrangement may provide the Borough with a steady income (if the credit assessment was done properly and the loan is properly secured). You make it sound as if it is the end of the world and that they are stealing the money from the people and giving it away to West Ham United. But I would probably agree with you if it was given as a grant. Moreover, I have the feeling that the loan to West Ham is not the reason why they don't seem to be doing the other stuff you mention. I thnk you should look for the answer for that elsewhere.

Sav said...

About your comment regarding Stani: So says mr Always Right! Come on don't make me laugh!

There are only two things I disagree with Stani (Gabbidon and the Olympic Stadium) and that is just about all. He is more correct than you most of times.

Hammersfan said...

They have to borrow the £40m themselves. They are not sitting on mountains of cash!

Hammersfan said...

As for Stani, yes you are wrong about a lot too Sav so it's no wonder you are in agreement with him most of the time!

Sav said...

Well, I could say the same thing about you HF. At least, we are two of us agreeing; you are on your own!

On the loan issue: Even if I could believe that they borrow the money and then lend it out to West Ham it may still be good business for the Borough and its people (ie. if they make a good spread and make a handsome profit on the deal). It is all about risk and return. We just don't know the details.

Stani Army said...

Hahaha HF! 'Even a stopped clock is right twice a day'...that's you mate! You can't accuse me of that! :)

Did you watch Question Time yesterday? Galloway and Campbell were on the panel, as was Burnley's Clark Carlisle. Campbell the lying b****** got rinsed.

Sav,
Don't get me wrong mate, I believe we need a new, bigger stadium, but not this Olympic stadium and not under these owners. Their primary concern is money. It's why the club was sold to them instead of the other two contenders and it's why they want us out of the Boleyn so they can sell it. We the fans have never come into it. That cannot be right surely?

Hammersfan said...

I didn't see it Stani, but Hughes was on and he was squirming I hear. Why doesn't it surprise me to hear that you are anti Campbell and New Labour? The Tories supported the war in Iraq too mate. What is it that repels you about Labour? You revealed the same loathing for the Newham Mayor.

As for the clock being right twice a day, I use a 24 hour clock mate!

Sav, read the comments on this thread. All West Ham fans but MOST agree with me this time! And read the Boards and you will find MOST now back Avram. There has been a sea change because of what Brady tried to do to him. West Ham fans like the underdog. I think Avram will be given a hero's welcome next home game, providing we avoid a thumping at Everton.

Jimmy said...

HF,
I'm apparently one of the few that find your blog pretty spot on most of the time, never agreed with you about Avram however, he was the wrong man for the job and has never proved himself in English football. As for the olympic stadium, it would be a travesty if we moved there, surely it would be much more appropriate to move there for a couple of years while we redevelop Upton park to a 50,000 seater. If we go down, I think we can recover quickly with the right man in charge, and with a new stadium come 2013/14 I think the fan base would grow, keeping gates high. I hate what Gold and Sullivan have done to our club, how they can call themselves fans is beyond me. Tony Fernandes would of done so much more for the club had he been successful with a bid! I really hope that tottenham win in this battle and get the stadium!
JT

Hammersfan said...

Cheers JT. It's all opinion at the end of the day, but that's what makes it fun!

Anonymous said...

"Another Blair legacy that we could have done without!"

A tabloid opinion if ever I heard one (I am sure you read the Daily Star) -

Olympic games bring attention to a country and attention to an area - you can't deny the regeneration was needed in Newham. House prices rise and local businesses as well as the council will benefit from the games as well as West Ham being at Olympic site. Another thing that you probably won't consider let alone understand is the feel good factor, for most this is infectious and leaves a lasting legacy and is inspirational fuel for man years afterwards.... Personally I'd say this a good long term investment, and you might want to consider the "loan" bit - I suspect they'll be charging interest and as the council can't invest in Iceland any more this is bound to help INCREASE funds available to the council.

Anonymous said...

Last night's LBC poll as follows.... which was open to all Londoners

LBC Poll was 88 per cent voted for West Ham to win the Olympic Stadium bid and 12 per cent voted for Spurs.

Hammersfan said...

1254, countries like Qatar may need attention drawn to them but we don't! The world knows where we are and what we do. Bidding for the Worlld Cup is fair enough, it is a national sport that we stand a reasonable chance of winning, and the stadia are already built. Bidding for the Olympics was pointless. There will be no athletics legacy. There will be a surge of interest around the time of the Games and then nobody will give a monkey's toss because, in track and field, we will win next to nothing.

As for regeneration. Have you seen Docklands? Wandsworth? Battersea? Surrey Quays? Even bloody Camberwell! No Olympic Games needed to regenerate those areas. Just IMAGINE for a moment if Blair ahd had the vision to create an affordable housing zone for key workers on the Stratford site. Just imagine housing nurses, teachers, doctors, firemen, policemen - in accommoodation they could afford, providing a secured public sector workforce for generations to come. Might that have not been a better legacy than a bunch of stadiums that will be white elephants in no time? Feel good factor? It comes with being treated when ill, educated, saved from a fire etcetera. But you lack the vision to see that!

Anonymous said...

Stani is 100% correct about Sir Lord Robin Wales, total New Lab stooge. To get one of the poorest boroughs to stump up a 'loan' to the Porno goons is rubbing our faces in it, typical given Newham history from turncoat Prentice, freemason or RC Labour mafias, onwards. About 50-60 years ago, there was hope for Newham or East/West Ham as it was called then. Not now. Wales & Porno Goons is aa perfect alliance for these depoliticised times. Still no sign of the Porno goons using their own 'money' to buy any good players. 'democracy' - what a perfect system for fooling most of the people all the time....

gateman [resident in the area 65 years]

Stani Army said...

HF,
Hughes is clearly fighting his conscience. The guy says he believes one thing and is doing the other. I wouldnt expect this coalition to last that long although I'm not certain how much bending over backwards the LibDems are ready to do to cling on to their first taste of power.

That's poor HF. Just because I think Bliar, Campbell and Wales are scum, you've assumed I'm anti-New Labour? Did I say I like the Tories? Did I say there is anything that repels me about Labour? I was speaking about individuals. You cannot tell me that you think Bliar, Campbell and Wales (although I'm not sure you know him that well) are upstanding gentlemen? I did like Brown if you want to know. Especially as chancellor. He didnt have the charisma to become PM though and I think it was a bad move for him personally but there were a lot of good things about him. I must admit though, there are not many politicians I do like in any party.

Stani Army said...

Well said JT (I dont mean the HF compliment...his head's big enough already ! :))

Stani Army said...

Spot on Gateman, my fellow resident. I met Wales in Staples in Beckton one time. I knew I should have given him a piece me there and then. Scumbag.

Anonymous said...

Yes Stani, apparently Sir Lord Wales is a regular at the Rising Sun in Forest Gate, not quite my local, but within a mile of my gaff. As I'm now a pensioner, I learned long ago to expect nothing from any form of Labour, right or left. Obviously Tories are anathema, as are LibDums.
not a lot of choice eh ? My kids are the ones I feel sorry for.

Come on you IRONS !!

gateman