Walsall blog: Bonser boost

Two items of WFC related news have caught the eye this week, writes Walsall blogger Mark Jones.

First of all we had the revelation at this week’s AGM that Marstons Brewery have funded the purchase of the new training ground.

Then there was yesterday’s interview where chairman Jeff talked openly about his future intentions for the club.

I’ve always thought the decision to develop a training ground of our own was one of the more positive and far-sighted ones that the current board has made.

If the club’s long serving sponsors are prepared to back us on this, then it has got to be viewed as a promising move too.

As for Mr Bonser, well it’ll be interesting to see what the process of handing over in a controlled manner entails.

I’d also like to know what criteria Jeff will use to establish exactly who the ‘right’ person is.

Jeff also took the opportunity in his interview to have a playful swipe at the now dormant Independent Saddlers Supporters Association.

As someone who was actively involved in ISSA, I have to hold my hands up and say that yes, writing to someone who was dead and asking them to buy Walsall F.C. was pretty funny.

In mitigation though, it was actually part of a well intentioned and serious campaign to bring investors into the club in the wake of Jeff’s decision to put us up for sale in 1998.

(As an aside, whatever did happen to the infamous Grimsby bedsheet? And is there any footage of the Central Sport feature knocking about?)

It seems to me that Mr Bonser has worked out that he can’t play the big bad guy forever.

I mean did anyone actually fall for all that ‘I could sell to a property developer tomorrow’ nonsense anyway?

Yes, of course he could, but surely even the most petty and vindictive drongo on Walsall Council’s Planning Committee would struggle to give the green light to a demolition of Chez Banks’s.

And would Jeff really want that on his C.V.?

As a local man, it makes sense that he doesn’t sell us down the river and he obviously needs to make the club look as attractive as possible to any future owner.

This can only be viewed as a good thing.

One issue yet to be clarified is how our position as tenants would be affected by a sale.

A few weeks back I talked about how the club should be looking to regain ownership of our ground, this week’s events seem to make this even more important now.

Walsall fans what do you think?