'Dear Peter, Unfortunately ... '

A guffaw-inducing headline, on the Mothership in early February, celebrated 'A New Grandstand for the Magpies!' The gun had been well and truly jumped but, as evidenced by the photo (from Tw@tter), below, the planning application is finally in:

Details can be viewed here

I found the 'Supporting Info - General' section to be rather interesting, revealing - as I think it does - both Council and 'more professional now, honest' MUFC Ltd inefficiency. The phrases 'Unfortunately there are several issues with the plans sent through' and 'Unfortunately I have been unable to validate and process your application any further due to the following reasons - 1, 2, 3, 4, 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f ... ' certainly make a mockery of the opening lines from an Advertiser article in January:

Maidenhead United FC have yet to submit a planning application for their proposed 500-seater stand at York Road but chairman Peter Griffin says the delay has been worthwhile. The Magpies had hoped to get an application into the Royal Borough before Christmas as they look to make the most significant improvements to York Road in decades. But Griffin says the club pushed back their time frame slightly to allow informal discussions to take place which will help ensure the very best application possible.

At least the Chairman knows his football, eh?

Seriously, the application is in and that is the main thing, especially as I very much doubt that the final judgement - when it eventually arrives - will begin 'Dear Peter, Unfortunately ... '

It would've been nice for work to have started this summer - rather than next, hopefully - but we've waited this long, as it is, so another twelve months won't hurt ... particularly as our recent league form strongly suggests that a lack of seats won't prove to be much of an issue this season. (BTW, how have those contracts for Pook and Duncan panned out? Looks like we might require another 'bit of a debrief').