AFC Wimbledon to return to Merton?

[Green]

Well the zones are a proxy but yes Wimbledon is a lot closer to central London than Romford, of that theres no doubt.

I take your point both feel like (and are) satellite towns, but then London is like that - each district has its own feel and centre.

[wolsey]

Well, I reckon that if the football club really wants to be seen as a bone fide and essential part of their community (which after all is what the return to Merton is supposed to encapsulate) then their ground (and probably the Club itself) should incorporate a greyhound track.

[Tony Le Mesmer]

I dunno, this kind of argument rears its ugly head with athletic tracks every so often.

I just don't think its worth the sacrifice of having the fans so far from the pitch.

Yes, but only purely from a football point of view. Wimbledon already have a ground thats big enough and close enough to the pitch. Greyhound racing in London is faced with nothing. Not to mention the fact that Wimbledon is currently the home of the biggest greyhound event. On the one had you have a 4th division club who would prefer to play somewhere else, on the other you have, arguably, a sports entire future at stake.

If WFC wouldnt be prepared to share with other sports, I would say that they dont really want to move back to Merton that much.

[Green]

I think you're being unfair there Tony - these proposals haven't come from AFCW, they've come from the owners of Plough Lane, who're presumably only concerned with financials.

[Tony Le Mesmer]

I think you're being unfair there Tony - these proposals haven't come from AFCW, they've come from the owners of Plough Lane, who're presumably only concerned with financials.

OK, im not aware of the details, but surely 2 tenants are better than 1 from a financial point of view? And don't Merton council have the final say regarding the use for the site?

[SWLR]

An (admittedly irrelevant) question based purely on geographical ignorance:

Is Romford viewed less London than Wimbledon? Always thought of them as a bit, well, hinterland.

Romford - part of a London Borough, Essex postcode, Essex county football/ cricket, etc, Zone 6

Wimbledon - part of London Borough Merton, London postode (SW19), Surrey County football/ cricket etc.

Where I live is similar to Romford, and we use Surrey/ London interchangeably. To quote Harry & Paul: Romford '"Lundn" or "Esixxxx"

South London outerboroughs are based around large towns that have been absorbed into London, but retain their own idenity and are the hub of the area: Richmond, Kingston, Sutton, Croydon, Bromley. Romford is similar.
Merton, like most of the other London boroughs, is a collection of 'villages', without a particular centre - e.g. people in Merton will go shopping in Kingston/ Croydon.

[Rev Algenon Stickleback H]

I think you're being unfair there Tony - these proposals haven't come from AFCW, they've come from the owners of Plough Lane, who're presumably only concerned with financials.

OK, im not aware of the details, but surely 2 tenants are better than 1 from a financial point of view?

They cynic in me says that while two tenants might be better than one, one tenant on a smaller plot and a few million more from housing is more beneficial to the owners.

[Jackson Corner]

What happened to the old Plough Lane ground in the end?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pixelhut/2793135762/

Thanks that is very depresing preffered it as it was before.