Disagree. North of UK screaming out for a super size multi purpose stadium. The idea that only London can attract other sports/competitions is a total nonsense and also something we should be fighting against.

You need to do it all.

There is approx. 50k on a season ticket waiting list. Pretty confident that we’d fill a much bigger stadium. That’s not speculation. And we can look to what others have been able to do long term to see the ROI case. What IS unknown is whether we’d get permission for anything, that is the key.

They are interlinked and as Kev has already said, it’s not either/or. Furthermore we’d do more with our stadium than City do with theirs. Look more to Spurs and the US stadiums.

Never said easy, I said easier than removing Leazes Terrace. The alternative proposal you set out would probably be the worst ROI, and higher opportunity cost of any proposal.

Two things: every proposal requires permissions - so heavy lifting is really the at the heart of the whole thing! Yes we are an investment and showcase to our owners, much like every other club of scale. Pretty sure fans will be happier with growing the stadium and increasing our ability to compete.

And I also think permission to build on Leazes Park will be easier (but still hard) than any alternative permissions like removing Leazes Terrace that would be required for a substantial expansion on the same site.

There is also the fact that this would be PIF’s ‘jewel in the crown’ of PL football. If you look at other stadia planned in Saudi, they don’t compromise. Couple that with the need for a large modern multipurpose stadium in the north, if permission can be granted, that is the route we will go.

Great coffee too!

Guess that’s a question of how deliberate it was. For me that was the most borderline decision. Gordon should have had a pen.