Carlisle United owner's council message on training ground

The Blues’ owner says he is frustrated that things are not happening as quickly as he would like.

And Piatak said that, while he remains optimistic of positive progress soon, it would be “very disappointing” if things were delayed to the point where nothing would be ready on the site by this summer.

United want to build a state-of-the-art training centre in the city and, while Piatak has not confirmed the location, most speculation has concerned the Sheepmount.

Asked when the club would be able to confirm details, Piatak told the News & Star: “I wish I could give you the answer on that.

“We submitted the first letter to the city council, in December [and] I expected us to be further along than we are right now.

“I believe what we’re doing, putting private investment into this, is great for the community, for Carlisle, the club, all parties.

• LISTEN: Tom Piatak on training ground delay, stadium work, staff and more

“We made a conscious effort to keep the training facility in the city centre, because I just think that’s what the community needs and [is also] why we also made a commitment we’re not going to change Brunton Park.

“In my opinion it should not be taking this long. The club is making itself available, the owners are making themselves available to any meetings that are necessary, but it seems we are having meetings [and] we need to turn that into action and execution.

“The original vision, when I referred to that Fleetwood model, that’s certainly not going to happen this summer, there’s just not enough time, it’s taking too long.

“We’re at the end of April here, and now we’ve tried to break this up to say, ‘OK, we need a practice pitch, two practice pitches [first], let’s try to carve that piece out and come to an agreement of that as phase one, with a memorandum of understanding of what the entire project looks like, so we all agree that’s what we’re shooting for’.

Tom Piatak wants the training ground project to be moving faster (Image: Ben Holmes)

“For us as private investors to put that kind of investment into a facility with no long-term lease…that we could lose, that can’t happen.

“I’m asking the city council to please let’s get past the meetings and let’s start executing, let’s get it done.

“We’re willing to put that investment in. We’ve averaged 8,000 here at home [this season]. The vision [is that] we get this moving and put 14,000 in the stadium every match.

“The economic impact on Carlisle and the city, on businesses, restaurants, hotels, everybody – that’s enormous. And we can make that happen but we need help, and I cannot get it done until I get the agreement on that side.”

'We just need the land'

Asked if he was clear in his belief that the council could speed up the pace of progress in talks, he said: “The answer is yes. We need them to speed this up, the process.

“We’re learning. Back in Jacksonville, we’ve made large capital investments and it’s moved much, much quicker. So we’re learning over here. We’re not accustomed to this.

“But the request is just to isolate that piece of land, and give us the go-ahead and let us start making the investment.

“There’s not a lot of other requests that we need A, B, C and D to make this happen. We just need the land, then we’ll start putting the investment in there.

“But we have to go, or we’re not going to be ready this summer and that’s going to be extremely disappointing.”

The News & Star has approached Cumberland Council for comment.

Piatak added that planned work on Brunton Park and its surroundings, as well as the training ground project, would come at a combined cost of more than £10m.

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As well as major renovations to the stands at the stadium, the Piataks are also buying more properties, which will help with their planned work at the Warwick Road End, as well as provide accommodation for players.

Asked about the level of investment on the projects, he said: “I would say right now, on just the infrastructure on the stadium and affiliated [parts] is probably north of £5m.

“In addition to wiping out and forgiving the [£2.4m] debt [which the Piataks’ Castle Sports Group bought from United’s previous lenders Purepay Retail Limited], I hope the community sees what the family is doing in trying to move this forward.

“On the training centre, I don’t have that number but you look at the dome, the artificial pitch, the grass pitches there, and the training centre building – we also want CUOSC to be able to put a building there so they can be co-located – it’s very early stages, but that’s going to be north of £5m as well.

“I don’t know the actual [amount right now, but] it’s serious investment.”

East Stand project

Work is set to be stepped up in the transformation of the East Stand, which will see new hospitality boxes and lounges as part of its revamp.

Asked how confident he was that things would be ready for the start of the season, he added: “I have a healthy scepticism on that. But I’ve been assured that we think we can get the majority of it done.

Work is under way on Brunton Park's East Stand (Image: Barbara Abbott)

“I believe we can have the boxes and hospitality on the second floor completed. We may not get to the classrooms on the first floor but that should not impact on the operations, that’s more for the players and CUOSC and others to be using that.

“But I do believe we need to have it done, we’re working with the contractor [Story Contracting, who were announced as the contractor yesterday]…and I’ve got a commitment from them that they’re going to give everything they can and I believe in them.”

Piatak added that acquiring more properties to use as accommodation for players is another key part of the family’s current work.

“We are actively looking for residences,” he said.

“As we’re recruiting we want to be able to bring a player up here and talk about the vision, but we want them to see the vision.

“They’re going to see the East Stand and Warwick getting worked on, that’s all positive. We’re also in the process of getting some player residences. We’ve already remodelled the two [on Warwick Road], it’s night and day and the players are saying, ‘It’s unbelievable, thank you for doing this’.

“If someone’s coming up here for a two-year contract I would like them to get their own place. They need to become part of the community and invest in the community, because they’re going to be getting a contract.

“But let’s look at a six-month loanee. It would be great to be able to get them to come down and say, ‘Here’s where you’re staying, it's a beautiful apartment that’s ready,’ and they can see the future of the changing room for the players as well, things like that.

“We want to be able to attract the best. If there’s somebody on the fence, I want them to come here and say, ‘I see where you’re going with the training facility, I see what you’re doing with the ground, the accommodation you’re putting on for myself and my family is great, yes, I’m coming, I believe in where this club is heading and I want to be a part of it’.”