Phoenix FM are at tonight’s Billericay Town fans forum.

There’s a bumper turnout tonight for the second forum since Glenn Tamplin took over the club at the end of last year, with over 200 fans in attendance.

New signings

Owner Glenn Tamplin confirmed the signing of Jamie O’Hara and Jake Robinson, the latter from Hemel Hempstead where he has socred 27 goals this season.

Jamie came out briefly to greet the fans to a big cheer!

GT announced to another big cheer that as a result of this, Billericay Town were trending in the top 5 on Twitter today!

Ground improvements

The club has submitted plans to the council for a full size astroturf pitch and gym/bar area behind the main ground, which will have seating on all sides.

Billericay Town’s wages are up to £20K per week and the club is aiming to have 1,500+ people per week to sustain this.

One of the stands would accommodate disabled supporters and GT said it may be named after Harry Parker, a young disabled fan who the club has been supporting.

GT promised that the club would not be “another Micky Woodward”.

Website

The official website has been redesigned by the club’s unofficial website designer James who talked through the new features, and fielded a lot of questions from fans about possible new features for the site.

New club badge

GT introduced the three new potential badge designs and asked for a show of hands from the fans to see which one would be adopted as the new club badge.

After a show of hands badge #2 was chosen as the winner. And here it is:

The Ladies and Colts team will also adopt this badge, rather than have their own one.

Dulwich Hamlet match

GT feels ays that this Saturday’s match at Dulwich Hamlet will decide the club’s fate for this season. He says they will have 3,000 fans there and he wants as many fans as possible to get behind the team.

Volunteers

The club is looking for volunteers to help with stewarding, marketing, looking after the pitch. If anyone wants to help the club and its community GT says it will be very greatly appreciated.

Questions from fans

1. Is the club comfortable that they have the right team going forward?

GT: the team winning the Conference South is on £8K a week and Billericay Town FC, as stated earlier, is on £20K. If the current team can’t win the National League South then there is something wrong. The club may need 2 or 3 more players to strengthen.

2. Will the club need to move with the proposed development of the ground?

GT: I want to get this done in the close season, to blitz it. Basildon Borough Council have said approval won’t be given until 8-10 weeks at the earliest, so I hope we can get the astroturf development done in the summer and then deal with the ground after that.

The new stands will probably go up at the end of next season.

The club has 7 years left on its lease and is aiming to get another 30 years added to this.

3. How much parking will there be?

GT: The new plans are allowing for 150 cars.

4. There has been a lot of rumours about Mark Wright getting involved.

GT: We are teetering on the edge about Billericay Town being a PR stunt. Mark Wright wants 20% of the club, but doesn’t want to inject any cash – he will bring enhanced media attention instead.

I will bring Mark in if he brings something tangible to the club.

5. What will happen about the floodlights?

GT: We have bought floodlights from Arsenal’s training ground at Hale End and we have taken on West Ham’s groundsman. They will arrive tomorrow and be fitted next week.

The substation will be upgraded.

6. Have you considered making the main pitch 4G?

GT: As a businessman I would like to get both pitches 3G as they can be hired out all year round, but I love football so I am going to keep the main pitch grass. (This got a loud round of applause).

GT then wrapped up the meeting with a free bar for the next hour!