Pair head to Lokomotiv Tashkent to finalise agreement between two clubs
As the first team prepare for their return to pre-season training ahead of the 2015/16 season, Fleetwood Town’s Chief Executive Steve Curwood and Technical Director Gretar Steinsson embarked on a journey of their own.The pair made the 6,000 plus mile trip to Uzbekistan on Sunday to Tashkent. The trip was to cement the partnership with Uzbek Premier League side Lokomotiv Tashkent following their visit earlier in the year, and to discuss further on how to develop the partnership with some immediate results.
A formal day started at 11.00am after a 3.00am arrival in Tashkent overnight with a visit to Lokomotiv’s impressive 8,500 stadium being first call of the day where discussions took place with their President, Chief Executive and other club officials.
The facilities were fantastic with the club having its own hotel, Olympic size swimming pool and other sport and recreation facilities on site, alongside the extremely spacious and modern ground with immaculate playing surface.
After lunch a visit to rival club, and last season’s league winners, Paktakor's stadium was next followed by a very positive and well attended press conference at the 36,000 seater National Stadium which is also home to the Uzbek FA and club side Budynakor.
The press and FA officials posed some very well researched questions and were fascinated and excited by the link up.
Steinsson discussed immediate opportunities for Lokmotiv’s U20 players to spend time with Fleetwood Town’s development squad from an early stage this season.
One or two players have already been identified and made available for a more detailed assessment at a practice match later in the week. Uzbek officials were keen to learn more on Town's physical and
player fitness development and how they may learn more from the English model in this area.
Curwood discussed the Club’s innovative approach and its growth from humble beginnings.
He also spoke about Fleetwood’s openness to gain knowledge and understanding of how the world of football works and to better ourselves daily by networking and sharing ideas both home and overseas.
The Club are working very hard behind the scenes on an international strategy covering a number of areas linking in with the soon to be completed training facility, and with a number of clubs both home and abroad bringing both revenue and development progress in many areas.