You are understating the role of Dick Knight in achieving the outcome of the planning process. Martin Perry undoubtedly led on the technical stuff, but Dick Knight's contribution to the political stuff was immense. Even the Blooms acknowledge that.
In the early years at Withdean, Tony Bloom was paying bills to keep the Club afloat. The family was biding its time, though, until it looked right to spunk loads on taking the Club forward. That time only came when planning permission had been given for Falmer. Once that happened (and the...