[quote="Brew":2n31yj7v]I have been doing a bit of digging, I may have been a tad unfair when I said KD transferred the shares in the stadium from HTAFC to His company for £1. He was actually charged £2. Then listed the asset in company accounts with a value of £15m. Bit of back story here- https://www.theguardian.com/global/2009 ... field-town Ultimately, the council want rid of The Shay, they look to have 2 expressions of interest, one froma businessman, with cash and a number of running companies, one of which would take on The Shay, or he'd set up another. Or they have a "working group" who have said they're not the final people who would become directors of a company (or similar entity), so would have to hastily set something up if they were to be "awarded" The Shay. So I can only see one outcome currently which is KD gets the ground, and a whole host of what ifs in the medium to long term for both clubs[/quote:2n31yj7v] Interesting read on the Davy / Town events and good to see both sides of the story. A quote from him. “ Davy, exasperated with the criticism, is standing firm. "It is not inconceivable that, if everything went wonderfully, we might make a couple of million profit," he acknowledges. "I think that would be scant reward for the risks that have been taken. And in no sense could be considered unreasonable.” End. Whether any of it has any bearing on our current situation? The only reason the Shaymen lot mention it is to spin anything and anyone as negative that doesn’t involve them. And you’re right it all comes down to options which seem to be the two on offer, he may or may not be successful and if he is the rest for the better or the worse is unknown.

[quote="Brew":2n31yj7v]I have been doing a bit of digging, I may have been a tad unfair when I said KD transferred the shares in the stadium from HTAFC to His company for £1. He was actually charged £2. Then listed the asset in company accounts with a value of £15m. Bit of back story here- https://www.theguardian.com/global/2009 ... field-town Ultimately, the council want rid of The Shay, they look to have 2 expressions of interest, one froma businessman, with cash and a number of running companies, one of which would take on The Shay, or he'd set up another. Or they have a "working group" who have said they're not the final people who would become directors of a company (or similar entity), so would have to hastily set something up if they were to be "awarded" The Shay. So I can only see one outcome currently which is KD gets the ground, and a whole host of what ifs in the medium to long term for both clubs[/quote:2n31yj7v] Interesting read on the Davy / Town events and good to see both sides of the story. A quote from him. “ Davy, exasperated with the criticism, is standing firm. "It is not inconceivable that, if everything went wonderfully, we might make a couple of million profit," he acknowledges. "I think that would be scant reward for the risks that have been taken. And in no sense could be considered unreasonable.” End. Whether any of it has any bearing on our current situation? The only reason the Shaymen lot mention it is to spin anything and anyone as negative that doesn’t involve them. And you’re right it all comes down to options which seem to be the two on offer, he may or may not be successful and if he is the rest for the better or the worse is unknown.

https://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/sport/ ... AUU2FPJ7Rg

https://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/sport/ ... AUU2FPJ7Rg

[quote="Listenup94":1qp3giin]https://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/sport/football/professional-sport-in-halifax-stands-to-benefit-significantly-from-the-improvements-i-would-intend-to-make-says-ken-davy-on-his-plans-for-the-shay-4946653?fbclid=IwY2xjawH16oFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHfB5zF10coNCnkOTZ2qtjOKaiLJBipXiJ-mE_UIO_EPKM0f6P5Jlkg8q4Q_aem_S1KA_nbWa4a3AUU2FPJ7Rg[/quote:1qp3giin] Text from the link without the ads. In the first of a special two-part interview with Courier reporter Tom Scargill, Huddersfield Giants owner Ken Davy outlines his vision for the future The Shay. Ken Davy says professional sport in Halifax will benefit "significantly" from his plans for the future of The Shay. The Huddersfield Giants chairman has one of two proposals on the table for the stadium, along with a working party of supporters. Their plan is for the ground to be run by an independent, not-for-profit trust, while Mr Davy's submission is that he buys The Shay from Calderdale Council and the Giants ground-share with FC Halifax Town and Halifax Panthers until they can move into a new stadium of their own. Ken Davy "I have to caveat it by saying obviously we're in discussions with Calderdale Council, therefore we're speculating rather than facts.” "But having said that, I'd be hopeful we can reach a mutually beneficial agreement with the council. "My objective would be to bring the Shay up to Super League standard so that it would be an appropriate temporary home for Huddersfield Giants as well as providing much improved facilities for supporters of FC Halifax Town and the Panthers. "That will involve quite a lot of work and expense. "One of the first things is the installation of a new pitch this year, that's something that needs to be cracked on with before a formal agreement with the council can be completed because there are various protocols that the council, quite rightly, have to follow. "I'm prepared to take something of a risk in helping support that new hybrid pitch going in. It’s obviously essential for FC Halifax because the experience of the club recently has been that matches have had to be postponed or moved, which isn't good for the club or the supporters. "Apart from the embarrassment, it costs money. "So I see the new pitch as being the first priority and if that can happen, then the objective would be for Huddersfield Giants to move there for the 2026 season and probably for the next three or four years." My Davy's bid to buy The Shay has led to confusion among supporters of the Panthers and Halifax Town, who say they were under the impression Calderdale Council would not be selling the ground but only handing over the day-to-day running. "As I understand it, the council basically put the Shay up for sale 12 months ago. I think that's common knowledge," Mr Davy said. "So there's no change in that respect. "The running costs and losses that are incurred by the stadium are pretty horrendous and therefore, that compounds the risk of buying it but it's a risk I'm prepared to take. "So you have the horrenous losses, plus the cost of upgrading what is, at best a very tired stadium. "The facilities for the fans are, in some areas, archaic and it needs money spending on it to improve it." When asked whether the council would be requesting any guarantees that both clubs continue to play at The Shay as part of any sale, My Davy said: "Firstly, we've not got into that degree of detail yet. "But it's inconceivable to me - why would the Panthers and FC Halifax not want to play at The Shay? "I'm not some commercial organisation or property developer coming in to make a quick buck. "I have a long record of supporting sport." There has also been speculation about how much The Shay would be sold for, but My Davy said: "We haven't got into that kind of detail yet." Mr Davy, who is a former owner of Huddersfield Town, says discussions have been going on between himself and both clubs for "around two or three months". "As soon as it became a possibility that The Shay would meet our objectives, I contacted both clubs because I'm very keen to work with them, without any involvement whatsoever in running them," he said. "I'm not coming in as some sort of sugar daddy to bail clubs out or take them over. "I've made it very clear to both clubs that I've no interest whatsoever in being involved with how they run them. "But what I do want to do is give them and their supporters an excellent facility to play in, and one that both the clubs and their supporters can be proud of. "It seems to me that the facilities for the supporters at the moment, particularly things like the toilets, are just so unsatisfactory, it would discourage people from coming down and bringing their partners or families with them." And Mr Davy says his proposal has the support of both clubs. "Yes, I do. I went up to Harrogate to meet with David Bosomworth and a colleague, and as the meetings have progressed, I'm very encouraged by the supportive attitude of both clubs," he said. "And in the press release issued by the council, both clubs demonstrated that and reinforced their support." Are there grants available? "The only situation where grants come into play, as I understand it, is in relation to a new hybrid pitch. "The Premier League has a fund to support clubs' facilities in the lower divisions, so there is a grant available for that. "But it still requires a fairly substantial contribution from the two clubs and the council. "As I understand it, the council are happy to make their contribution but, correct me if I'm wrong, I don't think either club is in a position to provide the funds for the new pitch. "So I'm happy to provide interest free loans to the clubs, probably through the council, for that to happen." My Davy says grant funding won't fully cover the cost of the new pitch, so the interest free loans will make up the rest of the cost "It would be to help FC Halifax and Halifax Panthers support the arrangement," he said. On the repayment schedule of the loans, My Davy said: "There's no schedule worked out yet. "I'd be quite happy for it to stay outstanding as long as we're using the Shay temporarily. "I won't be pressuring the clubs for the repayments." My Davy says exact start and finish dates for the work on the new pitch are not yet know. "But it's self evident that it would need to be this summer," he said. "I wouldn't expect it to impact on FC Halifax Town at all because they don't tend to play during the summer. "It would impact on Halifax Panthers and would undoubtedly be an inconvenience for them. "They'd normally expect to play away for six weeks and it could well be double that, so I've undertaken to compensate Halifax Panthers for the disruption, inconvenience and loss of income. "We've agreed to do that on an open book accounting basis so that nobody's making up numbers and we're assessing and compensating them for what they've lost." Mr Davy says other improvements to the ground would be funded solely by himself. "A general upgrading of the stadium and the facilities is an absolute must," he said. "Then there's a need for new floodlights, both of a hgh quality and to cover the whole pitch because I understand there's currently a bit of a blackspot. "A new TV screen and scoreboard, which will enable clubs to put advertising on for their matches, and LED advertising screens around the pitch, again for the uses of clubs on their matchdays. "All the things we will need to do bring it up to Super League standard. "But the two clubs, I hope, will enjoy those upgrades as well and benefit from increased support, and generate more income from sponsors and advertising." On the cost of the other improvements, Mr Davy said: "It's well north of seven figures." My Davy says he has guaranteed to both Halifax Panthers and FC Halifax Town that there would be no increase in rent for the first year of his ownership of The Shay. "Beyond that, I've not got the information to make any judgements," he said. "What I do expect is the clubs to be in much better positions financially because the improved facilities for supporters will help to attract more fans. "Plus the advertising boards and the big screen, so I'm hoping it will be very beneficial to both clubs." Mr Davy added: "Professional sport in Halifax stands to benefit significantly from the improvements I would intend to make at The Shay and I think the wider community will benefit from access to the improved facilities as it becomes a well used and well known community facility. "I also think the wider community of Halifax will benefit from the council not having to spend the money they do currently on The Shay." The second part of our interview with Ken Davy, focusing on the long-term future of The Shay, Huddersfield Giants’ new ground and answering the working party’s five questions, will be on the Halifax Courier website tomorrow. End.

Todays game off today - pitch still frozen.

Second part of the Courier / Davy interview. “In the second part of the Courier’s interview with Huddersfield Giants owner Ken Davy, he discusses why the Giants would be moving to Halifax, how the the three clubs can share the Shay and what he wants to happen to the stadium long-term. Ken Davy says he hopes FC Halifax Town and Halifax Panthers will be in a better financial position in future to buy The Shay from him should his plans for the stadium come to fruition. The Huddersfield Giants chairman is hoping to buy the ground from Calderdale Council and instigate a raft of improvements to bring it up to Super League standard so the Giants can use it temporarily while they build a new stadium. Ken Davy. "I don't want to be the long-term owner of The Shay," Mr Davy told the Courier, "therefore when the Giants leave The Shay, which is the absolute intention, I've told both clubs I'd be prepared to offer it back to them and they can either buy it individually or jointly. Ken Davy "Or we might find some other solution, but that's the spirit of what we're trying to achieve." Mr Davy said the buy back price "would have to reflect the improvements" that had been made. When asked what would happen if both clubs were unable to afford to buy the stadium, Mr Davy said: "Hopefully somebody in Calderdale would be able to do so, or perhaps someone would come in to support the clubs, I don't know. "I don't want to be the long-term owner of The Shay but it's impossible to second guess what the situation might be in five years time. "I would hope that, by then, because of what we've done, they would be in a much better position. "Given it would be a Super League stadium, who knows, somebody might come in to support the Panthers and take them into Super League. "FC Halifax may have gained promotion and be in a much better position financially. "All of these things are possible and I think both clubs will benefit in the short-term and in the long-term, also stand to benefit from having a supportive owner of the Shay." When asked about the possibility of selling the ground to a third-party, and if that would involve assurances around both clubs remaining at The Shay, Mr Davy said: "Perhaps the best example I can give you is that when I rescued Huddersfield Town from the administrators, under my chairmanship we won promotion and when it came to selling the club, I rejected several approaches from foreign buyers as I was determined it went to someone locally who understood the club’s importance to the community.” Mr Davy says the Giants are making "significant progress" in their search for where their new stadium will be located. "Every site we look at has various issues so it's impossible to say how or where the new stadium will be," he said. "We have our third or fourth pre-planning application almost ready to go in relation to a site and we keep our fingers crossed. "We're hopeful this one will work." But Mr Davy insists it is currently "impossible to say" a timescale for when the Giants would leave The Shay. "My original objective was for it to only take two or three years," he said. "It's self evident from all the planning issues that it's going to take longer than that. "My guess is five years but that's purely a guess." Mr Davy admits "it would be much simpler and less expensive" for the Giants to remain at the John Smith's Stadium until a new ground is constructed. "But it's just not possible for us to generate the right atmosphere there," he said. "There's just not enough fans in a big stadium. The fact is we rattle. "I want to see that improve as quickly as possible. "And hopefully the availability of better facilities in a nice atmosphere, I genuinely believe it should increase the support of both clubs and that's what we all want to see. "I want The Shay to be a vibrant facility for FC Halifax, the Panthers and the Giants and for it to become a vibrant community space. "The plan is to call it the Calderdale Community Stadium, and that's what it's all about, providing a better experience for everyone. Mr Davy added: "The more use we can get from the stadium, the better. "It's too early to say what events might be held there but I'd certainly hope we'd be able to make it into a vibrant centre for the community." Mr Davy admits there is a chance the move could alienate some Giants supporters. "There is a risk and over the last few months I've been careful to try to explain what the intention was," he said. "More recently I've spelled it out in a bit more detail. "Obviously there are some negative comments but the vast majority of Giants fans have been supportive so I'm hopeful. "We're going to be running special transport from Huddersfield to The Shay. "We probably will have some supporters who are very reluctant to come to The Shay but hopefully it will be a small number. "Because of the better atmosphere and suitability, I would actually hope the support would increase." The Giants chairman insists there would be no cause for concern regarding two rugby league clubs and a football club sharing the same ground. "What's important is that football always has to have primacy, what you might call first pick," he said. "We're very used to dealing with that at the John Smith's Stadium, so the 13 or so matches the Giants play every year isn't going to be a significant issue. "And I know a football club has to have primacy of tenancy, so that's a non-issue for us." Mr Davy says he has no intention of merging the Giants and Halifax Panthers. "Absolutely and categorically, no." When asked what he would say to people who don't approve of his plans, Mr Davy said: "They might care to look at my background and see what I've done for sport in Kirklees and what I'd hope to be able to start to do in Calderdale." The Courier also asked Mr Davy the five key questions that were submitted by the working party group, who have also submitted proposals for the future of The Shay. Here is what he said. 1) What happens to The Shay when the Giants have a stadium of their own? "As I've said, we will offer it back to the clubs invidually and jointly because I have absolutely no wish to be the long-term owner of The Shay." 2) What happens to The Shay if the Giants ultimately don't secure a stadium of their own? "That's such a speculative question and so far from our objective, that it’s completely hypothetical question that we all hope will never arise." 3) How does this impact on the requirements of both the Football League and the Super League that their member clubs must have "primacy of tenancy"? Are the clubs prepared to forgo any chance of promotion in exchange for upgraded facilities? "That question misunderstands the requirements. The football club has to have primacy of fixtures. "There are a number of Super League teams who play in stadiums where football also takes place, so primacy of tenancy is not an issue for Super League, but it is for football so we fully acknowledge that FC Halifax will have that primacy of tenancy. "The second part of the question falls away because it has no relevance, but one of the things I would hope is that FC Halifax, because of the improved facilities and the more robust pitch, are able to achieve promotion. "That's something we'd all welcome." 4) Have the views of the National League and the RFL been sought? "Not by me, because it's not my role. It's difficult to envisage that either organisation would have any issues given the much improved facilities that both clubs would enjoy." 5) Has the council considered what happens to the town's professional sports clubs if this deal goes wrong, or are they unconcerned? "The council are concerned about the future of professional sport in Halifax, which is exactly why we're having these discussions. "It's well known that I'm a very active supporter of sport and that I've invested substantial sums ensuring that sport continues.” End.