Firstly - health and safety.

Potential to hold bigger non-Halifax games like World Cup games and finals.

TV requirement.

To name a few.

Its a shame that they are away to MK Dons because even with my limited football knowledge I know that is going to be really tough for them

I would also like to point out to these town fans ,who keep harping on about he isn,t saying how much he is paying, it is this,
if they walked into a car showroom haggled with a car salesman and managed to nail his price to the board, would they then proceed to tell every other customer in the showroom, what they were going to pay for the car no, why, because some one would walk up and and say, i will give you a tenner more than him and steal the deal.

And also lets not forget if he does buy the ground, whats going to attract more investors to the a stadium. A half finished stand looking like an eyesore which needs a million spending on it, or a new stadium. A potential backer would be more interested in coming on board if the shay stands were already completed and the shay was appealing to the eye. Especially when the cameras were down the shay for cup games etc advertising would go through the roof .He is thinking on the right lines give him a chance.

Does anyone know how long Mr Abbott would now have to wait before he could buy the shay?

I believe Bubba has slowed it down to another 6 months, I could be wrong

As I understand it, the 6 months does not start until the council actually announce that it is up for sale which they have not yet done. This then gives any other interested party 6 months to come up with a better offer.

Incidentally, am I correct in thinking that it was the council who granted the Shay it's ACV status? If so then I assume they could just as easily revoke that status should a property developer come in with a "true" value offer which it couldn't resist.

Also, when the FCHT fans say "why bother doing anything with the Skircoat Stand, neither club needs the capacity" don't they realise that it has to be maintained? It won't do much for the image of either club when the "Condemned" notices go up. There are trees growing through the terracing, aren't there?

It`s hardly likely to be addressed either now ,I hardly think the Council are going to be puting any more money in do you?

1. Health and safety - Are you saying the stadium is unsafe well it appears to be open and have a safety certificate.
2. Err Italy v Tonga, NRC final, Huddersfield giants games
3. What TV requirement? FCHT v Charlton, Italy V
Tonga, Championship Play offs all teleivised Whats the problem.
However the match has to go ahead so pitch should be a priority, In fact the current pitch is not fit enough for both clubs hence the Training restrictions etc.

Ok I will play your game.

1. Stands get old and need maintaining. Like previously mentioned by another poster, tree roots under stands, roof gantries need replacing, roofs need fixing and so forth. It may pass now but for how long.

2. errr..... well done but wait, they are using North, South and East - errr.... there is a stand missing...... oh wait its Skircoat!

3. Again gantries, I know from Sky and Premier Sports point of view the current spot for them isn't great and if any unfortunate souls do use the Skircoat stand - their view is impaired e.g. Featherstone Rovers this season. A new complete stand can allow the stadium to be used in different capacities!

Your 4th point - well, I am not in a position to comment but didn't TA mention he would sort this too? It was an issue for the Dewsbury game at the beginning of the year so I am sure he is fully aware.

Perhaps FCHT fans have simply accepted that their current level is as far as they are ever likely to go so The Shay, in it's present form, is more than adequate. If so, it's a shame as their target should be top of the Premiership and Fax's should be top of Superleague. Ridiculous? Probably, but sport is all about hopes, dreams and aspirations and without those you may as well not bother.

Also the point is it`s not just about the football and rugby , there are 200,000 people in Calderdale and that is supposed to be a Community Stadium that is subsidised by the ratepayers .If the Skircoat was replaced maybe there would be more facilities for others to use , the East Stand looks super the only thing that spoils the look is the empty space next to our shop it looks like a bit of a dumping ground . Get the place rented out to someone so it looks decent and there is a bit of money coming in.Lots of empty space down there meanwhile is Town still using the offices across the way ? strange that if they are.

They didn't need to open all those stands for the NRC finals.



One would have been plenty.

TYPO correction.

The South Stand was almost full with Leigh supporters, the East Stand was well attended by Fax, neutrals, Skolars and North Welsh Crusaders the Skircoat Stand was empty as was the North Stand apart from 250 Seagulls. (61 taxi drivers included)

Was that him stood at the back asking questions and then talking over the answers to his sycophantic acolytes?
I notice they made a show of flaunting out before the end, (shut that door)

The pitch under Mr Abbott's ownership will be replaced, under the Council it will not. However you would be happy for the council to replace the pitch and let all other parts of the stadium deteriorate.

Last night at Rochdale was exactly the reason why you need to have a stadium fit for the biggest gate possible, be ambitious and not have typical small town mentality. Look at a lot of football clubs below the Premiership they have half full stadiums but they hope they get a big cup match some day or reach the Premiership which many do, look at Southampton and Hull City.
The Shay needs to be around 15K or 16K to get some of the bigger games in RL and lets hope one day Town get Bradford City, Huddersfield Town, Leeds Utd or Burnley down the Shay in the cup.

By eck you're living in cloud cookoo land lad.
Super league crowds for fax 5000 average

Average maybe, but peaks would be higher. And I get what he's saying, cup games, semi finals etc would get larger crowds.

You have to have a stadium fit for purpose if you want it to be used

What's a cookoo?
An eck should be 'eck
Go back to primary school,

Dum ass read my post it says you can have a ground bigger than your needs and many do, you seem to completely ignore the Town side of my argument too is that not relevant? Just go away you will never be convinced of anything other than what you want to believe.

Town fans are a set of luddites that are happy to accept playing in a half finished stadium that will see 2 stands condemned probably in the next 10 years. The Council has no money to redevelop them. Keep living in the past, but dont hold back those that want to live in the future.

The ground is just fine as it is.

Town fans are quite happy the way things are, as the boys in blue are representing the town brilliantly in a strong league, and there is plenty to look forward to via INCREMENTAL growth.

Sadly you have clearly missed the point in why things MUST change.

The public of calderdale can and will continue to pay for the shay to run at a small loss p.a.
Rent payments would help to ease any tension.