Are we set up for taking/making donations towards the costs yet? Have we reached that stage yet?

I'm not a lawyer or a planning expert, but I'm involved in plenty of these cases in my professional life; and as I think Slugger (who is a lawyer) has said before, the receipt of legal letters and the prospect of a court case can often serve to focus the minds of everyone involved - we can all sit in our offices and agree with each other that a case has no merit and we're confident we'll win, but that confidence is quickly dissolved when the lawyers start advising - and sending bills.

So despite the battle lines being drawn and WMDC making bold statements apportioning blame, it's not beyond the pale that some kind of compromise could still be found; what I suspect they're doing now is daring the Trust to go legal - if they do, WMDC might be more pragmatic, especially if there is a risk of Box being embarrassed.

should not the council have been pushing the developer to promote newmarket for years now? Isn't that what a council should do?

Yes they should, and have done to some notable success at other developments in the area. As a layman who is out of the loop, this is the angle which id want a legal person to investigate (amongst others) as this is the one which could lead to a public embarrassment of the council, this is something they will certainly be looking to avoid.

I suspect Box is still operating on the principle that he can bully everyone he wants into submission and thinks we won't go ahead with our threat. He is so used to getting his own way that he really doesn't know how to deal with anything else.

In my opinion we will see them suddenly start to be a bit more flexible/helpful once they realise that The Trust are serious about not backing down.

What I don't get about Box is that, as leader of Wakefield Council you would think that he would be doing his level best to get a community stadium for the good of the district. There's no wander that people think there's more to this whole business than meets the eye.

[- if they do, WMDC might be more pragmatic, especially if there is a risk of Box being embarrassed.'"

Do we know if he has any official ties with Yorkcourt at all? We know he's a Cas shareholder, so maybe he's doing his best to ensure we don't get our own home in hope that we have no other choice but to move into the new Cas ground? If that ever get's built

I'm purely a criminal solicitor, and most of my professional life has been spent as a prosecutor, so I know nothing about planning or administrative law, but the principles are the same: you look at what you want out of a case, and the extent to which you waver from that is all down to how confident you are of winning.

Slightly different in this situation, as there are greater financial implications in losing, but there is an argument that the club/Trust are in the stronger position by having nothing to lose. You're gambling the risk of the club going bust if the case is lost against the certainty of the club going bust if the current deal is accepted. The council, on the other hand, are risking their dealings being exposed along with the potential loss to the council tax payer (although whether they have legal insurance that covers that, I don't know).

The approach from the council might be, or may be an option explained to them, that if they lost and the ground was ordered to be built on the terms as demanded by the Trust (if that is a possible legal outcome) they will have the loss of the commercial rent and non-match day income PLUS the legal fees. Whereas just losing the commercial rent and non-match day income might be the better of the two negative outcomes.

3 years ago Hull FC were paying £15,000 per game for the K Com stadium. Even if you add on inflation you would still be being charged almost double that.
I suppose the devil is in the detail and I don't think Hull get any of the matchday refreshment money.

Peppercorn rent is the key phrase

I think you're overstating the case - or underestimating Mr Box. The basis for any legal challenge is most likely to be that WMDC has failed to enforce a s106 agreement - or more specifically, a UU - and there's no way on earth he would let that cost him his job.

You're right Bren, he'd sacrifice Andy Wallhead instead!

Box is a politician and his whole life is about politicking. It is politically prudent for him that the Cas ground is built first so he needs to block & delay the Newmarket development as much as he can. Once you see the Cas ground built (if ever!) then his whole attitude to a ground for Wakefield will change.

3 maybe 4 years ago the RFL charged Bradford Bulls a commercial rent to play at Odsal Stadium which was set at the prevailing market value of £75,000 per season.

Surely this must act as a guide to the correct level of commercial rent at Belle Vue which with the rosiest of red, white & blue glasses on is nearer to the standard of Odsal than the KC Stadium.

Do you honestly think that Hussain at 88 group has the slightest interest at all in there been a Stadium at BV, Its about the last thing in the world that he wants. He has zero interest in Trinity and even less interest in the Trinity fans. He has played a blinder with the help of Box and Walker, purchased the ground and will develop it without a stadium. He just needs Trinity of the land and away he goes, it was always his and Box`s plans that this be the case. He will make life impossible for us until we go, hence the huge rent demands and secondly the £ 400,000 demand for repairs for next season. Plans were drawn up and approved by the council for BV without a stadium prior to Hussains purchase. Box had Hussain and his cronies at his office for celebrations as soon as Hussains purchase was confirmed.

Exactly what I mean. Box would ensure that it would be someone else who would take the rap, not him. Didn't he once before make the then CEO the sacrificial lamb for something of his making??

He is already distancing himself from the situation but if others are daft enough to put their name to stupid statements then they deserve all they will hopefully get

Just out of interest does anyone know what Peter Box's business is? Peter Box Associates is registered at Companies House with an address at 126 Lumley Street, Castleford, with himself and his wife Judith as directors.

Shafting people . Com . UK , I think

Is it listed in the paradise papers?

Think they paid five bob tax last year. Probably told the Inland Revenue that tax was nothing to do with them, coco.

Quote ="Redscat"Just out of interest does anyone know what Peter Box's business is? Peter Box Associates is registered at Companies House with an address at 126 Lumley Street, Castleford, with himself and his wife Judith as directors.'" Scoot website says 'Architects in Castleford'. www.scoot.co.uk/England/West-Yor ... 21950.html

Quote ="Redscat"Just out of interest does anyone know what Peter Box's business is? Peter Box Associates is registered at Companies House with an address at 126 Lumley Street, Castleford, with himself and his wife Judith as directors.'" Scoot website says 'Architects in Castleford'. www.scoot.co.uk/England/West-Yor ... 21950.html

Architects eh? Mmmmmm!! Interesting.

The Architects of our clubs downfall