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Fax to move ground?



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Published Date: 20 November 2008
HALIFAX chairman Michael Steele has admitted he fears the club could be forced to spend 2009 away from the Shay after the latest delays in completing the ground's eyesore East Stand.

Calderdale Council announced last week that the multi-million pound project, which had been due to be finally finished next spring, could drag on until the autumn - up to five months later than planned.
And with the Weavers bar and restaurant set to be bulldozed after Christmas, that would leave Fax without any hospitality facilities - which are required under Rugby Football League operating rules - for the entire National League One season.
Courier Sport understands the club had been exploring the possibility of using a temporary town centre venue to cover the original three month transition period.
But now Steele has confirmed there is a worst case scenario that could see Fax playing outside Calderdale next season.
"I must stress that it would be an absolute last resort, because it would have a major impact on both our supporters and our sponsors, but the possibility remains that we could be left with no other option," said Steele.
"We were unhappy to learn of the latest delays and we will be meeting Calderdale Council at the earliest opportunity to discuss the situation.
"At the moment, we have been told the contractors are due to knock down the Weavers in January, which as things stand would leave us without any catering facilities.
"As a business, that would leave us in a very difficult position.
"The RFL require us to be able to feed both players and officials and we have significant sponsorship commitments to fulfil as well.
"We had been working on a short term alternative to take us through to the original completion date in May, but that is clearly not practical for a full season."
Fax are now set for talks with the Council to look for a solution, the most obvious possibility being a stay of execution for the Weavers.
"We are still very hopeful that we can reach an agreement," said Steele.
Duncan Farr, Calderdale Council's Shay Stadium Project Manager, said: "The Council is planning to meet with the rugby club and we will try to help them find a solution to the problem.
"There is no legal obligation on the Council to provide accommodation for such facilities."

The full article contains 394 words and appears in Evening Courier newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 20 November 2008 8:06 AM
  • Source: Evening Courier
  • Location: Halifax
 
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1

space man,

Halifax 20/11/2008 09:07:42
Oh what a fantastic council we have, if we all did our own jobs like these overpaid baffoons the country would 3rd world. Once again well done in the latest attempt by the council to hold back the Sporting clubs of Halifax.
2

Shayman down south,

london 20/11/2008 09:43:27
Weavers has to come down at some stage it was always going to impact either or both clubs
the logical answer is to look for some other approach to housing the entertainment facilities. I would have though a decent marquee could do the job
3

Buddy H,

Halifax 20/11/2008 09:57:08
Unbelievable-have these people got no project management skills at all? Surely to goodness they must have had a plan B as its well known that most building projects over shoot and should have legislated for that?
That home advanatge is critical -not only for the team on the field but also for the revenue stream off it!
Get it sorted and make sure that you revisit your business continuity plan sharpish(dont rely on the council either or you will still be debating it in 12 months time when you have lost all your supporter base!)
4

craig parker,

mixenden 20/11/2008 11:03:23
what a sham this is the council have tried stopping rugby and football from being in halifax by selling the shay but that never happend as 2 000 supporters went on a protest march if fax was in super league and town in the prem how fast would the council keep the teams but as that isnt happening they wanna get rid of it as far as am concerned the club is being robbed of a super league place thanks to the council well done u lazy shi*s u really do know how to reck things dont ya
5

Bobby Boucher!,

Ogden club house 20/11/2008 11:12:43
lets hope they move upto the four field up Ovenden.

Great views of Halifax up there. This could be used to our advantage to distract the visitors...
6

Midget Stuss,

20/11/2008 11:14:42
how often do building works get finished on time?Should have a plan B like i think the football club have, both teams knew that the knocking down of the weavers would cause disruption at some stage. If you want a fully finished stadium that calderdale can be proud of then these things will happen, i think for the first time in a long time the shay looks like it will be finished in the near future, and that is what everyone wants, you cannot get in super league for 3 years yet anyway so stop whinging, it will be done well before then.
7

Fax boy,

20/11/2008 11:39:05
You would have thought that they would have done the weavers first, so that this could at least be done for the start of the season so we had accomodation for other teams....I agree with Shayman Down South...a decent marquee would be ideal...keeps cost down and keeps both teams at their home ground...I know super league is 3 years away but they want to win the league they are in 3 times to show they are able to cope with Super League....
8

Brave,

Halifax, 20/11/2008 11:43:40
It's about time these idiots in the council were all sacked, they don't give a monkeys ass about sport in this town. We're a laughing stock in local sport.
9

Midget Stuss,

20/11/2008 11:50:12
but if they knocked it down first it would effect the football club, it was bound to have an effect on someone, stop moaning, it effects the football club too but no-one is moaning from our point of view
10

sheikh mahand,

20/11/2008 12:24:48
Typical thrumpers, concerned about where they can fill their fatty bellies
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