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Quote: Howardposner "In some ways this is the key debate about sport in a town like Halifax.

The Rugby team in recent years have achieved a solid foundation on the field, a sense of heading in the right direction from the outside and the look that they are now run in a "proper" way. But this has only been achieved because of the generosity of Tony and the other directors who have put considerable funds and time into the club. They will be helped going forward by an improvement in the funds distributed to them, but this does place them in an "arms race" so they need to recognise this and plan for the long term, which will see ups and downs.

From the outside the football club also looks like it has been well run, on field success has been matched by prudent public pronouncements and a feel of progression. They are now experiencing a difficult time on the field and in many ways this will be the first significant test of the Board. You learn more about yourself in times of stress than any other.

In reality the town needs both teams to do well. In the present economic and political climate the stadium requires two successful clubs both paying their way. We have to be mindful of what the clubs realistic ambitions are but equally we should be pushing for both of them to achieve success on the field....even if you only support one team.

One of my biggest concerns is that there is no long term plan for the Shay, other than stopping it fall down. I am not sure if this requires it to be privately or council owned, ( I can see merit in both arguemeets) but what it does need is a new open debate, with each club involved and a coherent Plan devised, otherwise we will be going around the same loop for years. Someone like MBI are ideally placed to co-ordinate this type of open debate.'"

Agree with everything Howard. Sport gives town's an identity; how many times do you go on holiday and get chatting to random people and when you mention that youre from Halifax they mention the Shay or even Thrum Hall? Its rare that the Piece Hall ever gets a mention. It is also no doubt a benefit to Halifax (Calderdale) to have two successfully run clubs, owned and managed by decent and honourable people, ingrained in the DNA of its people. Social and educational benefits, a sense of belonging, etc plus of course the economical benefits of having two strong clubs.

The Shay will always be an issue. Supporters of both clubs have been united in the past and at each others throats in the more recent past. I always had faith when Councillor Baines was Council Leader that they had a vision for the future. I am a little less confident under Councillor Swift's guidance whether CMBC has a plan for the future. You are right that both clubs need to be involved in an open debate over the Shay's future but so does the wider community of Calderdale. Owners of both clubs will come and go, but the Shay is an asset for the community - a community which will always exist. It isnt a village Post Office or town centre nightclub. It is a 'church' for many people which can change your mood, put you on a high, depress the hell out of you...there are huge emotional ties attached.

Everyone should move on from the Reactiv bid, learn lessons and move together into the future with the common goal of having a sustainable stadium and two strong clubs as stakeholders. But obviously there needs to be a desire for this to happen.