I really hope there is a positive outcome for Fax. I am a firm believer that our sporting clubs represent our town positively, much more than the highly glorified Piece Hall - this isnt a dig at the PH, but I think our clubs put us on the map more than the PH does. To lose one of them would be extremely depressing.

Does the Piece Hall put us on the map? Recently a Mastermind contestant was asked "In what West Yorkshire town is the Grade 1 Listed Piece Hall..." (There was some further part to the question about its past use or something). Her answer was "Leeds" - The PH is well known in the area, but further away few people know about it, many people see the photos on facebook and refuse to believe it's even in the UK!


As for Fax, I'm wary that any fundraising monies will be handed over and poured into a black hole. Only got to go back 10 years or so when Bradford raised half a million quite quickly, handed it over, and the business still got wound up. A third party (supporters trust perhaps?) should be holding onto the money until people know how it is going to be spent.

No one bar a couple of people know the full extent of the debts, how much money is needed to get to the end of September, Then October, then through the winter with limited income. Some transparency would be nice here.

So do I but to be fair if we've got to this sorry state then it shouldn't and cant continue.

Genuine question, do you know how will it work out for Town and the Shay with the council seemingly set on getting rid because of the well publicised costs and financial issues if FC are the only ones down there, are there any plans in place?

The hubris of the last board has left us desperate. Indeed, any short term funding has to be held and communicated in trust. Lack of credible assets has always hampered the club since the move to the shay. If we are on the block, Town won't be far behind if they are left holding the shay. It really beggars belief that the playing budget was inflated by 150k and evenmore derisory knowing the IMG changes were coming and never being able to compete with Wakefield. Which of the sponsors have gone to the wall? Im not sure if I was seeing things on the highlights from the Donny game but the Colfax sponsor was gone from the shirt??

It depends how you measure the map. Its certainly received a lot of nationwide media coverage and is a place which brings people into the town specifically to visit it.

I am guessing the FaxTrust isnt a proper supporters trust? I know it has good people involved, but it seems to have ended up existing purely to raise funds and hand over, no questions asked. Its times like this that would have hoped it would have held onto the money and built up a war chest.

Its impossible to say/know. My main concern, if Fax cease to exist, is that David Bosomworth decides to bid for the ownership of the Shay. Hes kept his powder dry ever since CMBC stated they were looking to dipose of the stadium. But I remain against any private ownership of the stadium.

The point about money going into a black hole is a good one. From bitter personal experience.

Bear in mind that a supporters trust run club requires an awful lot of commitment from volunteers that know what they're doing and have time to commit. That's a very big ask.

On PH it's got a lot more famous since they started doing gigs. Stuart Maconie loves it and it gets a good mention in his new book.

Fax have the potential to be a decent force in SL, they just need a Ken Davy, like plenty of other clubs.

The original away shirt sponsor was one of those that went bust I believe, some shirts now have the later Ticket Pass Logo on with others blacked taped out that haven't been changed.

On the PH isn't it being being run by a trust independently of the council which is probably why it's doing okay?

"Ticketpass" or similar has been on the shirts since the Swinton game at least.

However from what I saw at Donny, seems some have Colfax, some have it scrubbed off and some have the replacement on

Watch this space then but if DB does look like he's going to become the private owner will there be the same intensity of opposition from FC Town fans as before?

For me, the alarm bells started ringing when the club couldn't afford to pay the rent arrears and had that old chestnut "a payment plan" in place. If they can't afford to pay now, then why would they be able to eventually pay in the future when the club continues to make a loss?

The same goes for asking for loans. Where is the money going to come from to repay these loans? And what was the "six figure boost" they were expecting which was withdrawn? Why was it withdrawn?

The irony is, if there is a knight in shining armour, if he has any business sense then he'd see the club go into administration and buy the club with a clean slate letting old debts be written off. So whatever way you look at it administration is the best option, and by the time it's served then the season should be over and any points deduction will happen next season.

Some have said there's no way the Council will sell the Shay for housing, but with no RL club I don't think they'll really have a choice. I reckon a Shay sale will raise enough money to build 2 smaller stadiums for Town and Fax on the outskirts, and not just stadiums, but including additional facilities to generate other income. Then the Council will rake in loads of money from the Shay redevelopment through rates and council tax. That's all the Council is good for, collecting rates and emptying the bins (and they aren't even good at that). They can't be trusted to own and run any assets.

Yes

When Abbott was sniffing round, I think the Shay had a value of £2.5m. How will this pay for 2 new stadiums? Also, have a look on Google Maps and pinpoint where you think two new stadiums could go?

That was a long time ago, Bubba. Land values have surged since then. Even Casrleford's ground is now valued at over £8 million. As for pinpointing google maps. Really?

OK, so 10 years on, how much is the Shay estate now worth? Enough to build two new stadiums???

And yes really. The topography of Calderdale is difficult. You find me a plot of land which is flat, has good rail and road links (which would be required), where you could build one stadium, nevermind too. The Council looked back in 1995 and there is nowhere. The last hope was probably Lowfields, but thats pretty much full.