Are you Sean McGuire? I've never known anyone with such an axe to grind.

the only reason the game is being played at saints is because we play the blue shiiite the night before and we also have another 2 home games in quick succession. LFC didnt want the pitch being over used.
obviously someone has gone to saints and saints have quickly agreed, i would assume some financial reward is payable to saints.
also the game is being shown live on ESPN i think it is.good advertising for the saints and langtree park.
i wouldnt agree to regular football being played at saints, but the occasional match wouldnt do any harm and if its televised all the better for saints.

I wish! I was Sean McGuire LOL! but I like to see fair play.

There is a bit of difference between a club that can bring a few thousand to a club that can bring 100 people who could fit on the local park.

What has that got to do with any "agreement" made at the time when the monies of the sale of Houghton Road were given to Saints? Which The Guardian claimed in 2007 was £575.000 *

I thought St Helens Town old ground was good enough with a successful club house for the football club.



* Guardian, Wednesday 1 August 2007

St.Helens towns have been told they can play at LP for free, as per the previouys agreement, but as per that agreement they pay for the cost of hosting the game only, which they cant afford now. How thats Saints problem is beyond me

It may seem petty, and its quite clear we are not going to agree on this, I was brought up and have always keep to and accept that any agreement as being an agreement!

"How that's Saints Problem" you ask?

Well to refer to the Guardian 1 August 2007 "Town could play at Saints for 80 years & to support the football club financially and practically" in return for the Houghton Ground monies received.

One day perhaps something fair will be done which both parties can agree on, I hope so.

But they can play at LP. As per the previous agreement.

Surely you don't think Saints should have to pay for running costs, stewarding, turnstile staffing etc? We won't be providing those services for free to LFC U19a.

Do Latics pay for this when Wigan Warriors play? Or are they expected to meet their own costs for hosting the game?

BOTH teams pay to use the Stadium. Wigan RL pay 10% of the "gate" money. I presume Latics have a similar agreement.

So, one doesn't cover costs for the other. Quite right.

And have Saints not offered SHT an alternative, provided it fits in with the criterion for their league, ie, the training facilities?

It isn't Saints fault that STH can't afford the costs of staging a game at LP, rent free.

This

Thanks for that Simon, I was not sure what the original agreement covered. The Guardian article only states that costs where asked for. I assumed costs would be in the agreement as if they were not St Helens Town would be within their rights to tell Saints to go and run in terms of the costs.

So basically they can play, rent free and mortgage free for 80 years.

Also the Guardian article is at pains to stress how much the St helens town ground was sold for, but fails to mention any debts that had to be paid for...


Basically the Guardian article is very one sided as though football is being put upon.

I'm one for sticking to agreements, so would be unhappy if Saints tried to do the dirty. But if it's a case that Town signed a deal they could not afford, then I have very little sympathy. If I sign a deal financially, then I either live up to my side of that deal or the other side are not afforded the need to stick to their side.

If I remember correctly a director at the time told me they where pretty much the same.

Match is free on LFC TV now. Good view of South Stand.