Re: The Shay. : Wed Feb 05, 2025 4:55 pm  

faxcar wrote:

Neither of the 2 clubs or the Council can continue with as things are, everybody is skint.

I was with ListenUp at the weekend and he was messaged from a source that they were hearing the club was on its booty again.

When gently prompted for a bit more info it was all a bit cryptic but with our history I wouldn’t be surprised.

Just makes you wonder where the rumoured consortium are though?

The conversation continued, the response wasn't as cryptic as first thought , basically whilst betfred will be sponsoring this weekends game from their side we are struggling to get a match day sponsor which is why it's been mentioned a few times on Facebook this week , the consequences of this means that the players will not receive a match day bonus for the catalan game win lose or draw. On top of that whilst we have obtained new sponsorship deals we have lost some. Also some players are yet to be fully sponsored and the admin are trying to encourage payments to be made . One of the frustrations behind the scenes is that some people are on healthy salaries that aren't necessarily needed but the cutbacks have been made in the playing budget. One positive is that kyle eastmond is having a positive effect on the squad and I've heard this from multiple sources . Hopefully I will be able to attend the fans forum and hope some of these issues are addressed.

Re: The Shay. : Wed Feb 05, 2025 6:10 pm  

I must admit, my own enthusiasm is at an all low and I'm just not interested in attending Saturdays match, especially at 22 quid.

I doubt if the club will be attracting any new fans for the coming season, so it's a question of how many existing fans will continue to keep the faith.

Re: The Shay. : Thu Feb 06, 2025 11:53 am  

Listenup94 wrote:

The conversation continued, the response wasn't as cryptic as first thought , basically whilst betfred will be sponsoring this weekends game from their side we are struggling to get a match day sponsor which is why it's been mentioned a few times on Facebook this week , the consequences of this means that the players will not receive a match day bonus for the catalan game win lose or draw. On top of that whilst we have obtained new sponsorship deals we have lost some. Also some players are yet to be fully sponsored and the admin are trying to encourage payments to be made . One of the frustrations behind the scenes is that some people are on healthy salaries that aren't necessarily needed but the cutbacks have been made in the playing budget. One positive is that kyle eastmond is having a positive effect on the squad and I've heard this from multiple sources . Hopefully I will be able to attend the fans forum and hope some of these issues are addressed.

Whatever's due to the players needs to be honoured timely and in full..that's a given and any shortfalls need to be addressed by directors at a later stage.What a shambles that Eastmond's good work can be immediately undone by something like this before season has even started in earnest..Not sure what a 50 point beating should attract in terms of financial reward anyway...?

Re: The Shay. : Thu Feb 06, 2025 12:14 pm  

According to the squad announcement every player has a named sponsor.

The club whilst being skint and have been appealing for people to get involved with multiple initiatives / pleas the call for players sponsorship stopped when it was filled a couple of weeks ago to my knowledge so something doesn’t add up if their not fully sponsored.

Also there was no suggestion that the players weren’t being payed in full as per their basic contracts just bonus related issues for the Cats game?

Re: The Shay. : Mon Feb 10, 2025 3:37 pm  

Further comment from FCTown and their matchday program & Evening Courier.

"We recognise that there is concern" - Shaymen address some of the issues regarding the future of The Shay
By Tom Scargill

Published 1st Feb 2025, 13:22 GMT
Updated 1st Feb 2025, 13:40 GMT

FC Halifax Town have addressed some of the issues surrounding the future of The Shay in their matchday programme notes ahead of their game with Ebbsfleet United.

Writing in his programme notes for today’s home game against Ebbsfleet United, Town chairman David Bosomworth says: "We recognise that there is concern for everyone regarding the future of The Shay stadium and how negotiations include FC Halifax Town.

"We are making a brief announcement shortly effectively saying there is nothing more to report at this juncture following the well publicised announcement on January 8.

"We can give a brief insight into possible situations regarding the pitch and floodlights, on the basis that nothing is finalised but these are the options/background to possible progress.

The Shay
"Circa three years ago as a club, we investigated in great detail and came up with a proposal for totally replacing the pitch, including totally new drainage and a hybrid (part synthetic/part grass 5%/95%) to facilitate the playing of rugby and football in the same stadium.

"A grant was sought via a football application which would offer 70% towards the cost of the works, with 30% to be provided by other participants, in our case, the Council, the rugby club and the football club.

"Having invested £10,000 in professional fees, despite our best efforts it was not possible to progress the opportunity either prior to our 22-23 or 23-24 season due to funding and re-arranging the rugby club fixtures away from The Shay stadium, due to the summer based work.

"Within a proposal from the potential buyer of the stadium, if the football club was to put forward and progress the grant application, our understanding is the buyer would manage the financials around the Halifax Panthers playing their games away from The Shay stadium during a 12-14 week period and help with contributions towards the 30% shortfall in respect of rugby contribution.

"Floodlights have been a problem for a number of years, not least with two of the pylons being in the wrong position following pitch and stand developments quite a few years ago.

"The floodlights are mounted on very old structures, utilising the now more difficult to source ‘metal halide’ hot burn lamps rather than the modern day cool, energy efficient and lower cost LED options.

"Less maintenace is required with LED, less CO2 is emitted and you can switch the lamps on and off without any warm up time.

"To this end, we are aware of another football based application under the Premier League LED Floodlight Fund which may be applied for, in the quest for our own lighting levels as required by the National League.

"They require to be increased as they are currently very close to the minimum accepted levels and may also help contribute to the interested buyer’s requirements for Super League.

"Our understanding is the scheme is based on a similar basis to that of the pitch with a 70/30 split and certain specified suppliers to provide quotations.

"This is all subject to availability and such an application being progressed.

"This is all potentially good news moving forward but there is a lot of detail still to go through, whatever the ultimate solution is to the sale."

The Courier has contacted the club for interviews/comments over the future of The Shay over recent weeks but has not been provided with any.
End.