I was talking to a couple of our directors a few weeks back and suggested they explored the scheme where councils can transfer buildings or services to individuals/groups who feel they can run them better themselves.
Prime example of the use of this scheme in Calderdale is a community group in elland taking control of the former baths and are now setting about raising money to reopen it, in Brighouse the Brighouse Business Initiative (group of local traders) are exploring taking charge of the car parks.
Answer was they weren't aware of the scheme, seemed quite positive until it was mentioned about the rather large overhead, To which my answer was "make proper use of the stadium as a business and that'd soon be recouped."
That was only 2 weeks ago. So perhaps it's unrelated to this story, but it really wouldn't be a bad idea. If we did take a lease of say 99 years (as the bulls did with odsal) an initial condition would probably be that FCHT still get to play for the remainder of their current agreement. At which point it would be renegotiated taking into account what league they're in ect.
It's not an unrealistic proposition. And taking on spring hall as well would give access to training facilities and a possible venue for reserve team games
