BM wrote:
Hello
From
recollection it wasn't anywhere near that amount (£7m). I seem to remember a commitment to decorate and not much more.
Sad situation for the supporters this. The board however need shooting ... and shouldn't be let anywhere near anymore of your hard earned money.
Hello BM, long time no hear!
I think the value of the lease depends on which lease we are talking about, though whichever lease, it would remain separate to any intrinsic value the land would have as part of any development.
I think under the 'old' lease from the 19whatevers, the council had an obligation to keep the ground up to standard; ie. well beyond a splash of paint here and there. This changed though after the superdome fiasco. At the time the Bulls left VP and returned to Odsal, the lease was re-negotiated and under the new (last but one) lease the club received monies from the council but took on all responsibility for upkeep.
This was perceived by many as a 'council giveaway', but turned out to be shrewd move by the council (for once) and a bit of a poisoned chalice for the Bulls. This turned out to be the capital which largely fuelled the run of success, but much as all of us cheered every victory, it seems the 'windfall' was being squandered by the then board who made little, if any, provision for the future.
We have been in austerity mode since 2005ish, and whatever anyone has said about the current lot, I don't think they were the actual architects of this mess and they have been, in effect fire fighting, or fighting off financial chickens coming home to roost, since they took over. Clearly they haven't been all that successful at it. And now we are here - wish we weren't, but we are.