Mrs Barista wrote:As follows, I'd guess:
1989 - Rovers purchase freehold for new CP from Humberside County Council allegedly at a pretty reasonable price.
1992 - Humberside County Council agree to release the restrictive covenant on part of the land fronting Preston Road, which allows re-development for retail purposes
December 1999 Hull KR are in administration. Hull City Council agreed to proceed with the acquisition of Hull KR’s property interest in the New Craven Park. From the limited information that is available it is a reasonable assumption that the agreement with the administrator was to enable Hull KR to trade and to facilitate other commercial and community uses.
June 2000 The City Council grants a 250 year lease to the Gaingroup (now Kingston Community Developments Limited). A premium is paid to the Council upon completion of the lease under a peppercorn annual rental is payable. The lease is conditional upon KCD granting a sub lease to Hull KR in respect of the new Craven Park stadium.

So, in summary, the council paid Rovers for the freehold of NCP and engaged in a peppercorn lease arrangement which is ongoing. As already said, in the meantime FC pay half a million a year to the SMC, as do City (at least) . The Rovers "hard done to" stance is therefore a bit disingenuous.

Gordon Gekko wrote:A very well put and hard hitting article. It reinforces my belief that the stadium should never have been built when it was and the leasinging arrangments did not containt sufficient safeguards to protect the taxpayers investment.

Councillor Minns was dead set against the stadium when it was first proposed. What could possibly have happened since then to have changed his mind?? The more you dig the murkier and sleazier it gets.