Matt Shaw interview with Ken Davy.
https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A ... r9zuc_QlGAMatthew Shaw (MS): Ken, thanks for your time. I do have to ask, why is it so imperative for you to leave the John Smith's Stadium in the next year or so?
Ken Davy (KD): We can stay at the John Smith's Stadium indefinitely. There is no pressure on us to leave whatsoever and we could probably stay for the next 100 years or so. But I believe quite strongly that it is the wrong size for us. If we were getting two or three times what we are getting, we would manage. But when you're only getting between four and six thousand, excellent though the stadium is, we rattle, and it's hard to get the type of atmosphere, our team, supporters and Super League deserves.
MS: Is there anything of substance regarding a home in Huddersfield yet? And I suppose the follow-up question is that if there isn't, how can you be confident of ever returning to the town?
KD: We are the Huddersfield Giants and therefore, it is our intention to build a stadium in Huddersfield. We started around three years ago now, before the new ownership of Huddersfield's football club. We identified one site that we spent a considerable amount of money on with the pre-planning work. But unfortunately, Kirklees Council redesignated the land for a different use for which a stadium wasn't on the list. That was a big disappointment and set us back 12 to 18 months.
In the last nine months or so we have been looking again much more actively and we have had two sites rejected, of which one was the old Fartown ground. The size is an issue, as is the surrounding housing and the traffic. The key thing was that under all regulations, it wasn't suitable for a 7,500-capacity stadium.
We are still looking and have two or three sites in mind and on one of them, we're almost at the pre-planning application stage. So in a nutshell, we are spending a significant amount of money trying to find an appropriate site in Huddersfield so we can have our own stadium there. It is our number one priority.
MS: What happens once you leave The Shay?
KD: I have already spoken to both clubs and assured them that there will be a buy-back option available to them once we find ourselves in that position.
KD: Initially, they had a number of queries and questions, as you would expect. We've met several times, I've been up to Harrogate to meet David Bosomworth (FC Halifax Town chairman) and a colleague and I've also met with the Panthers several times as well. I believe we have formed a very good working relationship.
MS: How does this impact the requirements of FC Halifax Town and requirements for entry to the Football League? I believe they need to have a primacy of tenancy if they are promoted.
KD: We have assured FC Halifax Town that they will have primacy of fixtures and we're well-used to working in that type of situation with Huddersfield Town, so it is a non-issue. For the Panthers, it is part of the IMG grading criteria but not a necessity and indeed, there are a number of current Super League clubs that share football stadiums with co-tenants.
MS: What happens if you don't secure a home back in Huddersfield?
KD: That isn't our intention and therefore I would consider that most unlikely.
MS: I did see a list of questions from an independent trust interested in acquiring The Shay and they asked if you had sought the views of the RFL and National League?
KD: We don't want any involvement in FC Halifax Town or Halifax Panthers, they are independent clubs. But there are no difficulties imagined there with any of the sporting bodies because what we are doing is currently taking a less-than-adequate stadium into the new era.
MS: You've mentioned the facility improvements you would like to do at The Shay which will benefit the Panthers in the long term on the IMG grading front. But will the Panthers have to move out for a period for that work to be done?
KD: The key issue is it absolutely needs a new pitch putting down. There is a desperate need because the football club has, on several occasions, had games postponed and even played games elsewhere. Clearly, if we were to move to The Shay, we would want an improved pitch. If this is going to work, a new hybrid pitch must go in this coming year.
That will cause additional disruption to the Panthers, no doubt about that. They would normally expect to leave The Shay for around six weeks for normal maintenance and this could mean double that. I have already assured the Panthers that I recognise it is a significant inconvenience to them and their supporters, so I have agreed to compensate them on an open-book accounting basis for the loss of income that they suffer.
MS: I appreciate timelines are difficult but do you have one in mind?
KD: If this is to go ahead, and going back to your point about staying at the John Smith's, we need to be in there for the 2026 season, so the work on the pitch must be done in 2025. So in a sense, I will have to take a risk in supporting the new pitch as I anticipate making interest-free loans to both clubs to get the pitch installed. Then, if it all fell through, it would take me quite some time to recover those loans.
However, the timeline for getting involved, if this were to happen, does need to be this year. It's entirely dependent on Calderdale Council, they own The Shay and it would be up to them when it took place and there are various council procedures and protocols that are important to follow. So I suppose it will be sometime this year, it could be as soon as the summer and as late as the autumn.
MS: Just lastly, I'm sure there are many supporters uneasy about leaving the town under any circumstances. What would your message be to them?
KD: Well, it's not something that is fundamentally welcome. However, I believe, and I must say the feedback from the great majority of our fans, they feel the atmosphere at The Shay will be much more appropriate to Giants rugby league matches. I am optimistic, I do understand the concerns and we will be making available transport from the John Smith's to The Shay and back again. We will be doing all we can to make it as palatable as possible and as attractive as possible for Giants fans, though we all recognise that it will be an inconvenience. But the prize of playing in a stadium of a more appropriate size and having a great atmosphere, as well as benefits for all clubs, I think will be really welcomed by the fans of all three clubs.
I will be speaking to supporters at the season-opening luncheon on January 17th, when I hope to be able to elaborate on all these points further. End of article.
One big question from all of this is with the mention of loans to both clubs is "who's paying for the pitch?"
