HOYLE’S GROUND CONTROL

DEAN Hoyle has revealed that Huddersfield Town are reconsidering the plans to take ‘effective control’ of the John Smith’s Stadium proposed by former Terriers chairman Phil Hodgkinson.

The stadium is currently run through Kirklees Stadium Development Limited (KSDL), which itself is jointly operated by Huddersfield Town, Kirklees council and Huddersfield Giants. Under Hodgkinson’s proposal, the stadium would have been placed in trust with the football club granted a 25-year rolling lease, under which Town would have been responsible for the upkeep and development costs of the stadium but also would have directly received all revenues generated by the stadium.

Hodgkinson had spoken in September of plans to receive a ‘loan on favourable terms... in the region of about £10-12million’ as part of the stadium being put into trust. His intention was this would be invested in improvements to the stadium, including redevelopment of the corporate areas, a tunnel club in the main stand, and improved concourses – as well as the construction of a hotel to help turn the club into a conferencing centre.

However, Hodgkinson has since resigned from the club’s board of directors after several of his other businesses went into administration in November, with 25 per cent owner and former chairman Hoyle resuming day-today running of the club.

Hoyle is currently in the process of buying back the remaining 75pc share in the club.

Currently interim chief executive, Hoyle was one of several club representatives at the latest All Together Town meeting – a quarterly meeting between the club and fan groups including Huddersfield Town Supporters’ Association (HTSA) and Huddersfield

Town

Supporters’ Club.

The minutes of that meeting, available on the HTSA website, show that the question of stadium ownership was raised.

In response, Hoyle ‘cautioned that the previously reported proposal had not been in the best interests of the club.’

The minutes add: “The club is, however, engaged in negotiations with Kirklees Council (KMC) and the Huddersfield Giants to find a long-term solution that balances the interests of all shareholders.

“One of the most pressing matters is to ensure that capital expenditure requirements for the next five years are met.”

Hoyle also reiterated that he feels the football club needs stability and once his proposed takeover of the club is complete he ‘is committed to

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The club is in negotiations to find a solution that balances interests