'Shay still viable without a football team,' says Stadium Trust's fund-raising chairman
THE demise of Halifax Town should not derail plans to develop the Shay stadium, according to the man tasked with raising £1 million to kit it out.
Philip Hellawell said the ground would be viable without a football team.
"The news of Town's inevitable liquidation is a massive blow to me and all the other directors of The Shay Stadium Trust," he said.
"We have been striving valiantly for the past four years years to produce a genuine community stadium for Calderdale, and also to help secure the futures of both Halifax Town and Halifax Rugby League Club."
Mr Hellawell said there was nothing the trust or anybody else could have done once creditors rejected an offer to clear the football club's debts on Friday.
"As finance director I think I know the accounts of SST better than most and, I believe that the end of Halifax Town does not bring with it the inevitable demise of Halifax RLFC.
"I do not share our chairman Roger Simpson's doubts about the stadium's sustainability with a sole tenant, indeed I am confident that the rugby club could carry on at the Shay on its own."
For that to happen the stadium would have to run on much more commercial lines in the future which it would once the east stand was completed, said Mr Hellawell.
"Also, the running costs of a rugby stadium and pitch are considerably less than those for a football club and I know there are substantial overheads which can be economised," he said.
"I would, therefore, ask everybody to think positively and focus on what can be done for the future rather than what has happened in the past."
Calderdale Council recently agreed to spend up to 2.7 million on ground improvements which would attract income from corporate events.
The trust has to raise another 1 million to kit out the east stand. It has pledges of 100,000 and Mr Hellawell said there were many more avenues to go down.
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