HUDDERSFIELD TOWN fans have called for an end to the secrecy surrounding a shares deal over the John Smith’s Stadium.

Town, Huddersfield Giants and Kirklees Council are locked in negotiations over a bid to return shares to the football club.

Council leader Mehboob Khan told last week’s full council meeting that a deal was “very close.”

He hinted that cash sums involved were “not significant” for either side but warned if negotiations weren’t concluded soon the deal could collapse.

That has raised fear among fans and Huddersfield Town Supporters’ Association (HTSA) has stepped in.

HTSA chairman Steve King said Clr Khan’s comments raised more questions than they answered and demanded “full disclosure” on the status of the negotiations.

Mr King said: “We are pleased to read that negotiations are continuing but our question is simple: how close is an agreement, and what exactly are these ‘insignificant’ amounts?”

Clr Khan told the meeting that “the window of opportunity for finding a mutually acceptable way forward is in danger of being closed if progress is not made.”

But that also puzzled fans and Mr King said: “What exactly is a mutually acceptable way forward, and – more importantly – why is the situation in danger?

“Has some kind of deadline been imposed we are unaware of?”

Following a report of the meeting in the Examiner, Mr King and other senior HTSA officials met with local businessman Andy Shuter at the club’s Canalside complex, to explore how HTSA could play a part in facilitating a solution between the parties whilst respecting the council's request for more time.

Mr Shuter was involved in the ‘Lime Green’ campaign which saw more than 7,000 fluorescent T-shirts on show at Town’s Brentford fixture in January in protest over the shares issue.

Mr King declined to comment on discussions at the meeting but said: “We can assure supporters that we are on the case and will provide updates whenever possible.”

When the then Kirklees Stadium was first built in the mid-1990s Town and the council had 40% of the shares each while the Giants had 20%.

The shareholding, held in Kirklees Stadium Development Ltd (KSDL), changed when Giants chairman Ken Davy rescued Town from administration in 2003.

Davy transferred the football and rugby club’s shares to his Huddersfield Sporting Pride company.

He then sold Town to Dean Hoyle in 2009 but a deal to restore the club’s shareholding fell through and left Town without a stake in the stadium.