TOWN fans are demanding to know why Kirklees Council has yet to approve a transfer of shares that would give the club back its stake in the company running the Galpharm Stadium.

Outgoing Town chairman Ken Davy and his successor Dean Hoyle announced late last year that they had agreed the transfer of a 40% stake in Kirklees Stadium Development Ltd from Mr Davy’s Huddersfield Sporting Pride Ltd to the football club.

That would restore the original share-split with Huddersfield Town and the council each having a 40% stake in the stadium and Huddersfield Giants having a 20% holding.

At the time, it was thought that Kirklees Council, which also has a 40% stake in KSDL, would approve the move in a matter of a few days.

But more than three months later, the council has still not ratified the deal.

Now members of Huddersfield Town Supporters’ Association are calling for an explanation – amid suggestions that the council is holding out because it wants to re-negotiate its financial commitments to KSDL.

Supporters’ Association chairman Marcus Middleton has written to Kirklees councillors asking them to say where they stand on the issue.

He has also fired off letters to council leader Clr Mehboob Khan, chief executive Rob Vincent and Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman.

“Some councillors have said they will look into it and others have referred to Rob Vincent,” said Mr Middleton. “But that’s not what I was asking. I wanted to know what they thought, but it would seem they don’t have an opinion.”

The letter said: “The stadium was built in 1993 with a well-meaning partnership, giving a home to the town’s two greatest sporting achievers – the rugby and football clubs.

“Town was a major financial contributor to that partnership.

“We believe that the initial agreement should be restored forthwith and seek an explanation as to why this hasn’t happened yet, together with a practical timetable for completion.”

Figures from Kirklees Council’s 2008-2009 statement of accounts underline the authority’s financial commitment to KSDL and its activities.

The council originally guaranteed the financing of the stadium’s construction, pending the receipt of funds. The loan has been restructured and the Council has guaranteed the new loan of £7.4m to be repaid over 20 years commencing in February, 2001. At March 31, 2009, the loan stood at £5.5m.

The Council also agreed to guarantee an investment of £1.7m in the development of the north stand and a loan of £900,000 to KSDL for the construction of The Barn sports facility at Leeds Road playing fields. At the end of March, 2009, the balance on the loan was £560,000.

The latest accounts also show that Kirklees is providing KSDL with funding of £275,000 a year as well as paying rent of the use of office space at the stadium – amounting to £70,000 in 2008-2009. The Council also paid the company a further £48,000 in various rents and maintenance in the year to the end of March, 2009.

A statement from Kirklees Council said: “The council is pleased that agreement has been reached between Dean Hoyle and Ken Davy about the shares in KSDL previously owned by HTAFC being returned to their ownership.

“This would put shareholding back to its original balance between the partners and this would be welcomed by the council.

“In order for this to happen, the legal agreement that underpins the commitments that the shareholders make has to be revised.

“The council is in discussions with the other partners about how the financial future of the stadium can best be protected for future generations by the revisions that are made.

“Discussions of a complex nature such as this can take time, but the council is keen to pursue them to a sound conclusion as soon possible.”