Huddersfield Town fans appeal for Galpharm Stadium share deal to be made public

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN fans today called for the scrapped stadium shares agreement between Dean Hoyle and Ken Davy to be made public.

The Huddersfield Town Supporters’ Association want both sides to settle the bitter dispute over the allocation of shares in Kirklees Stadium Development Ltd.

And they believe only full public disclosure of the terms of the deal agreed between the two businessmen back in February 2010 will allow settlement.

Last week, Huddersfield Giants’ owner Mr Davy said he would agree to the February 2010 agreement with Town owner Mr Hoyle.

The deal collapsed in December 2011 and since then there has been claim and counter claim with the role of both Mr Hoyle and Mr Davy coming under lots of scrutiny from fans.

Thousands of fans made their views known last Saturday, wearing lime-green shares campaign T-shirts at the Town v Brentford match.

Steve King, chairman of the supporters’ association, said: “When asked about the details of the February 2010 deal by supporters and HTSA, Mr Hoyle responded to questions by stating that the legal restrictions prevented him from making any detailed comment or answering.

“This was despite the terms being central to the collapse of the deal.

“There are claims being levelled at us in the media, that the fans are ill-informed and our campaign is misguided. That is not true, it is a smokescreen to undermine the campaign and belittle the voice of everyday supporters who are very concerned and worried.

“There are clearly some important issues and facts which need clarifying and a number of unanswered questions.

“The stadium share issue has become a major public interest issue for Huddersfield and Kirklees. Kirklees Council continues to fund the stadium and has guaranteed millions of pounds of stadium debts. There is no doubt the stadium’s affairs are shrouded in years of ‘secrecy’, despite 40% of it being owned by taxpayers and taxpayer money being pumped in every year.

“The lack of transparency is there for all to see. It undermines trust and is damaging. Mr Davy still says he wishes to do that deal of February 2010, but Mr Hoyle says the deal is dead.

“We have written to both Mr Hoyle and Mr Davy and called on them to open up their February 2010 agreement and reveal the full details.

“The public need to know and should know. This is not a private issue between two wealthy businessmen, it is in the public interest – public money is at stake as is the future of HTAFC in this stadium.”