Councillor Bird, who leads the Conservative-controlled council, said he had previously held talks with Walsall owner about the possibility of the council buying the stadium.
Councillor Bird said the football ground – which it is believed was last valued at around £6m – would make more financial sense than buying the saddlers centre that cost £13 million !
Makes me think lets get our money back buy getting the football club to pay !
In todays E&S not sure what to think about this at least jazzy jeff wouldnt have it but the way walsall council work the rent might get doubled in a year lol !
Not a great option as others have said. The council manage to make a dog’s breakfast over most things and would probably see it as a revenue cash cow rather than an asset it held in trust on behalf of the communities it sought to represent.
As it is now owned by a pension fund it is commercially bound to review the rent on an upwards basis
Under council ownership there may be some leeway in future rent negotiations dependant upon council finances, borrowing covenants and political pressure from voters. I stress may be.
Also for any future buyers of the club they may be able to twist the councils arm in negotiating a cheaper deal if council finances warrant a quick sale and auditors turn a blind eye, whereas the pension fund legally cannot accept a sale below market rates. So we may be only slightly more attractive a proposition to buyers and rid of Bonser.
Not a complete escape from Bonser but we would be starting to dig the tunnel.
Never been an advocate of council ownership, nor do I think it’s likely, even after the latest quotes.
I can see the logic why the Bonser bumchums would want council ownership, as it allows Bonser to walk away having seemingly done the “right” thing, when we all know what the right thing to do actually is.
Not quite sure why this is being talked up again now, but I suspect it has something to do with recent pressure on JB to sort out the land issue. Much like last time this happened, fans are aware of the issue and the council discussion provides a useful distraction without actually resolving anything
Sorry to disappoint you conspiracy merchants. The origin of this story lies in the decision of the former Labour led Council to buy the Saddlers shopping centre when shops are closing!!! I could make a political point here but will resist the temptation as it on a thread about our ground. All that has happened is that Mike Bird on taking over leadership of the Council has pointed out that buying our stadium would be a better deal for the council tax payers than buying a dying town centre shopping centre. I doubt anything will happen and as I posted earlier it isn’t what we want. We want someone ,be it JB,or someone else to unite the Club with the freehold land on which it stands. Don’t really care how that is achieved but if the club is to prosper in the longer term it needs to be done.
If the council were to buy the ground, and the rent money went on paying off the amount spent on purchasing the ground, gifting the ground back to the club that would be a very good bit of business. It won’t happen though!
Now you really have set the hearts racing with a prediction like THAT!
Chairman Ming Loi, made oodles of money producing plastic knives and forks in a Taiwan sweat shop…(I paid them the equivalent of £2 a day after all)…once saw a football match on the television, so he decided to buy a top soccer club in Poland! Unfortunately the translater was crud!
