The shay

[Faxpanthers2025]

Interesting to see some of the new board named on social media as an interested party in running the shay. One to ask at the fans forum in a couple of weeks.

 

***Future of The Shay: Council confirms three interested parties as stadium faces £500k annual deficit***

Calderdale Council has confirmed that three separate parties have come forward with expressions of interest in taking over the running of The Shay Stadium, following the collapse of a controversial sale to Huddersfield Giants owner Ken Davy.

At this afternoon's first Cabinet meeting since May's local elections, Councillor Mike Payne, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, Assets and Resources, set out the council's position on the stadium's future, revealing that the venue is currently operating without a defined budget and runs at an annual deficit of around £500,000.

*Council committed to stadium's future*

Councillor Payne made clear that the council is determined to secure a sustained future for The Shay and that there are no plans for the authority to withdraw from its operation. However, he acknowledged that the current level of expenditure is not viable without adequate resourcing, and that external investment is now being sought.

The financial challenge facing the stadium comes against a backdrop of wider council budget pressures. Calderdale Council spent £7.9 million more than budgeted for in 2025-26, and further savings of £3.2 million in 2027-28 and £7.6 million in 2028-29 will need to be found to balance the books.

*Three offers on the table – a closer look at the bidders*

Following the collapse of the deal with Ken Davy, the council has received three expressions of interest. All three bidders have committed to retaining the stadium for sport and want to see it evolve into a community hub, believing the complex holds "immense potential". However, an investigation into their backgrounds reveals three distinctly different profiles.

*Stewart and Beverley Charnock Bates: The local property veterans with a footballing past*

Stewart Ian Charnock Bates is a chartered surveyor and the founder of Charnock Bates, an established estate agency and chartered surveying firm that has been operating for decades, specialising in country houses, listed buildings, and period homes across West Yorkshire. He is credited with "putting the area on the map for high-end property" and has successfully marketed Calderdale to buyers from outside the region, even opening a London Mayfair office to attract external investment.

His connection to The Shay is deeply personal. Growing up in Calderdale, he signed for Halifax Town FC at the age of 18, though a football injury cut his playing career short. He later captained Warley Cricket Club in the 1980s. Professionally, he has a track record of restoring landmark local buildings, including the renovation of the Field House estate and the conversion of the derelict Drill Hall in Halifax into apartments.

His wife and business partner, Beverley Charnock Bates, serves as a director and company secretary of their property consultancy firm, Bates UK Property Consultants Ltd. The pair are exploring a Community Asset Transfer and have successfully secured grant funding for sports projects in the past.

*Tony Wood: The manufacturing heavyweight with a global supply chain*

Tony Wood is a director of The Roxor Group, a significant British manufacturer of bathroom and home improvement products headquartered in Halifax. The group, which owns the nuie, Hudson Reed, and Asquiths brands, has been based in Halifax for over 30 years.

Wood’s commercial footprint is substantial. His directorial portfolio shows he has been a director of 17 companies since 2000, with a combined turnover of approximately £189.6 million at one point. He currently serves as Chief Sourcing Officer, a role responsible for global manufacturing capability and strategic supply chains.

His company’s local commitment is already visible at The Shay; the nuie brand is the current principal sponsor of FC Halifax Town’s away kits. Wood has previously stated that "supporting our local community is a key priority for us" and that they have been "proud supporters of FC Halifax Town from day one". He is also looking at establishing a community trust as part of his bid.

*The Panthers Consortium: Directors with corporate ties*

The third bid comes from a consortium of Halifax Panthers directors – John Coulter, Ben Walker, and Jaswat Chatha – who are proposing to operate as the Calderdale Community Stadium. They are already involved in operating Halifax Panthers, giving them first-hand experience of the stadium's day-to-day challenges.

John Coulter, a former builder, is a director of Coulter Developments Limited, a dormant company based in Halifax, where he holds 75-100% of the shares. Benjamin Walker is listed as a director of the new Halifax Panthers club, while Jaswat Chatha is a director of J C Business Consultancy Limited and owner of Chathas network of local shops.

*Next steps*

Discussions so far have only been in principle. All interested parties will now be invited to submit full business cases.

The council has asked for any further expressions of interest to be submitted by Sunday 2nd August on a specific template, available from the council.

A four-week evaluation period will then follow, during which the council will assess the bids and seek further clarification. A report will be written on 3rd September, with a final decision expected at the 5th October Cabinet meeting.

The Shay Stadium, home to both FC Halifax Town and Halifax Panthers, was designated as an Asset of Community Value in March 2024. The council had previously agreed to dispose of the stadium as part of budget-saving measures, but the new Reform-led administration made reviewing the sale one of its first priorities after taking control in May.

Council Leader Dan Sutherland was particularly scathing in his comments about the proposed disposal they inherited from the previous Labour administration. 

He said: “I am sure the public will be pleased to see the new era of transparency within this council. We are fully open with our plans, who we are talking to and what the timeline is. 

“And also, having heard from many supporters who were concerned about the previous plan, which was to sell, and all the risks that came with it, hopefully they will be pleased that we are looking to retain ownership, which is a massive step change from the rather risky situation we faced.” he added. 

*Analysis: A promising step forward, but the devil lies in the detail*

While significant financial hurdles remain, the council's approach to The Shay's future marks a notable departure from the closed-door negotiations that characterised the previous administration's planned disposal.

For a local authority grappling with a £7.9 million overspend and millions more in required savings, the decision to pause, invite open expressions of interest, and retain public ownership of the freehold is a pragmatic and reassuring middle ground. Rather than rushing into a single, all-or-nothing sale, Calderdale Council has opted for transparency—publishing a clear timeline, naming the interested parties, and giving supporters and the wider public a window into a process that could have easily remained shrouded in confidentiality clauses.

Crucially, by retaining the freehold, the council ensures that The Shay—a venue designated as an Asset of Community Value—remains in public hands. This safeguards the long-term sporting future of both FC Halifax Town and the Halifax Panthers, while still allowing external expertise and private capital to address the stadium's crippling £500,000 annual deficit.

The ambition is clear: to transform a loss-making liability into a self-sustaining community hub that generates its own revenue through events, conferences, and commercial activity, without relying on perpetual council bailouts. The stadium complex undeniably holds immense potential, sitting as it does at the heart of Calderdale's sporting and cultural identity.

However, the devil, as ever, will be in the detail. The full business cases, due for submission by 2nd August, must withstand rigorous financial scrutiny. The council's four-week evaluation period will need to probe not just balance sheets, but also governance structures.

Yet, for now, the signs are promising. With three committed bidders offering distinctly different strengths—from property expertise and manufacturing heft to local retail and sporting directorship—and a council seemingly willing to listen, there is genuine hope that The Shay can finally realise its potential.

If the right intentions, ambition, and vision prevail, this could mark the beginning of a new chapter: transforming a financial headache into a true asset for Calderdale, one that future generations can be proud of.

Edited July 13 by Faxpanthers2025

[Magicsponge]

Interesting..The Charnock Bates vision appeals most at this stage.Nuie sponsor Towns full kit range including the home shirt..

[Faxpanthers2025]

Bit of an update from today’s council meeting (via ‘Calderdale Council Watch’ on FB)

***The Shay: Three Bids Confirmed as Surprise Third Contender Emerges***

Cabinet members received an update this afternoon from Councillor Mike Payne on the future of The Shay, confirming that three bids were submitted ahead of Sunday's midnight deadline — but with one notable absence and one striking late entry.

*Tony Wood Bid Fails to Materialise*

In a surprise development, no submission was received from Tony Wood's Roxor Group, despite it having been publicly confirmed as one of the front-runners throughout the expressions-of-interest process. No explanation has yet been given for the withdrawal.

*The Three Bids on the Table*

Calderdale Community Stadium Consortium A consortium of three Halifax Panthers directors, this bid proposes a long-term lease with a phased operational transition. The vision is a genuine "seven-day destination" serving both FC Halifax Town and Halifax Panthers alongside the wider community, with plans to expand opportunities in sport, education, health and wellbeing.

Stewart & Beverley Charnock-Bates As previously reported, the Charnock-Bates team has maintained its commitment to a Community Benefit Society (CBS) model, operating on a "one member, one vote" not-for-profit basis. The aim is to secure the stadium's long-term future through direct community governance, independent of any single club's interests, while embedding community benefit at the heart of how the Shay is run.

Halifax FC Women (in partnership with a Dubai-based advisory group) The third bid, and the one likely to raise the most eyebrows, comes from Halifax FC Women, working in partnership with an advisory group based in Dubai. Their proposal envisages a long-term lease and would establish the Shay as a permanent home for women's football in the town, alongside development as a multi-purpose community hub, with ambitions spanning health, education and events programming.

*How Cabinet Will Evaluate the Bids*

Councillors Payne and Hunt will now lead a detailed review, supported by relevant council officers, examining each proposal against a consistent set of criteria:

• Financial viability — whether the model can credibly close the stadium's operating deficit
• Commitment to the tenant clubs — guaranteeing stability for both professional teams
• Community engagement and access — ensuring the facility stays open to the wider public
• Spectator experience — capital improvement plans and day-to-day operational quality

All three bidding teams will be invited to present their plans in greater detail, so that decision-makers have full visibility of what's actually on the table before any recommendation is made.

*Legal Mechanics and Transparency*

Transparency remains a stated core principle of the process, and the legal terrain here is not straightforward. Because the disposal of public land and long-term lease arrangements carry strict statutory obligations — particularly Section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972, which governs the disposal of "open space" land, and the Asset of Community Value (ACV) framework, which restricts how the Shay can be sold or let while it remains community-designated — the Council has indicated that specialist external advice may be sought. This follows challenges raised during the process, and is intended to ensure all legal and technical considerations are properly understood before a final decision is taken.

*Cllr Payne's Statement*

Cllr Payne told the meeting:

"The public and bidders should be aware that the process will be fair, accountable and focussed on the long-term outcome for Calderdale as a whole. The decision won't be about who operates the stadium, but who can provide a sustainable legacy for future generations."

*Our View*

Given how this issue was handled under the previous Labour administration, Reform's approach so far has been a marked change of tone — visibly more structured, and more explicit about transparency and due process. Whether that translates into a genuinely better outcome for the Shay and the community it serves remains to be seen, but the shift in approach is, for now, a welcome one. We'll be watching closely to see whether it continues in the same vein as bidders are invited to present their plans in the weeks ahead.

[The Blues Ox]

Not exactly going as Town fans would have hoped when they hounded Ken Davy out of buying the stadium.

[Faxpanthers2025]

Council press release went out this afternoon but not loads new in it. Dubai bid sounds bizarre.
 

https://news.calderdale.gov.uk/update-on-the-future-of-the-shay-stadium/?fbclid=IwdGRleATfB4ZwZG9mAWZkaWQWUL0BT4teiEl3dfl1p_61Hn5T_FmIDGV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR73mxy6Qj-VbW5nDW6oQM-bBMd-AcC_snKWFbe5r0Q9K2E69ReUOJXJjeG4cA_aem_nBt483WbaVj8fQZT64RA0Q

The Charnock bates interview in the courier was interesting I thought. Very fair points about how badly the ground has been run.

https://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news/people/were-acting-for-the-community-of-calderdale-says-one-of-the-parties-hoping-to-take-over-running-of-the-shay-8818465

[UpTheFax]

13 hours ago, The Blues Ox said:

Not exactly going as Town fans would have hoped when they hounded Ken Davy out of buying the stadium.

3 bids, all wanting the leasehold rather than freehold? I think that is all they ever wanted.

Unfortunately there isnt much information to form an opinion on the best option. Only the Charnock Bates bidders have given any sort of overview of their bid.

I would say the Halifax FC Women bid is the one that concerns me most and the involvement of people in Dubai. As for our bid, I am not sure if we need the complication of running the Shay.

[The Blues Ox]

15 minutes ago, UpTheFax said:

3 bids, all wanting the leasehold rather than freehold? I think that is all they ever wanted.

Unfortunately there isnt much information to form an opinion on the best option. Only the Charnock Bates bidders have given any sort of overview of their bid.

I would say the Halifax FC Women bid is the one that concerns me most and the involvement of people in Dubai. As for our bid, I am not sure if we need the complication of running the Shay.

The FC Women bid is a strange one, I don't think they have much in the way of ties with Halifax Town, I'd rank that as the most worrying alongside the bid from the Rugby club.

The Charnock Bates bid from what we have heard easily looks the best bid but as Rugby fans do we want Town supporters running the stadium as Fax will be very quickly out on their ear when the inevitable happens again and the club start to miss the rent payments.

[Tony Fax]

Just glad Ken Davy is no longer in the picture, it just didn't make sense what he was up to. And if SL get a bad SKY deal with reduced funding, it will all be very chaotic. I see Betfred aren't renewing their sponsorship, not even Fred's love for the sport is standing up anymore. Watch this space ..........

[UpTheFax]

Davy has apparently found a site for a new stadium (the big announcement) and will only temporarily be moving to Dewsbury. I have heard its up near the M62. 

[Magicsponge]

1 hour ago, The Blues Ox said:

The FC Women bid is a strange one, I don't think they have much in the way of ties with Halifax Town, I'd rank that as the most worrying alongside the bid from the Rugby club.

The Charnock Bates bid from what we have heard easily looks the best bid but as Rugby fans do we want Town supporters running the stadium as Fax will be very quickly out on their ear when the inevitable happens again and the club start to miss the rent payments.

There's a very obvious solution there....

[The Blues Ox]

5 hours ago, Magicsponge said:

There's a very obvious solution there....

You would think, but there's four certainty's in life, birth, death, taxes, and Fax missing rent payments. Hopefully this time is different. 

[Tony Fax]

Yes, the missed rent payment is a shocker, it's like me forgetting to pay my mortgage.

Whoever is responsible for paying the bills should be sacked because they obviously don't know what they're doing. Unless fax really are strapped for cash which at this early stage is worrying, and then it would be doubly worrying because they said it was an oversight meaning they'd be fibbing. But I don't think they are!

[Faxpanthers2025]

The FC fans/‘Friends of the shay’ seem very quiet about all this given how noisy they were over Davy. Interesting statement from the Fax directors bid. 

 

We have been asked to post a statement to the Panthers fans and beyond.

Calderdale Community Stadium consortium sets out its vision for the future

The Calderdale Community Stadium consortium, which has submitted a bid to take on the long-term stewardship of The Shay Stadium, has today issued the first in a series of statements outlining its vision for the stadium’s future and its ambitions for the wider Calderdale community.

Our decision to submit a bid is rooted in a genuine commitment to Calderdale and its people. We believe the stadium is an important community asset with the potential to deliver much greater sporting, social and economic benefits for the borough.

Our ambition is to safeguard its future, attract investment and create a sustainable, welcoming stadium that serves the whole community. Above all, we want to leave a positive legacy for future generations and help create a facility of which everyone in Calderdale can be proud.

It is important to clarify that this bid has been submitted by an independent stadium consortium. It is not a bid by the directors of Halifax Panthers, nor is it being made on behalf of the rugby league club.

Members of the consortium were part of the group of local businesspeople who stepped forward earlier this year to help save Halifax Panthers from liquidation. That intervention was made because the loss of a historic sporting institution would have been devastating for its supporters, employees, players and the wider Halifax community.

Since then, considerable time, expertise and financial support have been committed to giving the Panthers an opportunity to stabilise and rebuild. That experience reinforced our belief in the importance of protecting Calderdale’s sporting institutions and ensuring they have a secure and sustainable home.

However, our plans for the Calderdale Community Stadium extend far beyond any one club or sport.

FC Halifax Town is central to the identity and future of the stadium. We want to work openly and constructively with the football club, its directors, supporters and wider community. We fully recognise the club’s proud history, its importance to Halifax and the essential role it must play in shaping the stadium’s future.

Our vision is for a genuinely inclusive community stadium that welcomes football, rugby league and other sports at every level. It should support men’s and women’s teams, girls’ and boys’ participation, disability and wheelchair sport, grassroots organisations, schools, charities and community groups.

We want more people regardless of their age, gender, background or ability to have the opportunity to participate in sport and to feel that the stadium belongs to them.

This bid is not about favouring one resident club over another. It is about protecting a major community asset, creating a sustainable future, encouraging collaboration and unlocking investment for the benefit of Calderdale.

We recognise the significant responsibility that comes with seeking stewardship of such an important community venue. If our bid is successful, we will work closely with Calderdale Council, FC Halifax Town, Halifax FC Women, Halifax Panthers, Halifax Panthers Women, supporters, local sporting organisations, community groups and residents many of whom we hope will be based at The Shay to create a lasting sporting and community legacy for Calderdale.

Over the coming weeks, we intend to share more about the consortium, our plans for the stadium and the benefits we believe our proposals could bring to Calderdale.

This is the beginning of that conversation.

Our motivation is straightforward: to give something back to Calderdale, secure the long-term future of the stadium and leave a lasting legacy for generations to come.

Finally, we would also like to place on record our best wishes to the other bidders and our recognition of the time, commitment and ambition each has brought to this process. While we firmly believe in our vision for The Shay, we share a common desire to secure a sustainable and successful future for the stadium. Ultimately, what matters most is achieving the best possible outcome for the clubs, supporters and wider Calderdale community.

CALDERDALE COMMUNITY STADIUM CONSORTIUM

UNITED BY SPORT | STRONGER TOGETHER

[Magicsponge]

Nothing to dislike there,wherever you pin your mast..

[UpTheFax]

3 minutes ago, Magicsponge said:

Nothing to dislike there,wherever you pin your mast..

I agree. Reads similar to the Charnock Bates article in the Courier a week or so ago. Wonder if the two could work together which would seem the obvious way forward. 

[Blind side johnny]

On 05/08/2026 at 08:06, UpTheFax said:

3 bids, all wanting the leasehold rather than freehold? I think that is all they ever wanted.

Unfortunately there isnt much information to form an opinion on the best option. Only the Charnock Bates bidders have given any sort of overview of their bid.

I would say the Halifax FC Women bid is the one that concerns me most and the involvement of people in Dubai. As for our bid, I am not sure if we need the complication of running the Shay.

Wasn't there a supposed Dubai involvement in the rescue of NW Crusaders that never actually came to much?

Asset-stripping is my guess, and I have no skin in any games.