Happy Fox Posted 7 November 2013 Posted 7 November 2013 http://foxestrust.co.uk/2709/council-approve-trust-application-of-asset-of-community-value-for-stadium Press Release from the Foxes Trust – November 6th 2013 COUNCIL APPROVE FOXES TRUST APPLICATION FOR LEICESTER CITY'S STADIUM TO BE LISTED AS AN ASSET OF COMMUNITY VALUE The Foxes Trust is delighted that Leicester City Council has today agreed the Trust's application for the King Power Stadium - home of Leicester City Football Club - to be listed as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) under the Localism Act (2011). Assets of Community Value are designed to apply a ‘pause’ to any plans to sell land which is important to local communities, and to give those communities time to compile a bid to buy it themselves. In its nomination to Leicester City Council, sent on 5 September 2013, the Trust set out a number of reasons why the Stadium should be considered an Asset of Community Value, including: - Protecting the Stadium’s use as the venue for Leicester City Football Club for current and future generations, and - Ensuring it continues as a site for delivering social benefit and community value, through the continued hosting of Leicester City matches and the associated community activities Leicester City undertakes. The listing means that, should the owner of the Stadium wish to sell, they will be required to notify the Council and the Foxes Trust, who will then have six weeks to lodge a non-binding expression of interest. This would trigger a further four and half months (making six months in total) for a rival bid to be prepared. The full moratorium period exists to afford community interest groups sufficient time to prepare and raise money to bid for the property. Importantly, as a result of this process, fans - and the wider community - also have more transparency about the club: it will not be possible for a sale to be made without prior public announcement. Foxes Trust is the Supporters Trust for Leicester City Football Club. As a properly constituted, democratically run Trust, it meets the criteria for a community organisation recognised in law as being able to request ACV listings. Commenting on the successful application, Foxes Trust Chairman, Ian Bason said, “The decision to list the Stadium reduces the fear of any football fan - that the club they have supported all their life is suddenly moved to another location. It happened at Wimbledon many years ago and more recently at Coventry. Such decisions give scant regard to how they affect the lifeblood of a club - its fans.†“We have no reason to believe that current owners, King Power, have plans to sell the stadium or club, however we believe listing the stadium not only protects the stadium, but also opens up a pathway to dialogue with any new potential owners of the club and stadium, so we can seek assurances on their plans.†"King Power Stadium now joins a growing list, including Old Trafford, Anfield and Portman Road, where properly constituted, democratically run Trusts have taken an important step to protect the heritage and continuity of their club.†Kevin Rye, spokesman for Supporters Direct, the governing body for supporters’ trusts, said, “Well done to the Foxes Trust for their work to make sure that the King Power Stadium takes its place alongside the Kassam Stadium at Oxford United, Old Trafford, Anfield & Ewood Park, all stadia successfully listed by supporters' trusts. "Many more applications are being lodged from across football – and interest is coming from other sports. We know that the Department of Communities and Local Government is especially pleased at the initiative being shown by our members in taking advantage of this legislation. “This and all other successful listings go to demonstrate the now well established fact that clubs and their stadiums are undeniably community assets and not simply part of an investment portfolio.†Editorial Notes Part 5 Chapter 3 of the Localism Act 2011 and the Assets of Community Value (England) Regulations 2012, were approved by resolution of both Houses and came into force in England on 21 September 2012. Since the scheme came into force over 360 Assets of Community Value have been listed, including football grounds such as the Kassam Stadium (Oxford), Liberty Way (Nuneaton Town), Anfield (Liverpool), Old Trafford (Manchester United) and Portman Road (Ipswich Town) – apply to football grounds. The bid to make King Power Stadium an Asset of Community Value was submitted by Foxes Trust, the Leicester City Supporters Trust. Foxes Trust is affiliated to Supporters Direct, an organization which promotes the value of supporter and community engagement in football. Foxes Trust was set up ten years ago, and was part of the consortium that took Leicester City Football Club out of administration. The Trust acts as a democratically elected route for fans and has a constructive relationship with the Club.
StanSP Posted 7 November 2013 Posted 7 November 2013 I like this bit: Importantly, as a result of this process, fans - and the wider community - also have more transparency about the club: it will not be possible for a sale to be made without prior public announcement.
Bayfox Posted 7 November 2013 Posted 7 November 2013 Great so if KP decide to sell to a developer who values the land at 5 million for example, the foxes trust want who exactly to launch a rival bid? And if the owners are selling what would that mean for the club? Already folded, they plan to move it? What a waste of time and resources. Really of no benefit to anyone really, infact I wouldn't be surprised if this drives a further wedge between the trust and the owners.
Freeman's Wharfer Posted 7 November 2013 Posted 7 November 2013 Can't see the problem with it myself. It only allows the Foxes Trust to take action if they feel it's necessary, presumably if this was a case of the owners wanting to sell as part of a takeover the FT (and council) wouldn't have issue with that. The thing it prevents against is it being sold for the benefit of any individual and not the club.
Freeman's Wharfer Posted 7 November 2013 Posted 7 November 2013 I really don't get the negative reaction to this. Ultimately, what harm can this do?! Are the owners really going to think: "Oh, the Foxes Trust think we're going to sell the stadium! That's it! We're gone!"? Of course they aren't. If they have the club's best interests at heart they'll appreciate why a supporters' trust would want this in place. I have reason to think that the Foxes Trust would maliciously stand in the way of any takeover that's in Leicester City's best interests so surely this can only be positive for the safe-guarding of our club and current stadium?!
StanSP Posted 7 November 2013 Posted 7 November 2013 Great so if KP decide to sell to a developer who values the land at 5 million for example, the foxes trust want who exactly to launch a rival bid? And if the owners are selling what would that mean for the club? Already folded, they plan to move it? What a waste of time and resources. Really of no benefit to anyone really, infact I wouldn't be surprised if this drives a further wedge between the trust and the owners. It gives the Foxes Trust a chance to assess the possibilities and at least check the new buyers out if the current owners decide to sell. It gives them half a year to drum up some response and possible rejection to any new bidders all through the best interests of the club and the fans. If the owners are selling, I'm sure that will become transparent through the Foxes Trust, too. I doubt the club will fold in the blink of an eye without any one knowing and then suddenly we only find out because the stadium is being sold by the owners. It's hardly a waste of time and resources. To say it's no benefit to anyone is also way off the mark. It means that the stadium will remain as it is, as a footballing venue, and not get bought out without any protest - it's a massive benefit to the fans for sure. I really don't get the negative reaction to this. Ultimately, what harm can this do?! Are the owners really going to think: "Oh, the Foxes Trust think we're going to sell the stadium! That's it! We're gone!"? Of course they aren't. If they have the club's best interests at heart they'll appreciate why a supporters' trust would want this in place. I have reason to think that the Foxes Trust would maliciously stand in the way of any takeover that's in Leicester City's best interests so surely this can only be positive for the safe-guarding of our club and current stadium?! This.
ealingfox Posted 7 November 2013 Posted 7 November 2013 I really don't get the negative reaction to this. Ultimately, what harm can this do?! Are the owners really going to think: "Oh, the Foxes Trust think we're going to sell the stadium! That's it! We're gone!"? Of course they aren't. If they have the club's best interests at heart they'll appreciate why a supporters' trust would want this in place. I have reason to think that the Foxes Trust would maliciously stand in the way of any takeover that's in Leicester City's best interests so surely this can only be positive for the safe-guarding of our club and current stadium?! Welcome to FoxesTalk.
Bayfox Posted 7 November 2013 Posted 7 November 2013 It gives the Foxes Trust a chance to assess the possibilities and at least check the new buyers out if the current owners decide to sell. It gives them half a year to drum up some response and possible rejection to any new bidders all through the best interests of the club and the fans. If the owners are selling, I'm sure that will become transparent through the Foxes Trust, too. I doubt the club will fold in the blink of an eye without any one knowing and then suddenly we only find out because the stadium is being sold by the owners. It's hardly a waste of time and resources. To say it's no benefit to anyone is also way off the mark. It means that the stadium will remain as it is, as a footballing venue, and not get bought out without any protest - it's a massive benefit to the fans for sure. This. But the point still remains, a stadium without a team is an empty venue. The owners or potential new buyers could decide to up sticks and move the club, then why would we want 6 months to asses if we want to buy a pointless stadium, unless we go down the FC United route. Or if King Power go tits up and need to sell assets, they will still have shifted all the players they can before they bail out and again the trust would be left with a decision on buying a ground with a makeshift team. I'm not against the principal but i'm sure the only valid point relates to the club being sold lock stock and barrel and at the end of the day if we blocked the sale of the ground, who's going to buy a squad of players and other assets without a venue. all other cases just leave the trust or the fans with the running costs of the whole stadium and I doubt they have that much cash. This could have made sense during administration had the club owned the ground, but now with our finances as they are, who could really afford to take on that level of debt. Unless it had been wiped out. Just seems a strange process when you look at the potential outcomes.
Foxes_Trust Posted 7 November 2013 Posted 7 November 2013 Great so if KP decide to sell to a developer who values the land at 5 million for example, the foxes trust want who exactly to launch a rival bid? And if the owners are selling what would that mean for the club? Already folded, they plan to move it? What a waste of time and resources. Really of no benefit to anyone really, infact I wouldn't be surprised if this drives a further wedge between the trust and the owners. We met with the club prior to making the submission to the council and they appreciated our handling of the application and were aware that this was taking place across a number of clubs" Say's to me they don't trust our owners. In the meeting, we made it quite clear that applying for the ACV all related to whoever the next owner would be (when the time comes) and that we would make this clear in any media comments, which we did in our press releases when announcing the bid was launched as well as approved, and was also stated today during a live interview on Radio Leicester
Bayfox Posted 7 November 2013 Posted 7 November 2013 We met with the club prior to making the submission to the council and they appreciated our handling of the application and were aware that this was taking place across a number of clubs" In the meeting, we made it quite clear that applying for the ACV all related to whoever the next owner would be (when the time comes) and that we would make this clear in any media comments, which we did in our press releases when announcing the bid was launched as well as approved, and was also stated today during a live interview on Radio Leicester but why is it taking place across a number of clubs. Take the chelsea pitch owners. Essentially if roman moves the club to battersea they own a park in the middle of a load of houses flats etc. in 90% of possibilities it is pointless.
MPH Posted 7 November 2013 Posted 7 November 2013 What a crock of shit. Just the foxes trust thinking they are remotely important again...
sylofox Posted 7 November 2013 Posted 7 November 2013 We met with the club prior to making the submission to the council and they appreciated our handling of the application and were aware that this was taking place across a number of clubs" In the meeting, we made it quite clear that applying for the ACV all related to whoever the next owner would be (when the time comes) and that we would make this clear in any media comments, which we did in our press releases when announcing the bid was launched as well as approved, and was also stated today during a live interview on Radio Leicester We don't get that in sunny norfolk. But as the club don't own the ground what owners are you talking about? They can sell the team and the club but still own the KP stadium.
MooseBreath Posted 7 November 2013 Posted 7 November 2013 but why is it taking place across a number of clubs. Take the chelsea pitch owners. Essentially if roman moves the club to battersea they own a park in the middle of a load of houses flats etc. in 90% of possibilities it is pointless. I don't think the foxes trust are ever going to buy the stadium. It forces a bit of transparency around any potential sale of the stadium which can only be a good thing really.This isn't going to save the club from any owners who want to destroy it by any means, but it's a perfectly worthwhile thing for the Foxes Trust to be doing.
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