Halifax Town have been dealt a blow with news that the local council, Calderdale Council, have recommended to sell The Shay to a private investor.
The Shay Stadium Trust, which combines representatives of Halifax Town, Halifax RFC, and their Supporters Trusts, wanted a 125 year lease in order to complete redevelopment on the ground but council leader John Ford told reporters: "The suggestion of a loan or a long lease for the trust did not have any support from the council."
The loan suggestion was originally the council's - offering a £1m loan to complete redevelopment that halted through lack of funding and legal wrangling four years ago. Shay Stadium Trust took over running of the stadium in 2004 but have repeatedly found the council unwilling to help them.
The sale to a private investor may lead to rents being increased, and the eventual closure of The Shay as a football venue after 85 years.