An open letter from Ehab...

They started thinking about it years ago, but decided it was cheaper and quicker to take the Airco for their own use instead
Completely impractical in terms of travel for players, and **** for other users, but importantly they could just do it, without all that annoying ‘applying for permission’ that should only be something the plebs have to worry about.

 

And did the move help that?
Have the club subsidised those running costs instead so it’s not losing money?

Genuine question as I still don’t understand the SMC finances to be honest

 

I would have thought the Allams thought something on the lines that if they, via the SMC, were subsidising the arena they might as well use it for themselves.
There was a delay in getting the planning permission for the bubble along side the arena to coincide with the audit to gain the Academy status they were seeking and the only way around it ( I presume) was to lay a pitch inside the arena, which they did.
I also don't understand the finances of the SMC but then again I've never understood the finances of the club even when I was a minor shareholder and attended the AGM's.

 

I seem to remember something along the lines that the Allam's wanted prior confirmation from the council that planning permission would be given, and they were told that they could not do this, it had to go through the normal procedure, which would have been too late for this audit.

 

As far as I recall it wasn’t a delay, it was that they were asking things of the council that the council couldn’t legally do. I’m not even sure they ever put planning permission in?

The financing of the SMC seems confusing to me. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Airco still appears on the books as a loss, but I’ve no idea to be honest.

 

Question is why are they wanting to go to the great expense of building something on land they don't own now?

 

Because they see the Academy as a net income generator, and know the arena is not suitable.

 

Ok, the council couldn't give any assurances, which is fair enough, so that's a delay eh ?
They wouldn't even give the club a nod and a wink that planning permission would be granted. I know 'legally' they couldn't, but if there was a friendly 'can do' relationship between the two parties things might have been different.
Then the thing had to be built if planning permission was granted and it doesn't happen overnight.
So the club put a pitch inside the airco to meet the requirements. it's as simple as that.
Also it's forgotten that the club bent over backward to find alternative venues for those clubs who had to move out.
There was no conspiracy theory at all.
Hull City council have turfed groups/teams/youngsters out of plenty of their premises when the rent falls behind.

 

Perhaps because of the simmering bad relationship between the club and HCC ?
Fault and failings on both sides.
This all turned sour when Geraghty met Assem Allam. Draw your own conclusions.

 

It all turned sour when Allam met Geraghty. Draw your own conclusions.

 

No one is disputing that but the original plan was to site on the old skateboard park, in West Park, alongside the airco arena. That is in Hull and involved HCC, which is what I said.
Also if it is considered a 'temporary structure' when in the East Riding why did planning permission have to be sought for the same structure in Hull to situate it in a park alongside a fairground/car park./car boot site ?
Perhaps you have hit on one of the bones of contention ?

 

'Parnaby bent over backwards to make sure it went through quickly.....'
If we had the same relationship with HCC from day one things might be different.

 

The stadium is owned by Hull residents !
He wanted it given to him !
Thank heavens they didn't !
I can imagine the manner in which he asked for it .

 

When the Allams purchased the club and the SMC, any due dil would have highlighted exactly what they were purchasing, what they could do, and what they couldn't do, assets, liabilities etc. I'm aware according to press reports that they subsequently felt they had been turned over on the SMC acquisition in that they incurred liabilities that they were unaware of at the time of purchase. In which case the Allams have the option to sue their advisers to recover any associated costs.

If the arena for whatever reason became the 'only' solution to getting the academy status they were seeking at that time, then surely they should have done whatever was necessary to assist the existing users/tenants to find alternative premises, particularly if the objective was a temporary one prior to relocation to BB, i'm not aware they did this, hence the anti-Allam feeling on the subject.

Of course the bubble pitch ultimately has to be located in BB for obvious reasons.

If ever a family needed a good PR agency it's the Allams! Part of the problem is that once you've rubbed people up the wrong way, you are unlikely to get their support on any subsequent activity.

On the matter of planning, any Councillor with integrity would never 'shake hands' on an 'informal nod' that formal planning would be approved down line.

All in all, another mess of the Allams making. I'm not denying their intentions for the academy were good, but football clubs are community assets, and as custodians they've made a right hash of it at a time when we've enjoyed some of our best on-pitch success, takes some doing!

 

It is owned by Hull residents?

 

No but you are imagining it. At the time AA said he would donate £100k to a charity if the council matched it and made the minutes of that meeting public.
It never happened.
They were never made public.
The only people who do know what was said at that meeting were the people actually in the same room. Everyone else has formed their own conclusions and the results are nothing has happened at the KComm. No development, no investment, nothing has progressed only that the relationship between club and council deteriorated and the club were the loser.
I think the city of Hull was also a loser because the idea when the stadium was built was that it kick started the redevelopment of HU3 hasn't happened.
Not a brick has been laid.
The Allams had plans to develop the whole area. When are we going to see HCC's plans ?