So its heavily subsidised and we're subsidising it. **** that. Though all the hand wringing tarts will carry on. No wonder they dont want to move.
ASSEM Allam has offered to sell the company that manages the KC Stadium and Airco Arena to Hull City Council for just £1.
The Hull City owner, who runs the Stadium Management Company (SMC), made the offer as he responded to criticism over the decision to evict a number of amateur sports clubs from the Airco Arena to make way for a new synthetic pitch.
More than 3,850 people have so far
signed a petition organised by the amateur clubs calling on the SMC to reconsider its move.
Mr Allam told the Mail today: "The council can have it (the SMC) for £1, have it for the community.
"The whole site was meant for the community but the SMC loses money every year.
"The arena loses £250,000 every year.
"But we have contracts and we accept them with a smile. We have never complained. I have been accepting this every year."
Mr Allam also claimed it was up to the council to help the clubs involved move to other venues.
"Sports clubs in the community are the responsibility of the council, not the responsibility of one person," he said.
"I choose to take responsibility of the football club. You don’t force me to look after the whole thing. There are elected councillors for that, rates and taxes.
"You have Hull City Council closing down sports facilities and the East Riding are building, spending £7m on Haltemprice.
"Have these groups not spoken with Haltemprice or East Riding Council? They would rather have a go at me as if I am the one responsible."
The new £250,000 3G pitch will be introduced at the Airco Arena as part of
plans to upgrade Hull City’s academy set-up. But it means grassroots clubs will no longer be able to use the arena on a regular basis.
Mr Allam argued it was essential to create the covered pitch to pass an audit demanded by the football authorities which, if passed, would see the academy rise from category three to two – a move seen as essential to developing home-grown talent.
“To change category we need a covered pitch," he said. "We are given until April for this, that’s all, otherwise we must wait two more years (before the next audit).
"Our academy costs me a fortune because we are category three. We spend money but we don’t get the funding that clubs do in category one and two.
"We must be category two for the good of the community, to bring up young players. I cannot carry on spending the money."
The city council has contacted a number of clubs that currently use the Airco Arena to see if alternative venues can be found.
The Mail understands the council has also written to the SMC requesting an urgent meeting over the issue. In the letter, the council has suggested an independent arbitrator should be appointed to look at the situation.
