Walsall Council told to put Banks’s Stadium sale on agenda
Monday 30th May 2011, 11:09AM BST.
Angry Saddlers fans today urged Walsall Council to put the Banks’s Stadium sale on their agenda as the race for the ground hots up.
Following the news of a bid from an anonymous businessman for the ground – on the market for £5m – the Supporters’ Trust, Unity and the Supporters’ Club want the council to officially discuss buying the land.
The council have so far refused to officially discuss the matter, with leader Mike Bird dismissing it despite a campaign fronted by music producer and lifelong fan Steve Jenkins.
And, following the news of a bid last week, the supporters’ groups have issued a statement.
They said: “Sixty councillors have been voted into power by the people of Walsall; the people now wish to be represented. Will these councillors put the Banks’s Stadium on a Council agenda?
“Will DTZ (agents) and Walsall FC be invited to talk about this deal? Will the council view this proposal in a proper democratic way? The people of Walsall request to hear from their councillors, not just one.”
Bird revealed last week’s bid but the fans feel he was trying to deflect attention away from the council.
“The ‘mystery buyer’ attempt at deflecting the focus from the council was instantly dismissed as it is common knowledge there several interested parties, all of which are ‘mystery buyers’,” said the statement.
UK Sport
Latest Blog — Same again for West Brom
What a strange two weeks it has been since our last game. I haven’t looked over my neighbour’s fence with as much interest since Pamela Anderson moved in next door and regularly used her trampoline, writes Albion blogger Jarrod Hill.
Albion Blog
Business Awards
Book a Business Awards table
Join our celebrations of the region's best in business on Thursday March 22 - book your table now
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Express & Star and Shropshire Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases
OUR NEW APP
Get the new E&S app
Download the Express & Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
expressandstar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
Have the members of Unity, the Trust and The SAddlers club canvassed their members as to what they think?
What right do they have to speak for Walsall fans? What right do they have to speak for the borough or its residents?
All I have seen on this matter on various forums is insults and personal attacks on anyone who doesn’t plough on blindly.
Instantly dismissing the statement fromt he leader of the council? OK, I am not a fan of anything he says or does, but I think that to instantly dismiss his statement is not going to win you any fans.
Report abuse
What on earth has the Council got to do with a football club?
Why should the sale be discussed in a “democratic way”? No-one discussed the sale of my house, so why should anyone poke their noses into the sale of a football club? It’s a private business, on a private piece of land.
Funny how people can say that the Soviet Union and Stalinism were aberrations, and then openly call for Stalinist interventions over our freedoms. Isn’t that called hypocrisy?
Report abuse
Not disagreeing with you r. miller (#2) but who is making the reference to USSR / Stalin?
Report abuse
R.Miller the sale of your house (with a name like yours I should have thought you would have had a trailer “for sale or rent”) does not affect the lives of thousands of Walsall residents – not just the fans but the many local people who are employed by the club. I think the council should discuss ownership of the ground even if they can’t actually buy it themselves.
Report abuse