An open letter from Steve Jenkins

Some Walsall FC fans and online bloggers are suggesting that Walsall Council should consider buying Banks's Stadium now the ground is up for sale.

I totally support this view and believe it will benefit our town.

As many Walsall people know, my work with a multitude of world famous artists such as Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Kylie Minogue, the Backstreet Boys, R Kelly, Steps, the Stone Roses and Billy Ocean has at times taken me away from my home town.

However, during all those years, I never lost the love for the town's football club. Whenever I was in the country, I could be found supporting them home and away.

I must start by saying that I have great respect for owner Jeff Bonser and the job he has done with Walsall Football Club over the past 20 years.

The greatest benefit of his chairmanship has been the knowledge that our football team was secure, would remain intact and play their games in Walsall.

However, I must say that I have become increasingly disappointed over the past weeks with the knowledge that the club's land is now on general sale.

This sale brings a serious feeling of insecurity and throws us back to the days of the 1980s when the club's future was in the balance.

Those of us old enough to remember SWAG - the Save Walsall Action Group - and its fight to prevent then-chairman Ken Wheldon moving the club to St Andrew's, Birmingham, before coming within minutes of going into administration due to the business empire collapse of Terry Ramsden, will recognize that feeling of insecurity.

Those days were unsettling as the fate of our club was held in the balance. The sale of the football club's land puts us right back there. Walsall people should take this seriously.

Land is valuable and property developers - the most likely purchasers in this case - will definitely buy.

The words 'property developer' should strike fear into the people of Walsall. They may say they have the interests of the football club at heart, they may say they are happy with the rental income.

The truth of the matter, without doubt, is whichever company buys the land, they are property developers by trade and what they can build on our prime positioned land would bring huge financial returns.

Companies merge, personnel change and profit is king. Does any Walsall fan or Walsall person want to take this chance?

Having had time to think about this situation, it is my firm belief that the best way forward for Walsall Football Club is for the land to come under the ownership of the council.

Not only would that safeguard the club's future and make sure that our team remains at the Banks's Stadium, but the local authority would gain possession of an increasingly valuable community asset.

At a time when councils in general are being asked to make severe budgetary cuts, closing libraries and making staff redundant, it may seem that this is an inopportune moment to suggest that Walsall Council should be asked to acquire a football ground.

But, I honestly believe that this is a great opportunity for our council to secure an opportunity where financial returns would be greater than the investment, secure long-term benefits for the town and protect jobs at one of Walsall's biggest employers.

I believe that Walsall Council are ground-breaking and an award-winning local council. They most certainly care about our town and the people within it, proving themselves over and over again.

During our club's dark days in the 1980s, the local authority was very supportive of the Saddlers, joining in with other protesters, backing SWAG.

At this time, I believe and hope that they will be supportive again. The club has never asked the council for handouts or to bail them out and I'm not asking for that now.

Consider if you will, Walsall Football Club has a solid financial base, making a profit for 17 years out the past 20.

During that time it has been the proud and main flagship of our town, keeping the name Walsall in the national press, radio and TV.

Walsall Football Club's community programme is award-winning and acknowledged as one of the most successful in the country, working closely with local schools, Walsall NHS and the Walsall Housing Group.

The club has been a great tenant throughout the past 20 years and the significant amount of rental revenue generated would mean a guaranteed income stream for the council should it take over the ownership of the stadium, which is undoubtedly one of the best in the lower divisions.

Council ownership of football stadia is the way of the future. There are already over 20 senior clubs enjoying strong relationships with their local councils, including stadium ownership.

Finally, it is critically important where our land and stadium ends up in this selling process.

My belief is it should stay in Walsall, for the people of Walsall and all the Saddlers fans. We need to guarantee that football is played in our town for the next 100 years, just as it has been for the past 122 years.

My grandfather, Harry Jenkins, and my father, Alan Jenkins, were Saddlers fans.

That kind of family, community and local history must survive and stay under the control of Walsall and its people.