Supporters group applies to have Hillsborough classed as an asset of community value

[Guest Grandad]

 

Asset of Community Value (ACV)

 

 

What is an ACV?

It is simply a label given to something (usually a building) that is seen to have value to a local community (examples libraries, parks, or football grounds)

 

 

Who decides whether somewhere is an ACV?

It is applied for by a community organisation (in this case the SWFC Supporters' Trust) and decided upon by the council.

What happens if the Council say yes it is an ACV?

There are various legal protections added to the site, perhaps the key one for Hillsborough is that status ensures the local community (Council and Trust) will be informed of any attempt to sell the asset by its owner.

 

 

What happens if the owner does want to sell Hillsborough?

He/she can do so, but must let the Council know. The council can either say that the sale is fine, for example if it is being sold to someone who wants to continue using Hillsborough as a football stadium. They can also put a hold on the sale of up to six months (called a moratorium).

 

 

What happens if any sale is put on hold?

Then the local community can decide whether it wants to bid for the stadium. There are various time frames related to this.

 

 

Is the aim of this process for the Trust or the community to buy the ground?

NO. 

 it is very unlikely that the Trust or community would be able to raise the finance to buy the ground

 

 

So, what is the point?

There are several reasons, but one key one is transparency. An ACV means there must be openness from any owner of SWFC over the ownership of the ground. The council must be informed in advance of any potential sale, and in turn the Trust, local community and fanbase. The ACV has a symbolic status therefore of the importance of Hillsborough to fans and the community.

 

 

Will this make SWFC less attractive to a new owner/investor?

The ACV is not a barrier to the sale / new investment into Sheffield Wednesday football club.

 

 

What are the next steps?

The Trust's members voted in favour of the Trust applying for, and aiming to secure, ACV status. The Trust will firstly clarify some points with the council, then look to put together a bid. In making that bid, we aim to gain the support of the club, politicians, the local community, and fanbase. If anything shows to us in that process that the application is wrong for SWFC, the community or fanbase, then we will return to our members and ask again. We are convinced so far that it is a positive step for all involved.

 

 

Where can I learn more?

We've published an extensive Q&A previously. Alternatively, ask questions here and I'll try and answer. Even better, join the Trust!

[@owlstalk]

 

YESSSSS

We can have a landlord that will maintain the boiler!

[Tamworthowl]

Can the community afford to buy the ground?

Indeed, can the community afford to maintain the boiler?

[sibon]

1 minute ago, Tamworthowl said:

Can the community afford to buy the ground?

Indeed, can the community afford to maintain the boiler?

We don’t know how much it sold for last time. We are still waiting for the accounts.

[Silkstone Owl]

To the layman what does that mean ??

[Tamworthowl]

1 minute ago, sibon said:

We don’t know how much it sold for last time. We are still waiting for the accounts.

What it was sold for last time is irrelevant. 
How much will Chansiri want, assuming he ever wants to sell? That’s how much the community will need to raise. 

[CircleSeven]

This is fantastic news!

 

maybe. I don’t know what it means really. 

[Tamworthowl]

3 minutes ago, Silkstone Owl said:

To the layman what does that mean ??

It means that if the owner wishes to sell, he has to give the community (not sure exactly who that means) time (6 months?) to put a bid together.

The trust can have a bucket collection whilst Scarborough Holdings raid their reserves.

It’s symbolic. In practice, virtually pointless.

[kobayashi]

5 minutes ago, Tamworthowl said:

What it was sold for last time is irrelevant. 
How much will Chansiri want, assuming he ever wants to sell? That’s how much the community will need to raise. 

If he does want to sell than actually what Chansiri wants is irrelevant, what someone is prepared to pay is what is relevant. 

[@owlstalk]

I have a question

Could Chansiri tell the community he wants 50 million for it, but when they can't raise it sell it for 5 million to someone else a few weeks/months after?

[jp1981]

12 minutes ago, Tamworthowl said:

Can the community afford to buy the ground?

Indeed, can the community afford to maintain the boiler?

No and No.

 

Although If we can take out a boiler maintenance contract with British Gas, we get a free service each year and new parts to fix it along with a boiler engineer, after we pay the excess of £75.00.  I think it is about £12.00 a month via direct debit.

[sibon]

10 minutes ago, Tamworthowl said:

What it was sold for last time is irrelevant. 
How much will Chansiri want, assuming he ever wants to sell? That’s how much the community will need to raise. 

That depends on who offers to buy it from Chansiri. And for what purpose.

[Tamworthowl]

1 minute ago, kobayashi said:

If he does want to sell than actually what Chansiri wants is irrelevant, what someone is prepared to pay is what is relevant. 

Fair point, both are relevant. All depends how desperate he is to sell and how keen someone is to buy. If they (that might be DC and the community) don’t find an agreeable amount the sale won’t go ahead.

[jp1981]

3 minutes ago, kobayashi said:

If he does want to sell than actually what Chansiri wants is irrelevant, what someone is prepared to pay is what is relevant. 

What happens if DC did sell. Where would the money come from to pay for the upkeep and running costs?

[Geedee]

4 minutes ago, Tamworthowl said:

It means that if the owner wishes to sell, he has to give the community (not sure exactly who that means) time (6 months?) to put a bid together.

The trust can have a bucket collection whilst Scarborough Holdings raid their reserves.

It’s symbolic. In practice, virtually pointless.

100% and why fans groups should stick to dealing with pies and getting some free tickets for local kids. 

 

Football is big business at least in the tens of millions not for a few well meaning blokes with too much time on their hands.

[@owlstalk]

2 minutes ago, Geedee said:

 

 

Football is big business at least in the tens of millions not for a few well meaning blokes with too much time on their hands.

*checks again to see if season ticket refunds have been done*
*checks to see if we signed any players for over a million since 2017*
*Checks the last 12 months payment history to our players to see if they were paid on time*

[Tamworthowl]

1 minute ago, @owlstalk said:

*checks again to see if season ticket refunds have been done*
*checks to see if we signed any players for over a million since 2017*
*Checks the last 12 months payment history to our players to see if they were paid on time*

Good point.

 

If a multi millionaire business man struggles to keep up, how will a group of working class supporters manage?

[@owlstalk]

17 minutes ago, Tamworthowl said:

Good point.

 

If a multi millionaire business man struggles to keep up, how will a group of working class supporters manage?

 

Maybe if everyone just took turns to fund little bits of the club at a time it might work better?

 

E.g. Chansiri funds the transfers
Erik Alonso can fund the fan relations department
The community own / maintains the stadium
British Gas maintains the boiler

etc

[kobayashi]

7 minutes ago, jp1981 said:

What happens if DC did sell. Where would the money come from to pay for the upkeep and running costs?

Presumably the money would come from a purchaser that  would be acquiring the ground for a purpose and that would factor in any relevant running costs when deciding whether to make an offer and how much. 

[room0035]

38 minutes ago, Grandad said:

The Trust members have voted 96% to 4% to apply for ACV status for Hillsborough

 

The Trust will now make the application

 

Once listed as Assets of Community Value with the local authority, the local community will be informed if they are listed for sale within the five year listing period. The community can then enact the Community Right to Bid, which gives them a moratorium period of six months to determine if they can raise the finance to purchase the asset.

Would it be valued at a market value or a DC valuation.

 

Market value probably £15-20m, DC value £60m.