I tried engaging in a discussion on their forum but their minds are made up. I do believe if the shoe was on the other foot we would be just as concerned. They seem to believe that the council have a pile of money to keep putting into the Shay.

Sounds crazy that the football club have not mentioned to there fans that they're in discusions about this

Let them do the pitch invasion. They will have to pay to get in, more money in the coffers. A bigger crowd will shed good light on Fax. They could raise awareness that we could be the only club who's owner charges a football club to play at their ground - again looking good in the eyes of the RFL!

The RFL couldn't come close to marketing that World Cup game as well as the town fans!

I understand their concern - they could deal with it better. Talk to your club Town fans, they seem to know a lot. Talk to Mr Abbott. Then decide

They are getting more paranoid by the minute! www.theshaymen.net/ipb/index.php ... ay/page-30 They now think that our directors are sabotaging their pathetic Twitter account. As if they have nothing better to do.

They are getting more paranoid by the minute! www.theshaymen.net/ipb/index.php ... ay/page-30 They now think that our directors are sabotaging their pathetic Twitter account. As if they have nothing better to do.

Hahahahaaa their twitter account has been suspended!

Bubba and his idiots are a joke. Some of the stuff they post is slander and libelous. Showing off because they abuse people, trying to organize people to cause pitch invasions at rugby games and crying because the twitter account doesnt work and so naturally blame the Rugby club! I hope Tony Abbott is successful just to see them cry even more. Seriously I cant see why all the hysteria from these muppets when they have no facts and dont even want to understand. I am sure that Tony or anybody cant just sell the shay anyway due to part of the conditions of the land i.e Sports Stadium and not for retaill use. Personally will be interesting to read tomorrow his plans etc and then I will decide if its good or if amendments maybe should be suggested. No need to go into Were doomed mode like the Soccer fans.

It's getting desperate on their twitter feed. Claiming Middlesbrough, Scarborough, Derby County supporting their cause! (It's one fan from each retweeting!)

What an over reaction. Listen to what people say, make a decision. Who knows, maybe us Fax fans won't like what we hear, regardless of the great stuff Tony does for us. Listen to what FCHalifax board have to say - they too are mysteriously quiet!

Those morons have targeted Tony's kids accounts - that is not on at all. Tony tweeted for them to leave his family alone.

Had to get my two penneth in here and support the Fax Faithful, the board and the backroom staff on this one.

I'm also a Town fan and share the concerns about The Shay being owned by someone in the private sector, who can go bankrupt and potentially lose their assets, but where I think the Town fans are wrong is that whoever owns the Shay regardless of public asset status or not will always have the risk of not being able to keep it, or keep it in the state it should be. Therefore I think they are fundamentally wrong, we see new ideals, legislations, whatever, over turned continually these days, so keeping it in Council hands for this reason doesn't wash with me. I am quite sure any sale would have a clause in it to stop someone buying land on the cheap and flogging it on for non leisure purposes.

Secondly, I was watching football down the Shay long before the Rugby Club arrived, so I do feel a little of their noses being put out of joint, like a non family member getting their hands on an inheritance, and I truly believe this is their agenda, and not any public asset debate.

What I would urge is that they reflect that there would be no Shay without both parties, and that a man is prepared to put his money where his mouth is, taking on liabilities at a risk to his own wealth, business and family, I applaud him and on this issue I do not want to die wondering, I want to give him a chance, let him improve the facilities, for a new'ish ground, its already dated in some parts, with the current situation I think both clubs would struggle to move any further forward.

Im also disappointed that Bosomworth and Ham have not publicly supported him, they don't have to, but I am disappointed they haven't. In short I think some of the Football crew need to take a deep breath, swallow their pride and accept this opportunity, Tony doesn't have to do anything for us, there isn't anyone else waiting in the wings, and if Tonys businesses continue to grow and he ends up somewhere else and they end up enjoying the fruits of his efforts I would be gutted for us all.

Lets all get on this bus I say, Town and Fax, Tony! Drive on sir...

What a fantastic post. If anything fit so nearly into a nutshell it's that post.

Bravo sir.

Spot on

Agreed.

Correct

Anyone read the courier article?

Could they give a summary?

Here it is m.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news/cald ... -1-6047947

Here it is m.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news/cald ... -1-6047947

Having read through the article I think right now that it is a good thing if Mr Abbott achieved owning the Shay. I do understand and agree some of the things the Soccer lot want. I will add some of what he says with comments

[u“We want to give long term security to the clubs and would back this up with 99-year leases.”[/u
I think that is a minimum. I would also like something in place that should ever Reactiv/Mr Abbott is forced to sell off the Shay that something is in place that assures Fax/Town are able to continue playing there. I would like Mr Abbott can own 80% and the 2 Clubs 10% free shares in the Shay and also get to have a say in any developments. I would like a safety plan should anything happen to Mr Abbott that he and the clubs have no control over.
I think the Council wont do anything more to develop the Stadium and the South and North Stand needs work and even more so the Skircoat Stand which needs the toilets and seating sorting out ASAP. The ground will end up being wasted. I feel under Abbotts plans the ground will become something better for all. The Soccer lot seem to be happy with this. I think Halifax is a backwater of a town thanks to the Council failing to sort out the Centre of town for Shoppers and tourists. I am of the opinion that if the Shay stays under the Council our sporting teams will suffer and struggle to push on to bigger things and the Shay will end up becoming an old relic like Thrum Hall was which sadly had no place in the modern sporting world.

[u"Halifax Town’s directors were approached but were unavailable for comment at the time of printing."[/u
Why are they frightened to say anything and why have they been saying no for Abbott to Sponsor them? The Soccer lot are quick to have a go at Mr Abbott, but why are their own club so secretive? Questions should be asked of the Halifax Town club as much as Mr Abbott. What do the Football Club want or even think? The Soccer club seem to be quite happy to sit still and do nothing regarding the stadium. Why?

I think the Football club should also respond to Mr Abbott's claim that he's offered to sponsor their games but his money has been turned down by the club. In current economic climate, I'd have thought someone wanting to sponsor a game or matchball would be welcomed with open arms?

We also know that when Malcolm was in charge of the club shop he offered space to Town and offered to sell for them, they declined.
The club and their supporters seem to have a deep rooted chip on their shoulders, I don't think they will every forgive us for being succesful.
Personally I don't like football, but, would welcome a successful football team in Halifax just like I would like a good cricket team with Halifax as it's name and I might even stretch a point and like a good Rugby Rah Rah team with the name Halifax. (not too sure about that one)

Don't know how they will blame this on Mr Abbott, Town winning 1 nil until 90th minute, lose 2. 1.
See, we do have a lot in common!

Good entertainment their thread, look I want Town to be as successful as they can as it would be great for the Town but some - not all - of their fans are crackers.

When did Tony "sign up" with Fax?

Town fans on their site claiming the only investment. He's made was £35K to set up club in 2008?

I didn't know he was involved then? And they forget he's main share holder now.

They're definitely turning it into a rugby v football thing eh?

Quite sad and desperate really

£100k last year plus everything else, let them throw their teddy out the pram. Pathetic small minded idiots.

These Town fans are small minded prats simple..... Tony was a football fan way before he knew what a rugby ball was and a huge Spurs fan. He literally only got involved in rugby due to his lad playing at Siddal.

How much as Tony invested in Calderdale in the last few years by employing its people, amateur sport, professional sport, sponsorship etc etc. his business was recognised nationally for being a business that goes above and beyond the call of duty by making people's dreams come true.

I just wonder how many of these biggots have friends, family, partners etc working for the Reactiv Group???? This Town versus Fax dynamic is pathetic and I get annoyed when people like Gavin use this issue to feather their own pertard and seem full of their own importance rather than tackling the real issue that lies as resentment within the football club itself.

To be so pathetic as to turn Tonys money away shows the childish and pathetic behaviour we are up against within the football club.

Surely lets see what Tonys plans are properly before we raise any comments or demands. Tony is a reasonable guy and will listen. But oh no Town fans resort to threats, making accusations and bringing his young family into it..???? WTF?

Tony doesn't deserve this and people on remand are even told innocent until proven guilty....?? What has To y done that is so wrong...??

In thus currently climate the clubs need each other, we need to stand tall and together and give the Town something to be proud of. I have to say I am ashamed of how so called fans of a football club can be so pathetic and veil! Passion is one thing but channel it in the right areas and see what happens. Those people trying to organise demonstrations at rugby games etc are merely using the stadium as an excuse to have a go at the rugby club which is absolutely disgusting. I personally want both clubs maximising revenue, being the best we can be in the highest possible division. That way we all win!

I'm astonished at the level of hate that's branded around when both clubs have contributed much to the Town over the years. It's a sad state of affairs when the two clubs in the town can't abide one another how very sad.

Maybe one day we will stand together and have something to be proud of, right now this whole episode is deeply embarrassing and targeting a thoroughly nice bloke whom I know will have very sincere intentions to give something back to his adopted home.

I wish the world had more Tony Abbotts in it.....

One of their latest posts claims that Fax are £250,000 in the red and owe £80,000 in rent!

Where the hell did they get that gem from?

Add that to some of the disgusting and sometimes libelous comments about Tony Abbott and his company and I really do believe it's time that legal action was taken. They have to be made to realise that they can't just hide behind an internet forum using an alias.

I know that most of them would be graded Epsilon Minus intellectually but that's not a valid excuse.

That Mr V in particular is a bilious know nothing no mark. He claims in one thread that the standard of football has got worse as the number of qualified coaches has increased! He'll be one of those that screams all sorts of nonsense at young kids from the touch line!

Got to admire how we react! Think most of us agree we want to hear more from Mr Abbott but don't deny he has both clubs' interests at heart?