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| STANDEES LETTER
Quote I am contacting you regarding recent developments at the Kingston Communication Stadium, when the stadium was first built it was "a community sports facility and home for Hull City and Hull FC, a stadium for the East Riding of Yorkshire and the City of Hull". Hull City and Hull FC moved in; Hull City were in the 3rd division at this point and would not have been able to afford the Kingston Communication Stadium had it not been for Hull FC agreeing to move into a shared facility and share the burden of running costs etc.
You note, I hope, the use of the word "shared" in terms of both the facility and also the associated costs. It is this "shared" element that I want to bring into question.
I do not know the last time you visited the Kingston Communications stadium, but you may recall that, on approach to the main reception there were, previously, three flags flying, a Hull City Council flag (rightly, as the owners of the stadium and the organisation that should be proud to have provided a facility for the people), Hull City (again, rightly, as a joint tenant of the facility) and Hull FC, (again, rightly as a joint tenant of the facility). In the reception area there were all manner of photo's, images etc. celebrating the proud history of the two joint tenants, as well as in the various corridoors and offices. The numerous suites and conferencing facilitiess were named after appropriate individuals from both teams past and each room was adorned with suitable and relevant pictures and images to celebrate the achievements of those individuals. The only room that wasn't named after a sports person was The Circle restaurant, Using the name "The Circle" was a reference to the cricket facility that once proudly stood where the Kingston Communication staidum now stands.
All of this continued for many years, with both clubs enjoying an equal standing on the agreement that, on occasion, one club may need to take priority dependant on the stage in their season, this equality worked well and few, if any, disagreements occured.
Unfortunately, if you visit the KC now you cannot even tell that anyone other than Hull City is involved with the stadium, a giant Black Cat spreads across the font glass elevation, the Hull City Council and Hull FC flags are nowhere to be seen. The Johnny Whitely Suite (who I might remind you is a freeman of the City and County of Kingston Upon Hull" is still there, but it is now bereft of any pictures or images of the great man, no celebration of his contribution to the City which he clearly and dearly loves, in fact, there's little or no evidence of Hull FC at all, no pictures in corridoors, no images of any of the players whose names to which the the suites and conference facilities are referred to.
If I am to believe what I am told, and I have no reason not to, Hull FC were even refused permission for their goal kicker, Daniel Holdsworth, to undertake a short kicking practice at the start of the season, an opportunity that has been affored to Hull FC for every season previous to 2013. My understanding that this was not a decision made by the ground staff, but the Stadium Management Company.
It appears to me that it is the Stadium Management Company who are at the centre off the current, and it appears, deteriorating, situation. Requiring Hull FC to pay to put their flag up, to pay to put pictures up in the suites that bare the name of their greatest and much loved heros. Now, as far as I recall, the Stadium Management Company have a 50 year lease, I woud like to know what provisions there are in that lease for these, "commercial" decisions to have been made, and what, as the owner of the stadium and surrounds Hull City Countil think of the disparity of treatment between the two joint (there' that word again) tenants.
I am sure we can all speculate as to the reasons behind the apparent change in the Stadium Management Companies attitude, possibly even down to a few individuals, we could also speculate as to why an appointment to the Stadium Managemnt Company of a senior figure at Hull FC's cross city rivals Hull KR was made, but in my experience speculation achieves little.
What would be really good is if someone, either in the media or in a position of power at Hull City Council (or both), could investigate the situation at the Kingston Communication Stadium and explain to the fans of boths clubs, and the electorate at large, why this disparity of opportunity has come about, and what can be done to redress the balance between the joint tenants in a shared community facility.'" | | | |
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| MRS BARISTATAS LETTER
Quote As you may be aware, the management of the KC is the remit of a company called Superstadium Management Company Limited, set up to run this superb facility gifted to the city by the council 10 years ago using a windfall from the sale of Kingston Communications. The SMC has the head lease with the council. Broadly this arrangement has worked well so far, with both sub-tenants, Hull City AFC and Hull FC co-habiting amicably.
However, since Assem Allam took over Hull City in December 2010, and at the same time took over the SMC, things have soured. Allam has been vocal in his desire to obtain the freehold of the KC and develop the ground and surrounding area for commercial purposes. Initially he claimed it would be a Sporting Village for the city, but subsequent versions of the aims of the project included a supermarket and shops. There have been a couple of farcical meetings between Allam and the council, where reportedly his offer price for the KC was derisory, but there is little appetite by the council to sell. There are many covenants on the surrounding West Park, library and a royal charter protecting Walton Street for the historic fairground. Allam has reacted indignantly to this, and more than once threatened to up sticks to Melton in the East Riding.
In the meantime, Adam Pearson was dismissed by the Allams from his position at Hull City, and relationships have become increasingly strained. As FC fans we believe deliberate attempts are bring made to cause the club unfair financial hardship and alienate us from what should be our home.
Financially, we are hearing of unfair rental increases. Charges by the SMC to administer season ticketing has led to FC's passes being processed by FC's own shop staff. We understand charges running into thousands of pounds are being levied just for photographs of our players to be displayed in the reception and function rooms. The club's insignia has been removed from display. This week new halfback Daniel Holdsworth arrived at the KC to request a 15 minute place-kicking practice session. He was denied entry to the ground. And finally, photographs of Johnny Whiteley, freeman of the city, have been completely removed from The Johnny Whiteley Suite.
Clearly the fact the SMC and Hull City have the same owners represents a huge conflict of interest to the extent that the SMC accounts reference the fact that it is a going concern only due to the support of related companies Allamhouse Limited and Hull City. We believe, as does a senior council member, that these actions are an attempt to force their hand on the stadium ownership issue. In the short term punitive financial terms could see FC become unviable, in the medium term homeless.
Anything you could do to help us either investigate matters or raise the visibility of our diminishing rights and visible presence in SL's best facility, and one designated for use by both teams, would be greatly appreciated
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| ANOTHER LETTER FROM STANDEE
Quote Thanks for taking the time to reply, my view is that Allam is trying to make the SMC look unviable without City, give the impression to the people of Hull that the Council really would be better off cuttting their losses by selling him the KC. In the previous years up until Allam buying City and the SMC the SMC posted a modest profit and made a marginal positive return to the Council, but the Council also paid a modest rental for the office space it used, so in effect it was a revenue stream, a small one, but it existed.
The Allams came in and priced just about everyone out, the Council closed the offices as there was general uproar when the HDM ran a story that the SMC was not paying much into the Council coffers (oddly, at roughly the same time as "Dr" Allam started to make noises about buying the KC), in the last set of accounts for the SMC they posted a loss of just over £400K, no dividend so no money for the Council, but the SMC had £1.2m "cash at hand" in the bank...very odd, to say the least.
Then we have the situation with YPI, Adam Pearson stated very publicly that he wanted to buy the Golf Centre and turn it into an indoor, all weather, training facility, "Dr" Allam then started bidding against AP, after 3 attempts AP gave up. "Dr" Allam has since been overheard, stating along the lines of "I don't really know what to do with it, maybe Squash, but they already have courts".
So, this great philanthropic hope that rode into the City on his trusty steed, vowing to "bring success and top level sport to the city", has so far:
Sacked Nick Barmby
Sacked Adam Pearson
Donated a £1m "soft loan" to Hull KR
Priced the hockey and basketball teams out of the Arena (which now has no sponsor)
Removed all but a small amount of FC's presence at the KC Stadium
Outbid AP for a property he neither needed nor wanted.
What was his vow "I can't just do something for one club, I am here for everyone"
That doesn't ring true, I remember "judge a man, not by his words, but by his deeds", I think it's fair to say any unbiased jusry would see through this for what it is, an ego driven agenda to get his hand on what he always wanted, the Kingston Communication Stadium and it's surroundings
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| ONE MORE
Quote How come the SMC was making a profit, and a nominal return to the Council during both Pearson and Duffen's stewardship, yet it has made excessive losses in consecutive years, despite having over a million pounds in it's account on it's last set of books.
Why hasn't the SMC organised a single event outside football or rugby since it was taken over by the Allams, how is that "maximising the commercial revenue", having a community asset empty 300 days a year is not a sound and
sustainable business model.
How much are they paying to use Johnny Whitely's name?
What is next, rent for the Jack Harrison memorial?
Since FC's memorobilia has been replaced by City, do they pay double?
What does the arena actually gets used for, now that the local community cannot, apparently, afford to utilise it?
Why did the Council and FC flags went up about an hour before the game on Sunday, was that because of a call from Cllr Geraghty?
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This is a really good idea Karl, I will sticky it.
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Please Keep this thread clean as Hutchie requests
In the spirit of what Hutchie is doing here please note Paul Baxter at the Hull Daily Mail has said that if you have any sensible questions that you want to ask the Allams he will try and get the answers and get them put in the paper
p.baxter@mailnewsmedia.co.uk |
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Please Keep this thread clean as Hutchie requests
In the spirit of what Hutchie is doing here please note Paul Baxter at the Hull Daily Mail has said that if you have any sensible questions that you want to ask the Allams he will try and get the answers and get them put in the paper
p.baxter@mailnewsmedia.co.uk | |
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As well as publishing League Weekly, Danny Lockwood owns The Press, a weekly publication in Dewsbury, much hated by local politicians and any other organisation that the Press perceive to be feathering their own nests at the expense of the public purse. They tenaciously pursue any sniff of injustice until the truth is revealed. [url=http://www.thepressnews.co.uk/EdLines.aspHis regular Ed Lines column makes interesting reading[/url.
As such, and as it is a rugby league matter to boot, I'm sure Mr Lockwood would be fascinated by the goings-on at the SMC.
Contact him here:
lockwood@league-weekly.com
or here:
lockwood@newspost.co.uk |
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As well as publishing League Weekly, Danny Lockwood owns The Press, a weekly publication in Dewsbury, much hated by local politicians and any other organisation that the Press perceive to be feathering their own nests at the expense of the public purse. They tenaciously pursue any sniff of injustice until the truth is revealed. [url=http://www.thepressnews.co.uk/EdLines.aspHis regular Ed Lines column makes interesting reading[/url.
As such, and as it is a rugby league matter to boot, I'm sure Mr Lockwood would be fascinated by the goings-on at the SMC.
Contact him here:
lockwood@league-weekly.com
or here:
lockwood@newspost.co.uk | |
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Hutchie,
I appreciate your initiative but the people and organisations you recommend we lobby are not the instigators of this decision.
In my opinion, we should be lobbying Assem and Ehan Allam directly. That means face to face; by letter to their home addresses; and by letter and phone to their business, Allam Marine. The business address is Allam Marine Ltd. Gibson Lane, Melton, Hull, East Yorkshire, HU14 3HH Tel: 01482 636300.
Whilst the Allam's have resided in and contributed positively to the Hull area over many years perhaps they need to understand first hand Hull F.C supporters' opposition. Whilst the club may not wish to take a public stance on this matter there's nothing to stop us!
If it's a community stadium then Hull F.C should have our club photographs and branding displayed at the K.C stadium without any petty charges being applied.
I'll be writing to them today.
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People, please keep the pressure up, even if you send the same thing again and again to the same people.
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| Quote ="Standee"People, please keep the pressure up, even if you send the same thing again and again to the same people.'"
I previously received a number of acknowledgements to emails and I've followed up politely asking how they are progressing in this matter and also added some of the points above that I didn't cover in my first email. We need to keep the pressure on as it's very easy for these things to get moved to the "back burner" | | | |
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Unstick now if you want,will bookmark it , just in case
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Yesterday I received this oddly worded reply from Nick Thompson, MD, KC Stadium in response to my letter to Assem Allam:
"Thank you for your letter to the Chairman.
As you may be aware as a result of history to feedback there is now a new policy in place which ensures our sporting heroes are appropriately recognised within the KC Stadium.
Hopefully this move will serve to correct the previous error."
I take it to mean that Assem Allam acknowledges he made a mistake by taking Hull F.C's memorabilia down from the walls of the KC stadium; wanted the club to pay for displaying it; but that now everything has been returned for display without payment? Please advise if this is the reality?
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