Councillors defend Shay stadium sale

SENIOR Calderdale councillors have rebutted criticism of consultation undertaken in the run up to their deciding to dispose of Halifax's Shay Stadium.

- By JOHN GREENWOOD

Calderdale Council later approved the move to divest itself of the costs of running the stadium when approving Budgets following Cabinet's decision, made back in 2024.

The stadium is home to Halifax's professional sports teams, football's FC Halifax Town and Halifax Panthers rugby league club.

This autumn the council confirmed that sale of the stadium to Huddersfield Giants' owner Ken Davy would be getting under way after a period of time set aside for community-led alternatives to be tabled had expired.

Mr Davy wants to base his rugby league team at The Shay while seeking to develop a purpose-built stadium for the Giants in Kirklees and came forward with an offer to buy the stadium a year ago.