I don't disagree with any of this, but to pick a few points...
I think I have a hunch who one of the backers is and if i’m right it’s not a villain in sheeps clothing.
Possibly so, but what about unforeseen circumstances, successors etc? Setting aside years of experience of property deals going belly up as investors circumstances change or those who inherit their estates either a) want to cash in and don't have the same personal links to the investment or b) don't agree with what has been done and challenge god knows what, on a more local level just remember what happened with Power (B)?
You’re right to some degree about the covenant possibly meaning diddly squat but the you thrown in possible caveats that SBC could weave into the sale, in a way are they not similar hurdles for ANY prospective buyer to agree to and overcome?
Again I would agree in principal however the Goddard one was written years back in different times and I assume will be a fairly generic land use only one, in this day and age if it were sold to a private company the Council could be incredibly specific and tie the covenants all together (for instances controls over use, ownership, disposal rights, land use etc etc etc)- any decent property solicitor could make such interlinked covenants nigh impossible and very costly to wriggle out of.
I still feel that the other bits of land are key to the whole future of the club.
Indeed, but then this falls foul of the issue of anyone bar the club making a profit. Looking at a few high profile examples of ground redevelopments and the overarching theme is a) Council co-operation (who knows if this is feasible) and b) some manner of third party (in planning terms 'enabling development') to fund the project, Bolton - Middlebrook Retail Park, Swansea - Council led scheme, Cardiff - Retail scheme adjacent, Brentford - hundreds of houses. Now in the old days the easiest solution (not for the town possibly but for the club financially) would have been to sell the site of the CG to Tesco or someone to build a store, now that isn't an option anymore so housing maybe. The problem the CG has is I don't know how much land comes with it but you ain't going to get the enabling development to cross fund on the site, you might get a hotel ala Bolton but that isn't enough, so you are immediately dependent on (likely third party who will want their 15%) seed funding at least!
Could all end up being a heads you lose tails you loose.
This is it, could be great, could be a millstone for the future for whoever gets it, for instance if the Trust buy and then 5 years down the line and unforeseen £10m needs spending where is that coming from, likewise Power buys, fans get pissed off revenues drop and you have a very pricey football pitch!
Its an important historical moment and needs the right outcome and team on either side, I honestly don't know which way I would like it to go, a combined bid seems the most attractive and unattainable.
