The Ground

[Shrimpy]

In a hypothetical situation where the football club goes bust who does ownership of the ground transfer to?

I'm assuming the covenant would still be in place regarding the land needing to be used for a kids play area or whatever it is so it would be in the best interests of whoever finds themselves owning the ground to allow any phoenix club to use the stadium?

[George Dawes]

In a hypothetical situation where the football club goes bust who does ownership of the ground transfer to?

I'm assuming the covenant would still be in place regarding the land needing to be used for a kids play area or whatever it is so it would be in the best interests of whoever finds themselves owning the ground to allow any phoenix club to use the stadium?

err In theory the administrators could rip the stands down and sell a lot of it off as scrap.

then turn around and say "oh and your Christies Trust' you still have a field to play on"

[marky No.1]

Yes I would take it being the Trust owns the land, but the Club owns the bits that stand on it

[KenH]

Got to hope that the trustees and LCC put some covenants onto the site to prevent it (or most of it) being sold for housing etc. With a covenant like that even the freehold owners couldn't use it for another purpose other than a football ground without convoluted legal proceedings (i.e. what happened with Christie Park). Hopefully the i's and t's were all crossed and dotted properly so as to preserve the pitch/stadium at the very least.

[shrimper]

Could be wrong but I seem to recall it's not a formal covenant just a record of JB's wishes in the deeds of trust and, as such, doesn't have quite the legal standing many think it does.

He gave the land to the club. The club went to the high court to perform the technicality of getting that transferred to the current site (with the blessing of the JB trustees) but, as I say, unless someone knows better, I don't think it's legally binding.

[Gnasher]

Sadly smartphones weren't around in the days when I read the deeds otherwise we'd know.

[black morse]

Looks like Turners Field then

[black morse]

Could always share The Giant Axe

[George Dawes]

or King George's so when starting from scratch in time theres enough room to build stands, don't think there's room at Turners Field even though it's a better location.

[Morecambe Jack]

Could be wrong but I seem to recall it's not a formal covenant just a record of JB's wishes in the deeds of trust and, as such, doesn't have quite the legal standing many think it does.

He gave the land to the club. The club went to the high court to perform the technicality of getting that transferred to the current site (with the blessing of the JB trustees) but, as I say, unless someone knows better, I don't think it's legally binding.

I don't know the ins and outs either but the club can't actually own the land (which means he can't have given it to them). In the accounts, the stadium is leasehold due to the fact that the club lease the land from someone else (i.e. presumably the J B Christie Trust).

All the high court stuff technically will have been on behalf of (rather than with the blessing of) JB Trustees not the football club directly.

I'm sure this could be checked with a land registry search.

[shrimper]

Could be wrong but I seem to recall it's not a formal covenant just a record of JB's wishes in the deeds of trust and, as such, doesn't have quite the legal standing many think it does.

He gave the land to the club. The club went to the high court to perform the technicality of getting that transferred to the current site (with the blessing of the JB trustees) but, as I say, unless someone knows better, I don't think it's legally binding.

I don't know the ins and outs either but the club can't actually own the land (which means he can't have given it to them). In the accounts, the stadium is leasehold due to the fact that the club lease the land from someone else (i.e. presumably the J B Christie Trust).

All the high court stuff technically will have been on behalf of (rather than with the blessing of) JB Trustees not the football club directly.

I'm sure this could be checked with a land registry search.

Pretty sure he bought the land at Christie Park specifically in order to give it to the club. The club may now be leasing the Westgate land from the council on a long lease?

[SupermarketShrimp]

The little I know about these matters is that administrators like the route of least resistance. This usually means getting what they can for the business and letting it start again.

Unless there's a big bid from a developer (and there's not much To develop) it'll go as it is to the highest bidder to remain as a football ground

[Seasider9601]

or King George's so when starting from scratch in time theres enough room to build stands.

And Morecambe FC also renovated King George's for Westgate Wanderers FC as part of the ground move deal - seeing as we moved onto their old base on Westgate.

[KenH]

Quite a confusing position. The accounts show freehold land costing £185k which I presume is some of the land on Westgate, but also leasehold property costing £7.5m, which I presume are the stadium buildings etc., which being leasehold suggest they're built on land belonging to someone else, i.e. the JBC trust or LCC.

To add to the confusion, PMG Leisure Ltd also shows freehold land and buildings in it's accounts, which may be the artificial pitches etc to the rear.

So, it looks like the site is split into at least 3 parcels, one being the stadium itself, on leasehold, the land being owned by LCC or the JBC trust, the maybe the sports pitches owned by PMG Leisure Ltd and some other freehold land, perhaps the carparks and roads etc owned by MFC Ltd.

The hill/field at the front was apparently already sold to a director pending onward sale re the hotel or another fast food outlet etc., so that won't be included as a company asset anymore.

[Morecambe Jack]

In addition to the above, Christie Park was also under leasehold as can be seen in some of the old accounts on Companies House. The gift of the land was a gift under trust, it seems.

[Wild Bill]

So the conclusion is its as clear as mud.

I only hope we can keep the pitch and the PMG at least if the worst happens.

[morecambedollyblue]

Could always share The Giant Axe

HAHA NO CHANCE!

[RedRedWine]

Doll

Could always share The Giant Axe

HAHA NO CHANCE!

All this is purely hypothetical, but as Dollyblues don't own their ground you'd have little say in the matter. I'm actually surprised that the council hasn't already sold the land to a developer for housing given its location, value, and the cuts they have/are facing. I think more people visit judges lodgings than visit the Axe each season, but that could not be saved despite the excellent array of Star Wars toys that were on display.