As a deal over the future of the John Smith’s Stadium edges closer to completion, Huddersfield Giants have launched a search for a new long-term home.

However, there are big question marks over where any new stadium could be built – and how long it could take.

Giants’ owner Ken Davy, now back as chairman, announced the club’s ambition to build its own stadium at the club’s annual presentation night in September.

Mr Davy said he wanted to build an 8,000-capacity stadium and move within three years, but already that timescale appears to be overly ambitious.

Huddersfield Hub understands that under an agreement reached with Huddersfield Town owner Kevin Nagle, the Giants are welcome to stay at the John Smith’s Stadium for as long as they like.

However, a shortage of suitable sites in Huddersfield – and complexities over those that appear to be available – means any move for the Giants appears to be several years into the future.

 

 

Mr Davy told Huddersfield Hub: “We have had some exploratory discussions with Kirklees Council and what’s clear is how complex a project this is likely to be.

“It is something we are keen to do and we do need our own stadium – or to create it in some way – but it’s looking like a much longer process than we had imagined. And that means inevitably more costly too.

“I do get the feeling that it could take a lot longer if we stick to our objective of wanting to build our own stadium.”

Though there has been no official confirmation, it appears agreement has been reached for Huddersfield Town to take control of the John Smith’s Stadium, though any deal will have to be ratified by Kirklees Council’s Cabinet.

The stadium is owned by Town (40%), Kirklees Council (40%) and the Giants (20%) and the council has made it clear it wants to dispose of the stadium, though it wants to retain the freehold on the land.

Mr Nagle wants to develop the stadium and the wider site. This summer he invested around £2 million in repairs and upgrades and has stamped the stadium with Town’s blue and white branding, signalling his intentions.

As part of the deal, the Giants can stay but with an average attendance of less than 5,000, fans are lost in the 24,000 capacity, and the John Smith’s Stadium is clearly too big, hence the ambition to move. But where would the Giants go?

 

 

There have been several sites suggested but, Huddersfield Hub understands, they all have their own problems.

The former gasworks site, off St Andrew’s Road, used as a temporary car park, was a prime target but Kirklees Council has that earmarked for development under its strategically-important Station to Stadium economic development corridor, and refuses to let go.

It’s also believed the council holds the deeds to that site as it took on loan repayments so the gasworks site appears a complete non-starter for the Giants.

A return to the club’s spiritual home, Fartown, is favoured by many older supporters but that’s based on nostalgia and while the site is still there, it’s surrounded by housing. Parking and access would be a huge problem and it’s doubtful it would secure planning permission.

Laund Hill, already owned by Mr Davy through a Trust, has various complications and is also surrounded by housing. It’s also questionable whether the site is big enough.

 

 

Another ‘curve ball’ site that’s been suggested is the Leeds Road playing fields. Owned by the council, it’s operated by Kirklees Active Leisure (KAL) and is one of the few KAL sites that turns a profit.

Again the council will likely want to keep it, and it probably would take some unravelling from cash-strapped KAL. Having said that, Kirklees Council needs to make another £30 million in savings and land and property is being sold off to make ends meet.

Apart from those sites there doesn’t appear to be any other suitable land in Huddersfield. So what about a groundshare with Huddersfield RUFC at Lockwood Park? It’s a thought but there haven’t been any talks.

So, could the Giants leave Huddersfield? And, if so, in what direction could they turn?

The Shay stadium in Halifax has to be an option. Calderdale Council, like Kirklees, is looking to sell the stadium and neither Halifax Town nor Halifax Panthers would seem to have the means to buy it.

The Giants have played ‘home’ games at the Shay in the recent past, including in 2011 when the John Smith’s Stadium pitch was relaid.

The Shay has a great atmosphere and easy access from Huddersfield, though would need a lot of investment.

Mr Davy has sounded out the Huddersfield Giants Supporters’ Association (HGSA) and the Shay hasn’t been dismissed out of hand.

“Leaving Huddersfield would concern me,” said Mr Davy. “I would only reluctantly move out of Huddersfield if there were very strong reasons to do so.

“In our talks with HGSA, the idea of the Shay wasn’t rejected outright but I don’t think it would be anyone’s preferred option.”

Mr Davy stressed there had been no official approach over the Shay and said: “There have been no discussions at all, however we would be unwise at this stage to rule anything out.”

Mr Davy said since his announcement about a new stadium, the response had been “overwhelmingly positive.”

He added: “It created real momentum, though the possibility of that now being delayed for several years – or of it taking several years to become a reality – is difficult to square.”

So where does this leave the Giants? When Town complete the deal to take control of the John Smith’s Stadium, the Giants can stay for as long as they like, so it seems the Giants will continue to call the John Smith’s Stadium home for the foreseeable future.

 

Sir John Harman reflects on the John Smith’s Stadium and asks why Huddersfield Town and Huddersfield Giants want to throw away a winning hand