Some entirely spurious figures being bandied about, no comparability whatsoever.
Hull FC play in the council's facility and pay the SMC north of £600k pa to do so. There is a ticketing subsidy arrangement between Hull FC and the SMC. Neil Hudgell claimed tonight, I think, that the council are subsidising Hull FC to the tune of £300k. I would like to see fuller evidence of this claim.
Hull KR play on the council land, paying rental to Gaingroup/KCD Holdings. When Rovers were in administration, the council repurchased the freehold of Craven Park to allow Rovers to continue trading. The council granted Gaingroup/KCD a 250 year peppercorn lease with a sublease to Hull KR. The question about whether Hull KR pay peppercorn rent only on Craven Park was not put to him.
He complained that the council have not seen a dividend return from the KC via the SMC. The question of whether the council see a dividend return on the freehold of Craven Park via Gaingroup/KCD Holdings was not asked.
He complained that Hull KR are contracted to pay £60k pa on the stand for 13 days' use. The fact that the original grant application showed a cost of £2m [uspecifically attributable [/uto the stand rather than the council facilities, so is an incremental cost purely attributable to Rovers, and the £60k is simply repayment of this sum over and extended time period as per the application 3 years ago was not mentioned.
The support afforded to Hull KR in terms of pitch improvement by the council was not specifically mentioned.
The reported contribution of £300k to Craven Park development by NHS Hull was not mentioned.
The distancing of himself from the development and say he won't put his name to it was not explored in terms of its implications. If Rovers refuse to pay, for example, because they're not satisfied, who picks up the £2m tab? This was not discussed.
And what was the most disappointing aspect of Rovers 2012 season? Falling attendances? Finishing 10th, out of the play-offs with a 1 from 10 run-in? Losing England Knights Watts and Taylor? No, not getting up for the derbies.
