From the club website :



Halifax Council has today issued the following Press Release;



“The Council is very pleased that HRLFC has paid off a substantial amount of the arrears allowing it access to all facilities at the Shay Stadium. The Council and HRLFC have made a commitment to discuss how we can move forward and work together as we remain committed to supporting the Shay to be a thriving sports venue”.







In response the Club has stated;



“HRLFC are delighted to have agreed with the Council that as regards any invoiced charges which may be outstanding in respect of the Shay, the position of each party is reserved. We look forward to taking part in discussions to secure a fair and final resolution of all remaining issues relating to the use and occupancy of Stadium facilities by the Town’s two professional sporting clubs.”







Season 2014 is extremely important to the Club with the re introduction of promotion and relegation in 2015. The teams that finish in the top two this season will receive additional funding to allow them to compete that much better in 2015.







The Board of Directors and friends of Halifax RLFC have invested heavily this season hoping for success and the attendance at our first game of the season was disappointingly low. If fans want to see Halifax RLFC with a chance of playing in Super League they now need to get behind the team by supporting us in larger numbers, especially over the next month when we play at home, those teams who seem to be our greatest rivals

Cue the luddites. If we have been given access all facilities, does this mean that we did have access either removed or threat of removal? If so does this add fuel to the rumour that FC Halifax have a mole on the inside?

I don't know what you mean about the mole, but, if we haven't been paying our way then we haven't been paying our way in my book.

The inference is that someone on the council is passing information on to someone at FCHalifax.



I am sure there is absolutely more to it than we haven't been paying our way.



I hope that this will finally put the issue to bed, but I very much doubt it.

Part quote from the release.



"any invoiced charges which may be outstanding in respect of the Shay, the position of each party is reserved."



In other words



Strictly between the club and the council so if there is anymore information sneaking it's way out then there could be a mole passing it on to a mouse and we should smell a rat.



The most important statement in all of this is.



Part quote.



"The Board of Directors and friends of Halifax RLFC have invested heavily this season hoping for success and the attendance at our first game of the season was disappointingly low. If fans want to see Halifax RLFC with a chance of playing in Super League they now need to get behind the team by supporting us in larger numbers, especially over the next month when we play at home, those teams who seem to be our greatest rivals."



In other words.



If we don't get the crowds up we won't be going anywhere near Super League and we may go backwards.

And nor should we. We and Fev and Leigh need to be posting 3,500+ to be seriously "knocking on the door" as it were.

After weeks of getting grief from non fax supporters the council and OUR club say it is sorted and all I seem to be reading is complete negativity form Fax fans on here. The club, supporters trust and us who have season tickets pay at the gate week after week are trying and wanting our great club to move forward. Yet people are still moaning. Don't ask what your club can do for you but what you can do for your club!

What negativity? Just general discussion. We will all be there screaming at the ref on Sunday.

Bloody Brilliant.

We've not got access to all areas with local junior rugby shafted for the second time in two weeks. The council have called our U10 15 minute each way game off with 5 days to go. Twenty, four stone kids with the footprint of Freddie Tuilagi's nose is "apparently" too much for a pitch that won't be used again for another 7 days.



30+ extra ten quids might only be £300 in the scheme of things, but it’s more about engaging the Kids and giving them a ‘wow’ day.



I think Calderdale Council need to drop the ‘ Community Stadium’ bu1154!t.

A couple of points, posting what the BOD says about crowds can hardly be moaning by us, they said it and it is a real concern for them and us all.



In that sense rather than being sorted just because most of the rent has been paid, it still needs to be sorted otherwise they would not have taken the opportunity to mention it again, it's not the first time.



The concern has increased as the crowds have decreased and with that in mind the statement, comment or whatever you call it is a truthful reality check on where the club stands now and the prospects of where it will stand in the near future.



It is also an appeal to anyone who is thinking about coming down to the Shay to watch rugby to do so in the next few weeks.



Since most on here are attending the games and paying our way our role will be to try and get others to go and I for one will try.

I don't see it as a negative at all, if we can do the above then that can only be positive.

That's not what this means, reserving in this case means neither side backing down. The rugby club has paid some arrears but that doesn't mean it accepts the full amount is owed. The council has accepted the money but doesn't accept that the arrears are now cleared. You've come to an arrangement without accepting each other's stance - that will still need resolving.

Yes I know but if you read my post I said "this remains strictly between the club and the council", which it does so please keep your nose and whiskers out.



Thank you.

JFFC Said.



"I too think this is a positive post lets all draw a line under what they have to say on the Town board it holds no interest for me , lets get doing something for our club . We can all try to bring along a friend to a match or pop some change into the Trust collection ,join the Meal Deal , sponsor an under 20s player lots of things to get positive about this year."



Absolutely, the message is.



The BOD and Friends have and are backing the club to the hilt as much as they can.



The current fan base have and are backing the club in many cases as much as they can.

The effort that some of the various fund raising groups is fantastic.

Question is for me and us all, can we broaden the fan base and do anymore like the things you say and if we can now is the time.



I bet many of those who can do a bit more will do for sure.

We have a meeting on Wed 5th of March 8-00pm Function Room 1 at the Shay anyone with any ideas or who wants to get involved are most welcome .

Business deal done, common sense prevails, rest of monies to be paid subject to agreement between the two parties.

Let's all move on now and just ignore any more baiting form the Shaymen-there is nothing to see here move on.

What's more important is supporting the BOD on what is clearly a challenging time as a result of last years cashflow going out of the window with early exit from the Northern Rail, drawing Sheffield' no supporters' Eagles all the time and having to play 6 or 7 consecutive away games and spectatators getting out of the habit, Courier newspaper circulation stopping .

Looks to me we need a big push on marketing the Fax brand-not individual sponsors- but a town wide awareness as to what is happening as Fax build toward a possible SL spot in the future.

Good post,but how do we attract the numbers we need ? watching the A team at thrum hall on

a friday night in front of 2000 fans you couldn't envisage the scenario we have now where first

t6eam games attract less.

We need to get the Courier back in circulation

Fixture lists in pubs/shops/offices. A proper advertising board on the hugely traffic populated Skircoat Road. Just two relatively inexpensive things that would reach out to thousands of people each and every day of the week.

I think the club need to take a chance and substancially reduce admission prices for one game whilst widely announcing that if it greatly increases the attendance it will be maintained going forward. The current price is not a problem to such as me but I only have to pay myself in. If it's a couple with 2 kids, in the current economic climate, it could well cost them a large chunk of their income.

Fact is its too expensive. I know loads not going because it costs a small fortune, its cheaper to go to the Vue cinema and that's saying something.



Factor this with the dire rugby for the past few seasons with the exception of a few games and its not hard to see why crowds have dropped.

I suggested these at the supporters meeting last summer along with the clubs badge somewhere near the bus station. Gotta get into the psyche before we can expect new supporters

Ive suggested dropping admin prices many times over the years but I still do not think there is a chance that they will do it. It is really worrying that when Tony Abbot came in he said that he had a plan that would lead to days where we had crowds of over 10K, however long later and crowds are on the decrease rather than increase and for me the board are totally stumped as to what to do about it.

As someone with 4 kids I struggle to get them interested. As youngsters the rugby bit to them is boring, especially the brand we have played last couple of years. There is no razzmatazz, entertainment etc... Even the food from snack vans etc is excessive. We need to do more to get the kids interested, offer a cheap family ticket for say £25 with a dedicated turnstile and maybe stipulate 2 adults and at least 1 child must use it and give choice to sit or stand....??? Do stuff in the bars like face painting... Kiddies have that for free, dad has a pint... All things that get kids interested and into the ground....?? For me I loved access to the players as a kid, running on the pitch and asking for their tie ups etc...?? It's tough but in my opinion our marketing needs to step up and make the game an attraction....?? Easier said than done I suppose as these things all cost but sometimes you have to spend it to accumulate it.....