The Q&A session held by NTFC Supporters Ltd with Cllr Tim Hadland raised a number of points that were not in keeping with our understanding of certain aspects relating to the Sixfields Development and we have therefore sought clarification from NTFC. Anthony Collett and Vince Smith met with NTFC Chairman David Cardoza and NTFC General Manager at Sixfields Stadium on 8^th August 2006 to ask for NTFC’s comments and also for sight of correspondence and other documents to confirm that NTFC’s responses were as stated.

The first point that required clarification was Cllr Hadlands response to Question 1 relating to the expected announcement in August 2006 on the preferred siting of the District Centre in the Sixfields area.

The relevant parts are as follows:

Anthony Collett restated that as far as he knew NTFC were fully expecting a decision in August 2006.

Responding on behalf of NTFC Tony Clarke pointed out that Appendix 1 of the report put forward and voted on by Cllr Hadland at the Cabinet Meeting of NBC on 30^th January 2006 stated that the Sixfields Area Action Plan had a Target Timescale and this showed that in August 2006 public consultations on the preferred options would start. The document states "Timescales are indicative only. Exact dates for each stage will be announced at the appropriate time" Since January there have been no announcements from NBC or communication with NTFC to indicate that the timescales shown in Appendix 1 would be any different. David Cardoza confirmed that NTFC had written to NBC asking for a progress reports but apart from "holding letters" had so far not received a response.

The second point requiring clarification was Cllr Hadland’s response to Question 6 regarding the Training Ground.

The relevant parts are as follows:

Responding on behalf of NTFC Tony Clarke clarified the position regarding the land. This is now owned by English Partnerships who are currently covering the cost of maintaining the area and for the grass to be cut. English Partnerships had offered to transfer the land to NBC but the offer was declined as NBC did not want to take on the costs of providing and maintaining the facility. NTFC have written to English Partnerships and offered to meet the cost of developing maintaining the facility for both their own use and use by local sports clubs. English Partnerships have been asked to transfer the land to NTFC on the same terms as it would have been transferred to NBC Having initially offered the land to NBC, English Partnerships require agreement from NBC that (as they have stated that they do not want the land) it can, instead, be transferred to NTFC. English Partnerships are presently waiting for a response from NBC.

As regards the plans not fitting the area the plans submitted are only an outline and indicative and NTFC will not incur costs preparing precise plans until the question of ownership can be confirmed by NBC confirming their agreement to allow NTFC to take-over the land and develop the facilities.

NTFC then responded to the following comment made by Cllr Hadland:

Tony Clarke provided a copy of a letter from NTFC to NBC dated 19^th December 2002 (some 16 months before the lease was transferred to NTFC) which outlined NTFC’s plans and requirements to make those plans and NTFC viable. The letter refers to enabling contributions from the Council and English Partnerships to "develop the stadium complex to provide hotel accommodation, bars, restaurants and offices as well as new Academy and Training facilities. All such facilities should be provided in conjunction with the needs of the Town’s other professional sports users within an integrated planning framework" The letter also inform NBC that the NTFC had already written to their appointed consultants "Halcrow" to outline their intentions

The Company appointed by NBC to deal with the regeneration of the Sixfields Area, Halcro Ltd were sent a letter from NTFC on 13^th December 2002 confirming NTFC’s interest in a forthcoming first draft re-generation survey and stating it’s views and aims including "The current stadium at Sixfields is inadequate to support the football club with the stadium only being used some 23 times a year plus any cup matches. It is essential that the stadium be owned and operated by the club to ensure that the club has a viable and sustainable future with increased capacity including corporate facilities, bars, restaurants and a hotel development providing for year round revenues for the club.

The letter also confirms the needs of NTFC to achieve its aims stating that "Significant enabling retail contributions will be required from the surrounding land owned by the Council and/or English Partnerships with receipts going towards the re-development costs of the stadium project".

The lease transferring Sixfields Stadium to NTFC was completed in April 2004 and although this did not provide for all of the enabling development the NBC Borough Solicitor had advised NTFC to proceed on the basis that the initial lease was part of a stepped procedure and NBC and other interested parties were fully aware of the changes that would need to be made to that initial lease to allow the development of the stadium and other facilities to proceed.. It was also felt that at that time had the lease on offer not been signed that potential changes at NBC could have meant the lease then available could be withdrawn.

After the lease was signed in April 2004 Cllr Phil Larratt in his capacity as Leader of the Council issued a Media Statement on 14^th March 2005 as follows:

"On behalf of the Councils Executive, I confirm our continuing full commitment to working closely with Northampton Town Football Club to secure its long term viability and future.

"In the short term we have assembled a project team to work with the club and adjacent landowners to examine David Cardoza’s proposals to review the lease of the stadium in order to unlock the potential development value of the site for the club and other land owners. This would be in the context of the wider redevelopment agenda for Sixfields and Northampton.

"There are a number of technical, legal and financial issues which require analysis and consideration before specific proposals can be evaluated but I am confident that, through an open partnership approach, focused on securing both the long term future of the football club and optimising the redevelopment value and wider community benefits, a solution can be found. Myself and group are committed to preserving the football club and its future. The council will undertake every endeavour to take this matter forward at the swiftest possible pace, but must of course have regard for the due process.

"I look forward to receiving the work of the joint advisory partnership and seeing options for securing our common interests"

Although this Media Statement was issued some 11 months after the lease transferring Sixfields Stadium to NTFC was completed both David Cardoza and Tony Clarke feel that this shows that NBC were well aware of the clubs intentions and needs to fully develop the Stadium and committed to the development.

As regards the suggestion by Cllr Hadland that the Hotel would fund the stadium improvements David Cardoza said that if this was the case NTFC would not have taken the athletics stadium and the associated ongoing costs as part of the lease.

The final point requiring clarification was Cllr Hadland response to question 8 regarding cost savings to NBC since NTFC had taken over the running of the Stadium in April 2004.

The relevant parts are as follows:

Cllr Hadland said that he had not seen these figures but the roles of NBC as a planing authority and land owner are separate and any decision made must be sustainable for all reasons although he did agree that the biggest capital sum that would be payable to NBC would come from development on the lower plateau. As regards the cost savings since NTFC had taken over the running of the Stadium Cllr Hadland thought that these were around £375,000 per year.

In response David Cardoza pointed out that the real costs were well in excess of £375,000 as this was NBC’s final budget figure which did not cover a full 12 months operating costs. Furthermore NBC incurred costs "off site" relating to project management which meant the real saving to NBC was upwards of £550,000 per annum, Furthermore when NTFC completed the lease there were 17 years remaining of the original lease and even with very modest increases in costs had NBC retained responsibility for running the stadium over £10 million would have been spent by NBC over this period. This does not allow for any major capital expenditure which almost certainly would have been needed during the 17 years.

Subsequent to the meeting with David Cardoza and Tony Clarke on 9^th August Cllr Hadland replied by email on 10^th August 2006 to the queries raised in Question 11.

The relevant parts are as follows:

The response covers a number of points not all connected with the Stadium Development and the relevant parts are as follows:

As regards the meeting on 10^th April Tony Clarke and David Cardoza who were preset have confirmed that whilst NBC had informed them of difficulties with the core strategy and the housing figures at no point did they indicate the extent of any delays at that meeting or that these would extend beyond August 2006 and certainly not to November 2007.

As there are significant differences in what Cllr Hadland said at the meeting of NTFC Supporters Ltd on the 28^th July 2006 and NTFC’s understanding of the position we will be asking Cllr Hadland to comment further.

In the meantime we believe that on the 28^th July 2006 Cllr Hadland was fully aware that August/September 2006 was the date when NBC had planned to make an announcement on the preferred siting of the District Centre and feel that we were misled by the response to the question about the expected announcement in August 2006. Furthermore we believe that Cllr Hadland was or should have been aware that November 2007 was the revised date when attending the meeting on 28^th July 2006.

We also feel that Cllr Hadland misled us regarding the delays surrounding the new training facility as NBC were not waiting to hear from NTFC but English Partnerships are presently waiting for a response from NBC.

The savings to NBC following the transfer of the Sixfields Stadium to NTFC were very much understated by Cllr Hadland.

That the suggestion that it would have been simpler if all plans were revealed at outset is misleading as NTFC had made their needs and requirements to properly develop the Stadium clear since December 2002.

Further, we feel that Cllr Hadland has not maintained the intentions of NBC to help secure the future of Northampton Town Football Club as clearly stated by NBC on 14^th March 2005.