Development and fiscal problems Sixfields Stadium

1 development , fiscal problems

1.1 vision
1.2 east stand development
1.3 financial problems
1.4 march 2016

development , fiscal problems
vision

in december 2003, football club secured 150-year lease on ground local council. owners of northampton town, david , tony cardoza, proposed redevelop whole ground, doubling capacity 15,000 all-seater stadium. start adding executive boxes , further 2,000 seats west stand, whilst expanding clubs offices , facilities. other stands expanded , joined create bowl stadium. new complex feature hotel, coinciding 1 of stands @ county ground being known hotel end.

the proposed expansion largely financed associated development, such new shops , hotel. these associated developments not comply national government policy on restricting out-of-town retail development, plans stadium expansion have not progressed stage formal planning application has been made. in 2009, northampton retail strategy produced consultants caci northampton borough council. study concluded further out-of-town retail development harm existing town centre.

east stand development

incomplete east stand @ sixfields stadium on 16 october 2015

in 2013, club proposed redevelopment of east stand. project provide similar-scale stand existing west stand, housing: 4,000 supporters; additional executive facilities; new family area; plus adding adjoining hotel , conference centre. redevelopment began in summer 2014, in june scaled down plans revealed, reducing capacity of stand 3,100. artist s impressions show similar design of morecambe f.c. s globe arena main stand. supporters criticised these new designs, seats may have restricted view of play. stand half finished. stand , associated works in part funded £10.25 million loan northampton borough council.

financial problems

the redevelopment of east stand not completed in time opening home match of 2014–15 league 2 season

in september 2015, building work incomplete , 2 repayments on loan missed, borough council issued legal notices club requiring loan repaid 15 october 2015. on 15 october 2015 winding-up petition launched hm revenue , customs (hmrc) recover unpaid taxes northampton town football club @ high court. hmrc claimed owed five-figure sum in unpaid taxes club, , said take club high court on 16 november unless payment received.

the buckingham group, building new stand, told supporters group on 19 october 2015 owed £3m work on stand may, , hence stopped work in june. on 30 october 2015 reported players , staff @ club had not been paid club’s bank account frozen.

in november 2015, administrators , liquidators reports emerged companies undertaking development. 1st land ltd subsidiary of county group ltd (also in administration), part of group owned businessman howard grossman, , had paid monies associated companies: £1.475m county homes (herts) ltd; , £233,000 county cemetery services ltd, directors of included howard grossman, son marcus grossman , simon patnick. further, 1st land paid £2.65m tony , david cardoza. liquidators report 1st land ltd says cardozas , 1st land fell in dispute in march 2014, , during investigation cardozas called sum joint venture fee – money paid 1 party carry out jointly-run project – whilst former director howard grossman called loan. after collapse of 1st land, county developments (northampton) ltd (cdnl) took on facilitation work, in liquidation; directors listed david , anthony cardoza, while marcus grossman , simon patnick resigned directorships in january 2015.

on 7 november 2015 guardian newspaper published summary of sixfields issue under headline northampton town: scandal of missing millions council s stadium plan – cobblers supporters baffled , distressed council seeks answers happened £10.25m loan pay improvements sixfields stadium.

march 2016

the club s new owners announced seats put east stand, take capacity 7,724 final few home games of 2015–16 season. form part of phase 1 while phase 2 completed during off-season. first phase completed start of april 2016. announced on 31 march 2016 stand open on 2 april game against notts county.