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Huddersfield Giants owner gives timeline for new stadium and silences merger talk

Ken Davy Huddersfield Giants

Huddersfield Giants owner Ken Davy has offered up a possible timeline for when the club’s new stadium will be built whilst categorically denying any possible merger with Halifax Panthers.

Earlier in the month, Davy outlined his hope to acquire The Shay and use it as a temporary home for Huddersfield as the Giants build their new stadium.

Davy has previously expressed his desire for Huddersfield to leave the John Smith’s Stadium with the Super League side effectively looking to downsize to a ground with a capacity more befitting the club’s fan base.

A key element outlined in his plan to temporarily move to The Shay, the stadium shared by Halifax Town and Halifax Panthers, was that The Shay would be upgraded to Super League standards – thus be beneficial to both Town and the Panthers.

The Giants owner has now spoken with local paper The Halifax Courier about his plans, conceding that he does not want to be a long-term owner of The Shay whilst outlining the possible timeframe for how long Huddersfield would play there.

He also denied any questions of Huddersfield and Halifax merging, telling the Courier: “Absolutely and categorically, no,” when asked about those prospects.

Davy outlines Huddersfield’s Shay plans

Speaking to the Courier, Davy said: “I don’t want to be the long-term owner of The Shay but it’s impossible to second guess what the situation might be in five years’ time.”

Discussing the fact that Huddersfield intends to bring the stadium to Super League standard, which is something that would benefit Halifax on their IMG rankings, Davy revealed that the situation could be massively changed when he comes to sell the stadium.

He explained: “I would hope that, by then, because of what we’ve done, they would be in a much better position.

“Given it would be a Super League stadium, who knows, somebody might come in to support the Panthers and take them into Super League.

“FC Halifax may have gained promotion and be in a much better position financially.”

He also conceded that “it would be much simpler and less expensive” for Huddersfield to remain at the John Smith’s Stadium whilst their new ground is built, but he noted the lack of “the right atmosphere” – claiming the club “rattle” in such a big stadium.

How long with Huddersfield Giants play at The Shay?

Halifax Panthers stadium the Shay

Credit: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com

Currently, the seach is still underway for where the new stadium will be built with issues at each site checked out so far.

Davy explained: “Every site we look at has various issues so it’s impossible to say how or where the new stadium will be.

“We have our third or fourth pre-planning application almost ready to go in relation to a site and we keep our fingers crossed.

“We’re hopeful this one will work.”

With so many early hurdles in finding a site, the Giants owner conceded that Huddersfield could be at The Shay for five years – something he admitted was “purely a guess”.

“My original objective was for it to only take two or three years. It’s self evident from all the planning issues that it’s going to take longer than that.

“My guess is five years but that’s purely a guess.”

Davy also conceded that some Huddersfield fans might not follow the club to The Shay but he believes that a greater atmosphere will lead to overall growth in their attendance.

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