Giants owner abandons plans to buy The Shay

3 hours ago

John GreenwoodLocal Democracy Reporting Service

News image — Friends of The Shay has been fighting the decision to sell the stadium in Halifax

Local Democracy Reporting Service An empty football stadium as seen from above. It has four stands of seat and a green pitch, with a car park to the right. — Friends of The Shay has been fighting the decision to sell the stadium in Halifax

The owner of rugby league team Huddersfield Giants has called off plans to purchase a West Yorkshire stadium.

In March 2025, Calderdale Council approved the sale of The Shay - home of FC Halifax Town and rugby league club Halifax Panthers - to Ken Davy, OBE.

However, on Monday, Davy announced he had pulled out of the sale after "a small minority of people" had made it "abundantly clear" that his involvement was not welcome.

Davy said the outcome was "disappointing", adding that he had planned to develop the stadium into a multi-sport community hub serving the whole of Calderdale, rather than primarily football and rugby supporters.

In May, Reform UK won control of Calderdale Council from Labour and, having voiced opposition to the sale, had said the issue was up for "review" at their first cabinet meeting in July.

However, the party said on Monday cabinet members had met already to "discuss next steps", the Local Democracy Service reports.

'Not progressing'

The potential sale of the stadium and estate to Davy had been in development following a budget decision taken by councillors two years ago to dispose of The Shay to help balance the books.

The potential sale to Davy emerged after a year during which talks between the authority and the two clubs over taking it over were stalling.

Last week, campaign group Friends of the Shay, which strongly opposes the sale, issued a first formal pre-action protocol letter to council solicitors, a step towards mounting a legal challenge to the proposed sale.

In a written statement, Davy said he had informed the council he would "not be progressing" his interest in purchasing the stadium.

Local Democracy Reporting Service A large, well-maintained football stadium with a freshly cut green pitch. In the centre of the field, a single groundskeeper is pushing a lawn mower, creating neat, light and dark striped patterns across the grass. The pitch stretches widely across the foreground, appearing smooth and evenly trimmed.
On the left side of the image, there is a covered stand with rows of empty seating arranged in tiers. The structure has a blue roof and metal framework, with stairways painted in yellow leading up through the seating area. A small football goal is positioned near this stand at the edge of the field.
On the right side, there is another stand with blue seats arranged in orderly rows under a sloped roof. This stand appears slightly larger and sits on a raised grassy embankment. Behind this stand and between the two seating areas, a small building with a light-coloured exterior is visible, along with a fence and some basic stadium infrastructure.
In the background, a dense line of tall green trees surrounds the stadium, forming a natural backdrop. A tall floodlight pole rises above the trees near the centre of the image. — Calderdale Council approved the sale of The Shay last year

"From the very beginning I made it absolutely clear to the council, the football and rugby clubs and indeed, the various supporters groups I have met, that I would only continue my interest in the Shay Stadium, and sport in Halifax in general, if my input and involvement was welcome," he said.

"Unfortunately, in the respect of a small minority, it is abundantly clear that this is not the case."

Davy had expressed an interest in the ground in order to temporarily move his rugby league side there and share with the existing teams while a new stadium was built in Huddersfield.

Opponents of the sale were worried about what would happen if Davy decided to sell further down the line.

Although the existing deal was off, Davy said he would not rule out renting the stadium in the future.

A site for a new stadium to be built for the Giants in Kirklees is still being identified.

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.