SOS - Anfield, An Asset of Community

Spirit of Shankly move to prevent Liverpool FC being sold under their noses

LIVERPOOL FC supporters’ union Spirit of Shankly is bidding to be included as a key player in any future moves to sell the club.

They have made an application to Liverpool city council to have Anfield stadium declared an “asset of community value.”

If the application to the council is successful Anfield could not be sold without supporters having an opportunity to purchase it.

This would mean Spirit of Shankly, as a locally-based organisation and interested group, would be automatically notified of any moves to sell the stadium – and, by extension the club itself.

James McKenna, chairman of Spirit of Shankly, said the real value of the designation was that it would act as an “early warning mechanism” of any future sale of the club.

He said: “What’s likely to happen is if Liverpool FC plan to sell Anfield, the likelihood is that it would be sold as part of any sale of LFC. It gives us some protection and means we can’t be ignored. We would have six weeks to indicate whether we were interested in making a bid and six months to prepare the bid.”

The application is being made under the Localism Act, a government initiative to give more power to local communities and to keep land and buildings – including football stadiums – in community use.

If Anfield is accepted as an “asset of community value”, then the council must be notified by Liverpool FC of any intention to sell Anfield.

Spirit of Shankly spokesman Paul Martin said: “Safeguarding the long term future of the club is vitally important to us. This application provides us with an opportunity to influence any future sale of the club by being part of that process.

“Having been witness to a sales process that left us in a precarious financial position and reached the High Court we know all too well the importance of this.”

He added: “We believe that football clubs and their stadiums are of vital importance to their local communities. Liverpool FC and Anfield are no different. It matters to so many people - be it those who attend football matches, those who work there or those who live within close proximity.”

Spirit of Shankly will be told if their application is successful in around eight weeks. No-one from Liverpool FC was available for comment.

A similar bid has been made by Manchester United Supporters’ Trust for their stadium.



http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2013/04/27/spirit-of-shankly-move-to-prevent-liverpool-fc-being-sold-under-their-noses-100252-33244357/

I think it's good news.

Although the current owners don't say much, I'm still extremely cautious by their tactics and actions and I wouldn't be at all surprised if a sale of the club happened again in the next couple of years.

Well in to Spirit of Shankly trying to put some duty of care into the club.

I do find SOS are trying to justify their existence slightly these days, but I think this could only be a good move. The current owners are very quiet these days, so this would give us a heads up of their intended actions, rather then them touting us around on the sly.

I do find SOS are trying to justify their existence slightly these days

A union to represent fans is very much needed these days mate. Just think how clubs and the FA dictate to the fans? That is for another thread though, granted. Agreed on your point about the owners like.

A union to represent fans is very much needed these days mate. Just think how clubs and the FA dictate to the fans? That is for another thread though, granted. Agreed on your point about the owners like.

I do take your point with regard to that mate, but I feel clubs/FA will always ignore supporters if it makes them more dough, which is why I personally feel that supporters need to hold a stake in the club. But I can't see that ever happening in the premier league. I'm just a cynic I guess!

But yeah, off topic now.

Secretary of State response to Anfield as an asset of community value

The Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, has commented on the news that ourselves and Manchester United Supporters' Trust have applied for our respective stadiums to be listed as 'assets of community value', with any such listing providing an opportunity and a right to bid should they come up for sale. You can read about our application here.

 The Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government said:

"Football stadiums are not only the heart and soul of every team, they are rooted in and loved by the neighbourhoods that surround them."

"Thanks to the new rights we've created, today football fans are exercising their community right to keep the beautiful game at their team's spiritual home by protecting their stadium's future."

"These rights are being used to back many more community ventures from local sports clubs, pubs, village shops and even a pier."
 
 It is great to see that the Secretary Of State for Communities and Local Government has recognised our application for Anfield to be nominated as an 'asset of community value'.
 
It would seem that he, like us, recognises just how important football stadiums are to supporters and their communities. We see our application as offering two things - opportunity and protection. An opportunity for us to actually have a real say in any future sale, and a protection of not only the stadium but protection of the supporters' right to be involved in the future of their club.


http://www.spiritofshankly.com/news/secretary-of-state-response-to-anfield-as-an-asset-of-community-value

SOS doing something of use.
Good stuff.

This is a brilliant idea. Well in to SOS for bringing this possibility about.

I think its an excellent idea and one that will keep us in the loop.

Good idea.

That stadium has been rebuilt thanks to the money put in by supporters over the years - and it's name all over the world has been driven by the passionate support of us customers over decades.

It is entirely appropriate that we should be an interested party in whichever 'owner' is currently flying in and out.

Anything that brings us closer to fan ownership has to be a good thing.