The fact that we don't own the ground..

could actually be a good thing in respect to a takeover,at least while it's owned by Barnsley Council, no potential
takeover consortium can be looking at the real estate value with a view to asset stripping the club,that is providing the Council don't sell.........one there to badger your councillors about if ever rumours surface.

 

I think at the time when they bought a share in it the council said it was in the best interests of the town to have a football club (ie they basically helped us out of admin in return for ownership of the ground) and that it would provide better security in the long term.

I understand Cryne owns a 50% (or something) stake in the ground as well so presumably this would be passed over to any new owners. I'd like the council to retain some share in the ground as this would offer some protection if the new owners intentions were questionable. This shouldn't stop them improving the ground in the future although it's fine for now, if by some strange sequence of events we ever ended up back in the Premier then that's when you'd look to improve the ground - amazing how many people can come out of the woodwork when you suddenly have a Premiership club on your doorstep. Obviously getting way ahead of myself here, a week ago I wouldn't have expected to see the club in the top flight again in my life time but with a few quid and the right management (the current management!) then it maybe isn't such a crazy idea.

 

Yes, was always part of the plan. Was deemed an inspired and secure idea at the time and would still appear to be so. Prevents any further dodgy Doylings.