黑洞社区

Property developers Ross River and Blue River have kicked off a legal row with Cambridge City Football Club over the club鈥檚 controversial playing field.

This is the latest move in a long running dispute over the ground, which the club sold to Ross River for 拢1.3m and a half share of overage 鈥� increase in the ground鈥檚 value when developed - in 2004.

In financial difficulties, the club then sold its overage to Ross River for 拢900,000 after Ross River鈥檚 development manager Paul Harney made a 拢10,000 payment to the club鈥檚 managing director.

Litigation followed, and the High Court gave the club permission to rescind the overage agreement, allowing the club to benefit from the increased value from redevelopment, but not the original sale. Currently there are plans to build 200 homes on the site.

This is the latest move in a long running dispute over the ground, which the club sold to Ross River for 拢1.3 million and a half share of overage

The judge also ruled that Paul Harney鈥檚 payment to the managing director amounted to bribery, and in a stinging judgment said that he 鈥渨riggled and evaded with imagination but without candour鈥�.

Both sides appealed against the judgment but the Court of Appeal threw out both appeals.

Now Ross River, which leases the ground back to the club, is seeking a declaration that the lease dated 29 April 2005 is excluded from the provisions of part 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, as amended. This would prevent the club from applying for a new tenancy of the ground when the existing lease runs out.

The club took a two year lease of the ground, paying around 拢70,000 a year.