Wouldn’t the same option have been open to NBC to pursue or did the need for a gazillion focus groups, discussion meetings, planning forums, cabinet meetings prevent the likelihood from happening?
Yes it would have been safer if NBC had time to secure the leases. On the papers I viewed this week NBC did acknowledge there was a 'risk' posed by someone moving in and gazumping them on securing the CDNL leases held by the liquidators. But, and here's the thing, NTFC were only days away from HMRC's court petition, and the Thomas group wouldn't complete with the 10 million debt still overhanging the club. If the council had held out until everything was wrapped up nicely, NTFC faced going out of business.
This is why the council have remained tight lipped. Because, yet again, they allowed themselves to get mugged. But, and it is a big
but, if NBC hadn't allowed the deal to go through the Cobblers may well have gone to the wall.
Northampton Borough Council gambléd because they were trying to preserve the status of NTFC. Unfortunately, they then got shafted by the very same people who shook hands with them and signed an MoU aimed at preserving the club and recovering lost monies.
Did NBC act with due diligence? Possibly not. But what they did do was to act in the best interests of Northampton Town Football Club. And then our
saviors screwed them over.
And just to add, on the MoU the Thomas group stated it was their intention to complete the East Stand with funds available. That was in 2015. 'Nuff said!