There is conflicting reports from different sources and it will be clarified eventually. But in a climate of fake news it's difficult to draw any real conclusion as to what has brought a potential deal to ultimately fail.
Presently it would seem WASP changed the goalpost and insisted on further clauses that would imdemify them from cost, and perhaps more damging any damages awarded against them should the EC and it's process eventually find for SISU against the council. It's a tricky one becuase what ever happens WASP know SISU can't control the outcome. If anything WASP with hindsight I agree, should have made sure of such a clause was in place with the council when they bought the lease on the cheap!
So initially WASP had put the EC result to one side and wanted to agree a deal with SISU and the football club. That seems reasonable enough as not having the football club there would be a big misstake and loss of revenue. So why did they come back and insist on a further imdemnification clause to protect their interest financially from SISU and not the council?
Its unfortunate that the EC complaint was made but SISU will say they had to follow through. WASP know each of the previous proceedings have been returned to favour them and the council but the EC complaint is a different animal and as such, just could go against them. That surely is the council's problem and for them to be concerned and for WASP (who knew what they got into) to approach the council to save their bacon should this final action not be in their favour.
So it's rather blinkered for WASP to demand SISU agree this new clause in any deal to play at the Ricoh. Yes SISU wisely could have accepted their years of litgation was over but can you actually blame them for one last throw of the dice with the EC?
Now we face a few years of waiting for a process to run its course and that is damaging to the football club for which SISU must be ultimately culpable. While I think they have every right to make a EC complaint they could have ended it and moved on securing a long term relationship with WASP, gain promotion and finally had a club to sell as their only way out. Rightly or wrongly they are hoping for a positive result and damaging consequencies for WASP and the council. But will that even lead to a pathway to ownership or shared ownership of the Ricoh?
Its a big if.
I think blame is where ever your understanding of it all is. For me WASP should have done a deal regradless of the EC complaint, it meant gains in the interim.
And the council? Had we had 'better' onwers we may have had less opposition and more concilitory attitude but regardless, what kind of council allows for a football to be destroyed by stripping it of its own base with little regard for the community they serve simply because they would not deal with the football clubs current owners.
Wellcome to St.Andrews!