Property developer Mike Hussey today slammed Lord’s Cricket Ground bosses as “behaving like naughty schoolchildren” in an extraordinary public attack.
Hussey’s Almacantar development company had been selected to work with the Lord’s bosses on a £400 million redevelopment of the stadium. But after lengthy discussions, members of the Marylebone Cricket Club threw out his plans before Christmas. Former prime minister Sir John Major, who backed Hussey’s proposal, resigned from the main MCC committee over the issue.
Hussey claims the MCC promised to pay Almacantar’s fees when it selected him in 2010 but has reneged on that agreement.
Today, he sent out a Twitter message declaring: “MCC bosses should stop behaving like naughty schoolchildren found out. Be men, pay us back, move on.”
He has since proposed an alternative scheme but has become increasingly frustrated with the behaviour of the MCC members and the arduous procedures at the 225-year-old institution.
He told the Evening Standard: “This is not fair play. We’re not upset that they don’t want our development but we are upset at the process. They owe us our fees. It was a two-year selection process. Our time and effort has been wasted.”
Its new scheme, at the Nursery End, is with the owner of neighbouring Wellington Hospital. The pair plan a children’s hospital and sports clinic on the land and propose to pay £100 million to the MCC for the 125-year lease.
But Almacantar’s new plans still need the MCC’s approval. The row is set to be revived at club’s annual meeting next month.
