The latest Carisbrook Stadium Trust report to the stakeholders group overseeing the stadium indicates a high level of frustration about the issue, although chief executive Ewan Soper said the issue could be worked through and was more of an opening gambit than a final demand.
The report to the stakeholders group, which has representatives from the Dunedin City Council, the Otago Regional Council, the University of Otago and the trust, said the trust had retained its "original position" in regards to the purchase of Carisbrook.
Mr Soper confirmed yesterday that position was that the ground would be bought by the trust for a nominal fee.
"The ORFU has, however, indicated that they are looking to make a profit on the sale in order to secure reserve funds," the report, signed by Mr Soper and development director Darren Burden, said.
"The trust has strongly indicated they cannot be involved in such an initiative."
The report said the union was working with the city council to try to reach its objective, and until the council "advises the ORFU on its position with some urgency, the trust is unable to progress this matter".
Mr Soper said the trust had no ability to pay any more than a nominal sum for the ground, and he did not imagine the council would either.
The ORFU owes $2 million to the city council and $4 million to the Bank of New Zealand, according to this year's annual report, and has run up a deficit of more than $2.6 million in the past two years.
The union's report lists its assets, mainly Carisbrook, at $13 million.
ORFU chief executive Richard Reid, who is in Adelaide for today's cricket test between New Zealand and Australia, would not discuss the matter with the Otago Daily Times yesterday.
But he did respond to questions on the issue recently by saying the ORFU's $2 million loan to the council would be repaid following the sale of Carisbrook.
He said the question of whether the ORFU intended to sell Carisbrook to the trust for a nominal sum was not one for public debate.
Asked if the union was taking an unusual stance when it would get a ratepayer-funded roofed stadium if the project went ahead, Mr Soper said it was "probably better to say it's an early position to take".
It was important for the stadium and the ORFU to have viable sources of income they could rely on and, if the trust could give the union more certainty on that score, it would take off some pressure.
Neither Mayor Peter Chin nor council chief executive Jim Harland could be contacted for comment yesterday, but deputy mayor Syd Brown said the matter would be a decision for the council.
The report will be debated by the council at a finance and strategy meeting on Monday.
