David Kohler
Encyclopedia
David Kohler was chairman of Luton Town Football Club
from 1992 until 1999.
Kohler was a property developer when he took joint ownership of Luton Town on 22 May 1990, in partnership with Peter Nelkin. Nelkin was appointed chairman, and Kohler the managing director. One of the new regime's first actions was to lift a ban on visiting supporters; Luton's Kenilworth Road
ground had been for "members only" since 1986.
In 1992, Kohler and Nelkin considered selling Luton Town to boxing promoter Frank Warren
, and building a new 25,000-seat stadium to the south of the town. Luton Town was sold in June 1992 to Mike and Sheila Watson-Challis, and Kohler moved up to chairman. The team was losing money quickly, sold many of their best players, and was relegated from Division I
in 1992, missing out on the new FA Premier League
. A group of supporters took to chanting "Kohler out" behind the main stands. Kohler said that he was prepared to sell at the right price, but a deal headed by the former Fulham
player John Mitchell fell through.
In October 1994, Kohler told Mihir Bose
of The Sunday Times
about his plan for a new stadium. The multi-purpose indoor stadium would seat 20,000, and feature a moveable grass pitch. Kohler dubbed the plan the "Kohlerdome", and compared it to the Pontiac Silverdome
, which had hosted matches at that summer's World Cup. Kohler had only just applied for planning permission
for the development, and had yet to purchase the land.
After a public inquiry in 1996, outline consent for the plan was given, contingent on widening of the adjacent M1 motorway
. In 1997, the new Labour government confirmed that it would not be widening the M1, and consent for the stadium was withdrawn. An appeal to the Department of the Environment
in 1998 was turned down on grounds of traffic congestion. A request to review the stadium decision at the High Court
was declined three days after Kohler left the club.
By this time, Luton Town was playing in the third-level Division Two
, and continued to have to sell their best players. Kohler had already had his house vandalised. He stepped down as Chairman in February 1999, after a petrol bomb and matches were posted through the letterbox of his home. Luton Town went into receivership
a month later, while Kohler sought to sell his controlling stake in the club. He sold the club to Cliff Bassett just minutes before the start of the new season in August 1999.
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
from 1992 until 1999.
Kohler was a property developer when he took joint ownership of Luton Town on 22 May 1990, in partnership with Peter Nelkin. Nelkin was appointed chairman, and Kohler the managing director. One of the new regime's first actions was to lift a ban on visiting supporters; Luton's Kenilworth Road
Kenilworth Road
Kenilworth Road Stadium is a football stadium in Luton, Bedfordshire, England. It has been home to Luton Town Football Club since 1905, when financial complications forced the club to leave its previous location at Dunstable Road...
ground had been for "members only" since 1986.
In 1992, Kohler and Nelkin considered selling Luton Town to boxing promoter Frank Warren
Frank Warren (promoter)
Frank Darren Warren is an English boxing manager and promoter.-Early life and early career:The son of a bookmaker, Warren trained as a solicitor's clerk with J Tickle & Co on Southampton Row in London....
, and building a new 25,000-seat stadium to the south of the town. Luton Town was sold in June 1992 to Mike and Sheila Watson-Challis, and Kohler moved up to chairman. The team was losing money quickly, sold many of their best players, and was relegated from Division I
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
in 1992, missing out on the new FA Premier League
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
. A group of supporters took to chanting "Kohler out" behind the main stands. Kohler said that he was prepared to sell at the right price, but a deal headed by the former Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
player John Mitchell fell through.
In October 1994, Kohler told Mihir Bose
Mihir Bose
Mihir Bose also referred to as Spermy ,is a British Indian sportswriter and journalist, who was the BBC's sports editor until 4 August 2009.-Early life:...
of The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times is a British Sunday newspaper.The Sunday Times may also refer to:*The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times...
about his plan for a new stadium. The multi-purpose indoor stadium would seat 20,000, and feature a moveable grass pitch. Kohler dubbed the plan the "Kohlerdome", and compared it to the Pontiac Silverdome
Pontiac Silverdome
The Silverdome is a domed stadium located in the city of Pontiac, Michigan, USA, which sits on . It was the largest stadium in the National Football League until FedEx Field in suburban Washington, D.C...
, which had hosted matches at that summer's World Cup. Kohler had only just applied for planning permission
Planning permission
Planning permission or planning consent is the permission required in the United Kingdom in order to be allowed to build on land, or change the use of land or buildings. Within the UK the occupier of any land or building will need title to that land or building , but will also need "planning...
for the development, and had yet to purchase the land.
After a public inquiry in 1996, outline consent for the plan was given, contingent on widening of the adjacent M1 motorway
M1 motorway
The M1 is a north–south motorway in England primarily connecting London to Leeds, where it joins the A1 near Aberford. While the M1 is considered to be the first inter-urban motorway to be completed in the United Kingdom, the first road to be built to motorway standard in the country was the...
. In 1997, the new Labour government confirmed that it would not be widening the M1, and consent for the stadium was withdrawn. An appeal to the Department of the Environment
Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions
The Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions was a UK Cabinet position created in 1997, with responsibility for the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions ....
in 1998 was turned down on grounds of traffic congestion. A request to review the stadium decision at the High Court
High Court of Justice
The High Court of Justice is, together with the Court of Appeal and the Crown Court, one of the Senior Courts of England and Wales...
was declined three days after Kohler left the club.
By this time, Luton Town was playing in the third-level Division Two
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
, and continued to have to sell their best players. Kohler had already had his house vandalised. He stepped down as Chairman in February 1999, after a petrol bomb and matches were posted through the letterbox of his home. Luton Town went into receivership
Receivership
In law, receivership is the situation in which an institution or enterprise is being held by a receiver, a person "placed in the custodial responsibility for the property of others, including tangible and intangible assets and rights." The receivership remedy is an equitable remedy that emerged in...
a month later, while Kohler sought to sell his controlling stake in the club. He sold the club to Cliff Bassett just minutes before the start of the new season in August 1999.