the downside of owning the ground when we are in private ownership is that it opens up the possibility of getting back into the cycle of building up debt secured on the ground, the ground being separated from the club again, the club being left with the debt but no asset, a bad owner coming along because the ground ownership is attractive etc.
I am sure that Mark Stott only has good intentions, but he won't always be the owner.
There's a lot to be said for the ground being safely owned by SMBC. Or indeed owned by the Coop.