We looked into funding through the council in some detail a couple of years ago when during the worst days of dispute between fans and our owner he put our stadium up for sale. A vote took place in council around investigating further which was narrowly defeated as it was split along party lines with the lib-dems abstaining leading to the defeat.
Without going into great detail Councils are able to tap into funding at preferential rates for the purpose of funding regeneration projects or construction projects that bring benefit to the community. This is how a lot of regeneration projects that require a level of funding that Authorities would not otherwise be able to fund are delivered and is totally legal and normal.
however...
There are rules around what this can be used for, how things can and can't be structured etc.
Hedge funds basically look at opportunities where they can make a profit from both success or failure, hedging their bets. In the case of shares that may be taking up options to offset risk. In the case of operating a company any profit in the event of failure would most likely be realised by securing the assets of the company or any rights of the company at a discounted price elsewhere in the organisation.
From the outside whilst nothing can be proved an observer may come to the conclusion that SISU may have attempted.to drive ACL under to secure the purchase of the stadium at a greatly discounted value. If this was the case the financing from the council may have disrupted the plan.
In such an event an organisation accustomed to using legal process in order to achieve their goal may decide to try to force a judicial review around the legality of the council funding supplied which has presented the obstacle.
All hypothetical but would not be that unusual with the sort of organisations in question and simply taking the action could cause political trouble for politicians enough to make them chicken out and back down in a battle.
For background, research judicial challenges around public funding for the proposals in the battle to see who got the Olympic stadium after the games.
Link to part of the story below as a starter.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...adium-could-face-another-legal-challenge.html
Would also suggest you start to ask questions about the real motives political or otherwise of any politician if they start to ask questions about any costs being incurred by the Council in continuing any battle around the dispute.