AFC Bournemouth chief executive Neill Blake has announced that the Cherries intend to leave both Dean Court and Kings Park over the next four years.
AFC Bournemouth have been holding discussions with both stadium landlord Structadene and Bournemouth Borough Council in recent months.
The Cherries had hoped to strike a deal to buy back AFC Bournemouth’s Dean Court home, where they have played since 1910 and redevelop the ground to expand the stadium.
However AFC Bournemouth chief executive Neill Blake has revealed that both of those discussions have not ended positively for the Cherries.
Blake insist the football club board will not be ‘held to ransom over a price‘ with Structadene, whilst the board also believe that ‘the council`s planning department have made it clear that they would not welcome a significantly bigger stadium in Kings Park.
In a statement on behalf of the board of directors Blake told afcb.co.uk…
‘…It has always been the board of directors` preferred option to buy the stadium back from Structadene and develop a Premier League-standard stadium on the current site at Kings Park.
‘However, following discussions over a number of months with both Structadene and Bournemouth Borough Council`s planning department, it has become apparent that this will not be possible…
He added…
‘…We are working tirelessly to identify a site and it is our ambition that a new stadium would be built in time for the start of the 2020/21 season.’
‘The shareholders want to create a legacy of AFC Bournemouth becoming an established Premier League club in a stadium which is befitting of our status, and we believe that building a new stadium on a new site will allow us to deliver that.
To read the full statement visit afcb.co.uk
Your Say…
NornIron wrote…
Can’t help thinking this is the worst outcome for everyone.
Landlords left with an unrentable property.
Council left with an eyesore at kings park and angry NIMBY voters wherever we end up.
Club left forever in massive debt to owners paying a fortune to build (see Brighton)
Fans left travelling to middle of nowhere to a soulless emptybowl.
Common sense not prevailing.
Bah humbug. – Join the conversation here.
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