Latics stadium: It’s good to talk

FANS find out about the future of their club at the question and answer forum

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OLDHAM ATHLETIC and council bosses have pledged to work with disgruntled groups fighting them for land earmarked for a £20 million football stadium.

Club and council officials faced a 90-minute grilling at a question and answer session over Athletic’s proposed relocation to Failsworth — but gave a staunch defence of their goal to build a 12,000-seater stadium on the site of Lancaster Sports Club, Lower Memorial Park and allotments off Broadway.

It was a game of two halves for Latics’ owners who found themselves under fierce criticism, but also received strong support from appreciative fans worried that they may pull out and leave the club in dire straits.

Around 80 children, parents and coaches from Failsworth Dynamos Football Club turned up at the meeting, held at Radclyffe School, Chadderton, to oppose the plans, though not all stayed for the meeting.

The club claims Oldham Council has reneged on a pledge to lease Lower Memorial Park for junior football.

Dynamos chairman Leo Turner said his club wanted to get children off the streets and prevent knife crime by getting them playing football.

There was anger that 13 football pitches had been lost in Failsworth in the last 20 years, leaving the proposed site as the last area of open, green space. But Latics plans would not increase the number of pitches, only upgrade them.

Mr Turner said: “We jumped through hoops to get that land. We put forward a plan that was second to none. Two years on we are told next week the land will be given to Latics. How does that happen?”

He added talks with Latics had broken down as they felt they were being railroaded into an agreement, had been pressured into coming up with financial backing and were being told things that weren’t true.

Dynamos had been sent a letter from the council saying it would not get planning permission for its proposals, which the club felt was against the democratic process.

But he stressed he did not want to harm Latics and Dynamos has a vested interest in the League One club doing well.

Athletic chief executive Alan Hardy said his club does a host of community work, helps around 3,500 children across the borough and grassroots football was important to it, but no other possible sites had been found.

Latics’ co-owner Simon Corney reassured fans he would not let the club go into administration if the plans failed but it would have to live within the income it generates at Boundary Park.

He said the “Three Amigos” —Simon Blitz, Danny Gazal and himself — had invested millions into the club that they would never recoup.

He added: “We enjoy it and love football. It’s been fantastic. We are fortunate we are able to do it but it’s harder for us to fund the club. But we won’t close the club down.”

He said Lancaster Sports Club would have been sold for industrial use so Latics’ plans would benefit the community and would provide extra football pitches.

Latics agreed it was a gamble to move from its heartland but felt the club could attract a new generation of fans in Failsworth. It has to act now rather than wait for the recession to end as the club is losing money at Boundary Park.

Councillor Mohib Uddin said it was easier to find smaller sites than the large site Latics require. All clubs involved, including cricket teams also losing pitches and even Oldham Rugby Club, could be helped if they found alternative land.

Environmental, traffic and parking concerns were raised but will be addressed in the planning application.

Fans urged the parties to get together to thrash out a compromise for the sake of the club and the community and it was agreed that more talks would be held.

Councillor Uddin said: “We are at a crossroads now where we have to find a solution for Avros, Failsworth Dynamos, allotment holders and Latics.”

Residents and fans were promised consultation.

** Latics, heavily criticised for charging £2 a ticket for the meeting refunded people who attended..