Latics look forward

FIRST look at how the proposed new £20million stadium at Broadway, Failsworth could look.

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These are the first pictures of Oldham Athletic’s proposed new £20million ground at Broadway in Failsworth.

The controversial scheme will initially see the building of a 12,000 capacity stadium for the League One strugglers — complete with leisure and commercial facilities to benefit the whole community.

All four stands would be stand-alone structures. However, the club’s owners would eventually like to extend the stadium by filling in the corners in a bid to accommodate 16,000 fans — though this would probably hinge on Latics gaining promotion to the Championship — the Football League’s second tier.

Chief executive Alan Hardy said it was the long-term objective to have all four of the corners filled in.

He said: “It would be nice to get to the stage when we can fill the ground to its 12,000 capacity.

“If that happens, that would enable the corners to be filled in sooner rather than later.”

Latics are currently involved in a real fight to avoid relegation to League Two — English football’s fourth tier. They lie 20th in League One at their delapidated Boundary Park home which regularly fails to attract more than 3,500 home fans.

As part of the proposals, each of the four stands will have a concourse under the seating with two bars as well as hot food provision.

The club was also keen to include features of Oldham’s mill-town heritage in the stadium’s design, with plans for the main-stand facia to be red brick with windows replicating those of the mills. The images were revealed at the second fans’ stadium consultation last Thursday at Boundary Park.

Some 200 fans discussed the plans with club officials and representatives.

Anyone who was unable to attend the consultation can send their views via e-mail to enquiries@oldhamathletic.co.uk

They will be taken into consideration before the final round of consultations take place at the Lancaster Club in Failsworth on February 25 where a proposed masterplan for the whole site will be displayed between 3 and 9pm.

Residents near to the proposed site will soon be receiving leaflets inviting them to the meeting.

Club officials will again value public feedback at this stage before final plans are submitted to Oldham Council for approval.