Stadium ruling shatters Latics

LATICS chief executive Alan Hardy: ‘Where else is there? Find me a 30-acre site... there isn’t one in Oldham’

1 More Image(s) In Gallery

Land deal turned down

Promotion-chasing Oldham Athletic’s plans for a new stadium appear to have been kicked into the long grass after a bombshell ruling.

Latics’ chief executive Alan Hardy said the club is “bitterly disappointed” after the Charity Commission turned down plans to swap Oldham Council land next to Failsworth Lower Memorial Park to make way for the new £20 million stadium.

The commission blames Oldham Council for weak consultation over the plans to exchange the charitable trust land, off Broadway, with new sites in Failsworth, to make way for the stadium.

It says conflicts of interest were not properly managed.

The blow leaves the 115-year old club playing in a three-sided ground with no foreseeable chance of moving on.

Mr Hardy said the club was considering ‘all options’ but added: “One thing for certain is the long term future is not really at Boundary Park as it is now.

“But where else is there? Find me a 30 acre site — there isn’t one in Oldham.

“Our objective has always been, and remains, to provide a solution to the long term future of Oldham Athletic.

“Boundary Park cannot provide that, and it would appear that yet another genuine opportunity to cement that future has passed Oldham by.

“Having waited patiently for many months for an outcome to this lengthy and frustrating process, we are not only shocked by this outcome, but bitterly disappointed.

“Everything was bouyant - we had a terrific run of results, particularly after Tuesday’s magnificent victory, then the fans are hit with this bombshell.”

He said the club would be taking legal advice, but declined to say whether it would take action against the council.

Oldham Council Cabinet member, Councillor John McCann, said the authority was disappointed and ‘urgently considering’ detailed information in the commission’s ruling.

He added: “There are several options open to us. We are examining the merits of each potential approach and we will make a public announcement as soon as we have made a final decision.

“One of those options is to appeal this decision which means it would be inappropriate for us to comment further on the matter at this stage.”

Labour leader and Failsworth Councillor Jim McMahon accused the Liberal Democrat-Conservative council leadership of railroading plans through without listening to local concerns.

He added: “Having a viable football club is essential for the confidence of the borough, but this whole process has been littered with flaws.

“The role of individual councillors should be investigated because it is clear members have not acted in the interests of the trust.”

But chairman of the Failsworth Residents’ Action Group,. Alan Shaw, said the Commission’s ruling was ‘great news’ and added: “We’ll be discussing this at our regular meetings tonight.”




Timeline of ground plans

THE history of Oldham Athletic’s redevelopment plans date back over three decades:

1994: Plans begin for a joint Oldham Athletic/Rugby League Club stadium.

1997: The Sports Park 2000 plan to swop Boundary Park for Clayton Playing Fields and redevelop Latics is revealed.

2000: The plan is dropped by incoming Liberal Democrat councillors.

2005: Oldham Athletic drop proposals to move to Ferney Field Farm in Chadderton.

2007: Planning permission is given in December for Oldham Athletic plans to redevelop Boundary Park, with a hotel, new stands, conference suite and a new housing development.

2008: The Broadway stand is demolished but the plans stall.

2009: In July, the club and council reveals plans for the Failsworth stadium

By Autumn protesters say the land was paid for by the War Memorial Committee and is a trust, as a residents petition and action group is set up.

2010: In March the Charity Commission fails to make up its mind about the trust land. Latics Director Simon Corney says the council is dragging its feet. The council declares a trust, and is finally backed by the Charity Commission.

By June 2010 consultation starts on the councils plans to swap the trust land to other Failsworth sites.

In August the Council’s special Trust sub committee — Jack Hulme, and Mohammed Masud — votes to transfer the land to Warwick Road and Vale Lane.

2011: The Charity Commission refuses to agree to the transfer.