Redevelopement will push club forward

At last night's fans forum Graham Turner was asked how long it would be until a start was made on the redevelopement of Edgar Street.

Firstly Turner reminded fans about the debt owed to the developers.

"The club borrowed £1M from developers. We could find £1M if we had a benefactor but we wouldn't get our leases back - they are with the developers.

"That's the deal we inherited - so we have to make the most of it. So that is agreeing with the developer that we can the ends developed with some commercial and some football facilities."

As regards the debt that would be a "step in the right direction".

Currently the club and the developers are locked in discussions.

"The Richardsons are big players. We've had to employ a legal team to represent our views.

"We have not reached total agreement yet but are not far off it."

Turner hoped that within twelve months a start would be made on the improvements to the Blackfriars End of Edgar Street.

Responding to questions Turner said that the Football League were looking for a capacity of around ten thousand.

"We can't do too much with the Len Weston, but the ends should be about two to two and a half thousand each."

He explained that as the Richardsons were taking the risk they would have the "premium" return.

However if the two ends are redeveloped it should mean that the future of the club's finances would "be in a very good state of affairs.

"If all goes well I think the club will be very well equiped to go forward in the League."

Asked about the design of the 'football part' of the new stands such as turnstiles, toilets, exits etc - Turner confirmed all will be looked after by the club.

---