Stadium Update

[Gasheadseamge79]

From the Chairman

Following recent media speculation surrounding Sainsbury’s and the sale of the Memorial Stadium, I wanted to issue a short update.

As I stated at the recent Supporter's Club EGM and the Fans Forum, we have a contract in place with Sainsbury’s for the purchase of the Memorial Stadium site.

There is daily dialogue between both sets of lawyers, and they are working to conclude the final contract conditions.

Once these have been completed we will be able to move forward with our plans, and we hope to be able to make an announcement in the near future.

I understand that you are all extremely frustrated with the delays, but we all have to remain patient for a little while longer.

 

[DannyBangsAlot]

odd to have a sunday update.

 

[pirate49]

odd to have a sunday update.

All prompted by an article in today's Sunday Independent by Graham Russell, page 6.
Headline: 'Stores group decision puts Pirates' plans in jeopardy'

Begins: ' Supermarket giant Sainsbury's wants to pull the plug on the £20-million
deal to buy Bristol Rovers' ground for a new store.........................'

 

[Captain Jack Sparrow]

and rovers twitter have been flooded with concerned gasheads wanting to know what the hell is going on so they had no choice but to make some kind of statement!

 

[Bluebaldee]

At least they have made a statement to attempt to scotch the rumours created by this piece in the Sunday Independent.

Previously, they wouldn't have a said a word.

We'll just have to wait and see what happens.

 

[AGasfan]

Well from the fans forum night he said the contract is water tight so i think he is trying to stop the whispering before it starts.

I totally agree with BB he made a statement rather than say nothing.

Its a step forward on communication.

 

[Sapphire]

This sort of confirms what I posted on 29th

Strangely enough, I did hear a whisper last week that there was a problem with the funding.

Let's hope that something the Board have worked really hard on doesn't fall foul because Sainsbury are in difficulties.

 

[Captain Jack Sparrow]

In todays Post....

Higgs says the club is still working with Sainsbury's to move forward with the sale of the Memorial Stadium site to the supermarket chain. That sale is necessary to fund the club's new all-seater stadium at the UWE Frenchay campus.

In a statement released yesterday in response to renewed speculation that Sainsbury's is trying to pull out of the deal, Mr Higgs said:
"Following recent media speculation surrounding Sainsbury's and the sale of the Memorial Stadium, I wanted to issue a short update. As I stated at the recent Supporter's Club EGM and the Fans Forum, we have a contract in place with Sainsbury's for the purchase of the Memorial Stadium site. There is daily dialogue between both sets of lawyers, and they are working to conclude the final contract conditions. Once these have been completed we will be able to move forward with our plans, and we hope to be able to make an announcement in the near future. I understand that you are all extremely frustrated with the delays, but we all have to remain patient for a little while longer."

Last month, the Bristol Post reported that Sainsbury's had reiterated its commitment to Bristol but stopped short of giving a concrete commitment to its planned store on the site of the Mem. Concerns had been raised that the deal might collapse after Sainsbury's pulled out of a number of other store projects elsewhere in the UK. The city's four MPs recently wrote to Sainsbury's outgoing boss Justin King asking for reassurance its plans would go ahead after the retailer, which has been hit by a fall in profits, shelved plans for some new stores. He wrote back reiterating the firm's commitment to the city, blaming "legal challenges" for the delay.

Planning permission for the 21,000-seat UWE Stadium on land the university bought from Hewlett Packard was granted in July 2012. Since then the club has been relegated to the football conference, but remains committed to the plan. The proposed Sainsbury's on the Memorial Ground site was given permission six months later, although legal challenges followed, delaying the project.