Cowdenbeath step up plans to relocate

Published on Wednesday 6 April 2011 18:00

First Division Cowdenbeath have moved forward in their desire to leave their Central Park home of 94 years and relocate to a new purpose-built stadium in the Fife town.

The existing stadium, which has the Stock Car track around the football pitch, is set in an area that has been identified by Fife Council as being ripe for physical and economic regeneration. Following discussions with the council and a series of public consultations, a two-part proposal has now been launched that has already seen a formal application for planning permission submitted with plans for a supermarket, small retail units and housing built on the Central Park site.

Funds from the sale of the ground would firstly go to repay the Innovate Group, headed by the Brewster family which invested in the club in 2008, with surplus monies then going towards establishing a new ground. The new facility would have an astroturf pitch.

The relocation plans are at an early stage, but the Broad Street area of Cowdenbeath has been jointly identified by the Council and the club as their preferred new location. It is envisaged that the new stadium will be owned by the club, however they will be reconstituted as a Community Interest Company to safeguard assets for shareholders and ensure any profits are ploughed back into community based activities. The club were at pains to point out that it is a double or nothing move with Business Advisor to the Board, Neil Ferguson saying: "The two projects have to be linked and we will not commit to anything regarding moving away from Central Park until the new stadium plans are in place.

"There could be a gap between leaving and a new home being ready and that would mean ground sharing for a period. Exact details are still some way off from being known."

The move could also see the end of the stock car racing and football combination, with Henderson adding: "There is a possibility that the stock car racing could be involved at a new stadium but that has yet to be decided."

Henderson clarified that any divergence between the two would not affect the football side of things financially. "In previous years the football income was bolstered by the stock car racing, however that stopped last summer. They are now run as two separate businesses."

Chairman Donald Findlay QC said: "Staying at Central Park in the long-term is not an option. The sustainable future of the club is dependant on relocating to a purpose-built and income-generating facility within Cowdenbeath."