Promotion hopefuls Ross County make groundshare plans

SCOTTISH First Division leaders Ross County are planning to submit a request to the Scottish Premier League that would allow them to ground share with Highland neighbours Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

The Staggies are currently 12 points clear at the top of the division, after last night’s 2-2 draw with Morton, and look likely to win promotion.

However, the groundshare plan is viewed as a safety net, as the Victoria Park side are hopeful their stadium will meet SPL criteria prior to the beginning of season 2012/13. The rules dictate that top flight teams must have SPL-standard stadia by March 31st.

Work on Victoria Park is scheduled to begin at the start of April, and is expected to be completed by June 20th, which would not meet the March 31st deadline, but would still be ahead of the start of the next season.

As such, County are expected to appeal to the SPL and ask for an extension to allow them to redevelop their ground during the SPL board meeting on March 29th.

Inverness once played half a season at their own ground, the Caledonian Stadium, and shared Pittodrie with Aberdeen for the other half upon gaining promotion to the SPL, and County are expected to follow a similar route of asking for dispensation.