CRUNCH talks are set to take place between Worcester City FC and its supporters’ trust in a bid to get the new stadium in Perdiswell off the ground.
A planning application has been submitted to Worcester City Council to create a 4,419-capacity stadium off Bilford Road which would be the new home of the club.
Rob Crean, secretary at Worcester City FC Supporters’ Trust, said he was delighted to get to this point as they first came up with the idea of a ‘community stadium’ two and a half years ago.
But he insisted getting the application validated was just ‘another hurdle’ and revealed they were now planning to contact shareholders over a possible takeover of the club.
“The application may have been validated but it has not been heard yet and if we get planning permission then we have got to find the money to pay for it,” Mr Crean said.
“But between now and then we are looking to speak to the club’s shareholders about changing the constitution to fan-owned because we think that would be a great step forward to securing the future of the club.”
If the trust are successful in their bid to take control of the club, Mr Crean said it would give them a better chance of securing funding towards the proposed ground.
Worcester City’s annual general meeting is expected to be held in May and the Northwick resident said he hoped this would give them the opportunity to put forward their case forward.
“What we will ask the club to do is call for an Extraordinary General Meeting where we will put our suggestion of a fan-ownership to the shareholders who can then vote whether they want it to go through or not,” he added.
Since moving out of St George’s Lane in 2013, the Conference North club have been plying their trade at Kidderminster Harrier’s Aggborough
And Mr Crean believed there was a desire to bring the club back to the city as the council has already received hundreds of letters since the plans were submitted.
“A lot was said not long ago that there was no appetite for football in Worcester and nobody really cared about it anymore,” he said.
“But I think the fact over 400 people have commented shows that the appetite is there and people do want to see the club back in the city which will be good for the community.”
People can have their say by visiting www.worcester.gov.uk and searching P14M0176 in the planning application section of the city council’s website.
