WORCESTER City owner Simon Lancaster insists there is still ‘much more work to do’ and revealed further details on plans to develop the club on and off the pitch as they aim to cap off a historic season by completing a treble this Bank Holiday Monday.
Lancaster, who completed his takeover of City last year, told the Observer a planning application to build a new ground for the club, named Worcestershire Community Sports Park, is expected to be submitted later this year.
Subject to planning permission being granted, Worcester would have a new permanent home in Fernhill Heath, and the area would be transformed into a sports and leisure hub.
A public consultation on the sports park took place earlier this year and plans are being amended and finalised to factor in the feedback received.
Next week will mark a year since Lancaster, who is the founder of SJL Insurance Services, was revealed as the man behind a City takeover bid.
He told the Observer the club was making ‘good progress’ on the four pillars identified as needing massive improvement upon taking over- the first team, youth setup, commercial operations and City’s facilities.
Lancaster said: “Now is not the time to stand around patting ourselves on the back, it is just a start, we have much more to do and we will keep driving it forward.
“We plan to do everything possible to be competitive and keep driving this club forward.
“So my message to our growing number of amazing supporters is the same as it has been since last May – keep the faith and enjoy the climb.”
This season saw Worcester City lift the Hellenic League Premier Division trophy, their first league title in 45 years, securing promotion to Step Four of the non-league pyramid.
Lancaster said while next season was going to be a ‘big challenge’ he assured fans they were not going into Step Four to make up the numbers.
The club also won the Wiseman Lighting Floodlit Cup, reached the FA Vase semi-final and are in Monday’s Marsh Challenge Cup final.
Saturday’s league trophy lift came 11 years to the day after City played their final match at St George’s Lane. The decade since leaving their iconic ground saw City become homeless for several years and relegated three divisions due to ‘excessive costs.’
Lancaster said seeing the emotion and so much joy on so many faces on Saturday, after so many years of pain, made ‘everything worthwhile.’
He added: “Our number one target at the start of the season was promotion and we managed that emphatically.
“Full credit to manager Chris Cornes, his management team and their players for achieving all this but also for the style of play that has entertained our fans so much.”
