Council kicks soccer academy bid into touch
Pushtotakeoverjocksteincentreknockedbackagain
Councillors last week rejected Blantyre Soccer Academy’s appeal bid to take over the Jock Stein Centre in Hamilton.
The decision was made at a meeting of the Community Asset Transfer Panel on Wednesday afternoon (March 30), and saw politicians knock back the idea of the Academy purchasing the popular sports facility for community ownership for a second time.
The move has been welcomed by those who currently use the facility, and who backed a petition to stop the sale, with many locals and Lanarkshire football teams believing that the Academy would “prioritise their own teams” when it came to let bookings.
However, those who backed the asset transfer, believing BSA would only enhance and develop the facility, were left bewildered that the council also knocked back a partnership bid worth £150,000 from the Scottish Football Association to improve the Jock Stein Centre “for the good of the community” earlier this month.
Backed by the Academy, the partnership between the two bodies was successful, and the amount granted by the SFA on March 7 was to be accepted formally by March 11.
However, the bid was declined, with BSA learning about the council’s failure to accept the cash in a letter a few days later.
The move was branded “ridiculous” by a BSA spokesperson last week and it was claimed it “puts the nail in the coffin” on the facility.
Council chiefs this week said that they required £240,000 to upgrade the facility, meaning the £150,000 SFA fund fell short.
David Booth, executive director of community and enterprise resources, said: “The council made a bid to the SFA for £240,000 to upgrade the surface at Jock Stein Centre.
“As is standard practice we ask clubs, as valued users of our facilities, to support our applications, and Blantyre Soccer Academy agreed to do so in this case.
“An offer of award of £150,000 towards the Jock Stein Centre pitch replacement was made to the council from the SFA on March 7.
“This offer was significantly lower than the £240,000 required to undertake the work and came with a variety of conditions that the council would not be able to fulfil, given the Community Asset Transfer review that is underway.
“As a result, the bid was ultimately unsuccessful.”
Mr Booth added: “We have worked closely with the SFA on this bid, and they fully understand our position and accept our course of action.
“They have also advised that further significant funding is likely to be announced for next year.
“With that in mind, we hope that the Jock Stein project will again get the chance to secure the funding needed to undertake the work.”
Meanwhile, those who set up a petition to stop BSA taking sole control of the facility were this week delighted that the asset transfer appeal had been rejected.
Dean Barghati, who runs Hamilton Dynamo’s Football Club, which caters for approximately 35 children who regularly use the Jock Stein, said: “I am glad that the council have upheld the decision made previously.
“Now, as a community, we can gather together with local groups and the public of Hillhouse and Burnbank and ask the council to put forward the proper funding that the Jock Stein facility has been denied over many years.
“We have lost many facilities, including Earnock High School which had football pitches and an athletics track.
“Hopefully the council will now listen to the community and help as best they can for our area.”
Blantyre Soccer Academy have confirmed that they will now appeal to the Scottish Parliament about the decision.
This offer {of £150,000 from the SFA] was significantly lower than the £240k required to undertake the work and came with a variety of conditions the council wouldn’t be able to fulfil David Booth, executive director of community and enterprise resources