No legal challenge in stadium conflict
Maidenhead United chairman Peter Griffin has confirmed the club won’t be pursuing legal action against the council for blocking the club’s stadium move to Braywick Park.
In a statement issued ahead of a meeting with fans last night (Thursday), Mr Griffin outlined the club’s plan to now focus on necessary improvements to York Road.
While Mr Griffin maintains that a ground move is the most 'sustainable and sensible' way of improving the club’s future fortunes both on and off the field, he accepts the club can’t now pursue its plans for Braywick Park in the short term.
He said the club will continue to explore its options regarding a potential move within the town and believes
Braywick remains the only suitable site for this.
However, Mr Griffin added that they can no longer ignore the general maintenance and ground improvement works that are required at York Road to ensure the club continues to meet its safety and ground grading requirements.
The club is also proposing a series of development plans for York Road.
These include developing plans for the improvement of stadium facilities at York Road, subject to gaining external grant funding, launching a Maidenhead United FC Performance Programme, and exploring the potential for delivering a new training venue outside of Maidenhead, subject to gaining planning permission for floodlit astroturf pitches and associated facilities.
In December, Royal Borough cabinet members stood by their previous decision not to release the land at Braywick Park, citing concerns over the impact on public open space.
Councillors had been asked to reconsider their original decision from July following a fan-led petition.
The Magpies had initially struck a deal with the previous Conservative administration for a 999-year lease of the land from the council for £460,000 in April 2022, subject to the release of the land and planning permission being granted.
In his statement, Mr Griffin said: “Our priority in the short term must be to focus on the future and finding solutions to these challenges, so we have decided not to pursue further legal action against the council.
“Whilst it is clear the council failed to meet their contractual obligations to the club
and their decision-making process was flawed, it would not be prudent to commit to a lengthy and expensive legal action which, if unsuccessful, could risk our financial future.
“Even if we had successfully challenged the decision, the simple truth is that council and the vocal minority would simply have continued to block our plans through the planning process.
“We will continue to explore the potential for a ground move however we are realistic and recognise this is unlikely to be achievable within the short term, given we remain committed to keeping our stadium in Maidenhead and that Braywick is the only suitable site in Maidenhead we have identified for a relocation.”
Mr Griffin rounded off his statement by reiterating his family’s commitment and ambition for the ‘continued success, growth and development of the club’.
Councillor Simon Werner, the council leader, said: “We welcome MUFC’s aspirations to make improvements to their historic York Road stadium, which will allow them to stay at the heart of the community. We’re happy to support them with applications for external grant funding and work through any permissions they might need from the council.
“Now the club has had the time to consider their next steps, I too would now like to look to the future, and I remain keen to meet with the club, when they’re ready, to discuss what assistance they might need to achieve their aspirations, as we would for any community group in the borough, especially one of such historic significance.”