Move from Dens held up as financing inches forward

Managing director John Nelms has confessed Dundee’s move to a new stadium is being held up by money.

The Dark Blues confirmed 16 months ago their intention to leave Dens Park and move to a purpose-built stadium and training facility, plus housing, retail units and a crematorium, close to the city’s Camperdown Park.

Hundreds of fans took part in a consultation when the proposals were publicly unveiled in September last year and a formal planning application was expected to be submitted to Dundee City Council last December.

Concerns have been raised over access to the site but Dundee insist the switch is necessary due to the limitations and costs of staying at Dens Park.

However, progress has been slow and Nelms has admitted delays in piecing together the funding for the project have led to frustrating hold-ups.

He said: “We’ve been working closely with Dundee City Council for a year and a half now, designing and going through the process.

“We have a public-private partnership when it comes to the financing and that process takes a long, long time.

“But we still have to finalise the private public partnership, for the stadium alone, because that’s the catalyst for everything we want to do there.

“There are some negative thoughts but mostly positive, and we’ll get there.”

John Nelms.