MAGPIES’ DREAM WON’T BE STOLEN
PRESIDENT and long-serving director Ken Stewart insists Wimborne Town will not be left homeless by the coronavirus crisis.
The BetVictor Southern League Premier Division South outfit had been due to move into a purpose-built stadium as part of a new development at Parmiter Drive in time for the 202021 season start.
It involves current base The Cuthbury being developed for housing, a process that has already started.
The completion date for the new ground had been pushed back before the pandemic halted daily life as we know it but the 1992 FA Vase winners released a statement in March reassuring fans the club would “continue to enjoy playing our football at Cuthbury until the new facility is suitable and agreed by The FA”.
And while former chairman Stewart acknowledged the project “will be” pushed back further by the crisis, he says developers Wyatt Homes had been transparent every step of the way.
intention was to have it ready for the start of next season but we had an update from the builder to say it realistically would not be ready until October,” said Stewart.
Foundations
“Now we have the coronavirus. Some companies are still working but I don’t think Wyatt Homes are, we haven’t had an update yet and touch base with once a month. All of the plans have been signed off so they know what we need and work has begun, the foundations got started a month ago.
“The agreement we made with Wyatt Homes through a sealed letter says until the new ground is ready for occupation – and that means until the FA has inspected and approved it as fit for purpose – we have our current stadium, car park and clubhouse.
“We have been kept in the picture all the way along and Wyatt Homes have done exact“The ly as they said they would.
“I know David Wyatt and he is one of the most respected builders locally, he has done a superb job up to now. We have no grumbles.”
Assistance
Despite the on-field hiatus, Stewart is bullish about Wimborne’s ability to ride out the storm but he does fear for others.
“The threat comes from not knowing how long this is going to go on for,” he added.
“I can see a lot of clubs struggling to survive now, to be honest. We are fortunate to have three good directors who are willing to carry on and see it through.
“I know of lot of chairmen will be cutting budgets by up to half, there will be a lot of pruning in Non-League football.
“One-man bands might be in the position where if they don’t play, they don’t pay. It is going to be hard for a lot of non-league clubs and I would suggest the FA could offer some sort of assistance to grassroots football.
“We are lucky and proud to have a good supporter base. If it was not for them, the volunteers who do so much for the club for nothing, we would have folded many years ago like many others.
“All we can hope now is that this virus gets going and we can get back to football again. It will be tough, of course, there are no shortcuts but we are all in this together and we will get it back on a level.”