Worry that football club will be left homeless eased by council motion

The plight of a football club homeless since 2017 has been eased thanks to a motion agreed by Fife Council.

Councillors at a meeting of the south-west area committee agreed unanimously for a written binding agreement to be drawn up to ensure that Rosyth Football Club will be given a new pitch.

The club relinquished Admiralty Park four years ago at the request of the council to make way for a supermarket.

Since then a planning dispute has left the club without a permanent home and renting facilities at Fleet Grounds operated by South West Fife Community Sports Partnership.

The club want to develop part of the Fleet Grounds site but have been told by the council that its preferred option is to incorporate the club in the new Inverkeithing High School Campus.

But with completion of the school not due until 2026, the club say that option is unsustainable.

Now a formal agreement will be drawn up ensuring no construction work will start on the new store until it is demonstrated that the club will be provided with a new pitch.

Developer Mctaggart and Mikel confirmed last week that it is backing the club’s desire to redevelop part of the Fleet Grounds site and will increase, by an as yet undisclosed sum, its previous £175,000 offer to fund the new facility.

Councillor Tony Orton, who has campaigned for the club and brought the motion, welcomed the decision to ease what he referred to as the “unreasonable and unfair treatment” suffered by the club.

Councillor Tony Orton is backing the club’s proposals.