HOTH Hibernation

Date: Thursday 23rd August 2007, by Tynesider

With progress on the New Stadium expected to take longer than originally hoped for, we've decided to put the Home of the Heed into hibernation for a few months. Don't worry, if any major announcements happen we'll be there to cover it, however in reality it's likely to be a quiet period for the next six months or so, whilst negotiations take place behind the scenes.

Graham Wood - Chairman's Report (Tynesider Matchday Magazine 22/08/2007)

Off the field, progress with our plans for a new stadium remains slow but, nonetheless, steady. There is still much preliminary work to be done before we can announce the location of our new home and begin construction.

The club's architects and planning consultants are working diligently through the process and it's appropriate to report that they're receiving excellent advice and assistance from Gateshead Council.

I had hoped that we would be moving out of the International Stadium at the end of the 2008/9 season, but it now looks as though it will still be our home for the next three seasons. However, I consider the delay is a small sacrifice for ensuring that the job is done right.

My plans to further strengthen the board of directors are in place but will not be implemented until the new stadium project is further advanced.

Some rough (Disclaimer: quite possibly dodgy) calculations, with the aim to move in at the start of the 2010/2011 have us guessing a timescale from similar stadium builds of:

Formal planning application and processing. 3/4 of a year.
Construction. 1.5 years.

So taking that into consideration we'd expect an announcement on the location to come towards the backend of this season, until then it's likely to be quiet...

...So we'll just enjoy what hopes to be a great season on the pitch!

Up next...

Last time out...

New stadium...

Dates for your diary...

Links...

HOTH Hibernation