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Are we getting closer? Fingers crossed!

Date: Friday 11th April 2008, by Tynesider

Yesturdays Chronicle article carried an interview with Chairman Graham Wood highlighting a few more details of the proposed stadium. A positive article on the whole, mentioning the possibility of the club going full-time within the next couple of years. More specifically regarding the ground:

Wood has also confirmed changes to Gateshead’s planned new stadium, which should be up and running for the 2010-11 campaign.

Only the main stand, with a 2,400 capacity, will now be all-seater.

The other three sides of the ground will be terraced, when originally only behind the two goals had been planned as standing areas.

Wood added: “The stadium will still be covered on all four sides, but one main all-seater stand will be sufficient to start with and would also be an option in League Two.”

The initial capacity will be 6,000 with the potential to increase to 9,000, with Wood also confident of expanding the club’s board of directors.

The specifics:

• 6,000 capacity ground.
  Seated Main Stand with a 2,400 capacity (We're already nominating it the Graham Wood Stand).
  3 roofed terraces on the other three sides of the ground.

Exciting times to be had for all Gateshead fans. The stated attributes of the ground sound very similar to Burton Albions new Pirelli Stadium, which has a 6k capacity (2k seated main stand and the rest in three roofed terraces). With the possibility to expand to 9,000 it would set the club up nicely for the future if, no when we get to the Football League.

So what does this all mean? Without hard facts you can only draw your own conclusions. But hopefully it means the negotiations for the plot of land are getting closer to a positive outcome in favour of the club. Fingers crossed!