http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/Bradford-look-at-leaving-Valley.4972358.jp
Bradford look at leaving Valley Parade for £50m Odsal complex
Published Date: 12 February 2009
By Richard Sutcliffe
BRADFORD CITY joint chairman Mark Lawn has confirmed that initial talks
have taken place about the club relocating to a proposed new £50m sports
complex at Odsal.
Plans to build the new Sporting Village on the site of the current rugby
league stadium that is home to the Bulls are well advanced with Bradford
Council hoping it can be completed in time for the 2012 Olympics.
Sport England are also very supportive of a scheme that will bring
together a host of sports including rugby league, cricket, athletics and
cycling on the site.
The council and Bradford Bulls are keen for the Bantams to become
involved in the project and Lawn admits the proposal has attractions for
the League Two club.
"The possibility of us becoming involved with Odsal was mentioned to me
by the Council and it would be naive not to investigate it," said Lawn.
"It is my impression that a decision will be made over whether the
scheme gets the go-ahead in the next couple of weeks and that the signs
are encouraging.
"Our possible involvement would be in the long term obviously and we
have not even had any projected figures from the council. But it is
something we have to look at – not least because of the huge overheads
involved with running Valley Parade."
City sold their stadium to then chairman Gordon Gibb's family pension
fund in 2003, while the nearby office block that also houses the club
shop was bought by London-based Development Securities plc. Leases of 25
years were agreed and the combined rent for the two properties in the
current financial year is £680,000.
Together with stadium maintenance, rates and utility costs, it means
Bradford must find £1.2m a year to keep Valley Parade open.
Joint chairman Lawn said: "Economic conditions have changed a lot in
recent months and the simple fact is no one can expect a 10 per cent
return on an investment in business any more.
"It is why renegotiating the rent is something we would appreciate and I
have tried to contact Gordon Gibb through his accountant but had no joy.
"If nothing can be done about a renegotiation then Odsal would clearly
have to be something we look at very seriously for the long-term future
of the club."
Gibb, who is one of several Trustees of his family's pension fund, was
contacted by the Yorkshire Post last night but declined to comment about
what he described as "an ambiguous statement" by the football club.
Bradford's possible involvement in the Odsal development – which would
mirror groundshares between football and rugby league clubs in Hull,
Huddersfield and Wigan – has already been welcomed by the Bulls.
Chairman Peter Hood said: "The Sporting Village is fantastic as it is.
But were you to bring Bradford City into the mix, the scheme becomes
even more appealing.
"If they didn't come to Odsal, the Sporting Village scheme still stands
and goes forward as planned. But City would definitely add tremendous
value."
The two clubs have shared grounds before on a temporary basis – City
moved into Odsal after the 1985 fire disaster, while Bulls played at
Valley Parade for two years from 2001.
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Sorry Macca - it's the curse of Bates old lad
