Bournemouth shelve ‘overly optimistic’ plans to build new stadium by the summer of 2020
The Cherries had been planning to redevelop King's Park, which includes the club's training pitches
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Bournemouth have put plans to build a new stadium for the summer of 2020 on hold, admitting the club were "overly optimistic" in redevelopment ambitions.
The Cherries had been determined to move from the Vitality Stadium, which with a capacity of around 11,500 is the lowest in the Premier League and is leased from a property company.
At the end of 2016, plans had been put forward to redevelop Kings Park, which already includes the club's training pitches and an athletics stadium.
However, on Thursday morning, Bournemouth - promoted to the Premier League for the first time in 2015 - released a statement announcing a rethink on the investment in a new ground, with the short-term focus firmly to remain on supporting the team.
"There is a strong vision for the future of AFC Bournemouth, which will take time, patience and the necessary financial resources to create," a club statement from shareholders and board of directors read.
"This vision revolves crucially, and as a priority, around a team that is stable, established and competitive in the Premier League."
The statement continued: "Part of the club's vision includes, in time where resources allow, to build first class facilities for the squad, staff and supporters.
"We have demonstrated our commitment to this with the purchase of land for the development of a new multimillion-pound training ground.
"The board acknowledge we were overly optimistic that a new stadium would be completed by the summer of 2020.
"Any future developments will be undertaken around a healthy financial strategy that does not take away our ability to perform at our strongest levels on the pitch and risk what has been achieved to date.
"With regard to the developments, when we have a reliable timeframe we will make those facts known."
Bournemouth have enjoyed a positive start to the new Premier League campaign, currently seventh in the table, and travel to Watford on Saturday.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments