Last updated 10:33, Friday, 03 October 2008

PLANS for a 10,000-capacity super stadium in Workington will be recommended for backing by Allerdale council after a major consultation exercise.

The £31.4m scheme, on the site of the present Tesco, was selected as the preferred option by the council’s Derwent Valley Task Group at the end of a seven- hour debate.

It was chosen over a separate £29.5m option to improve both Borough Park and Derwent Park alongside a new leisure centre.

The decision outraged Workington Reds Football Club chairman Humphrey Dobie who threatened to resign if the club was forced into a new stadium.

The decision is not final, as the full Allerdale council must still debate the plans, but Mr Dobie said: “Everyone at Borough Park is utterly devastated. Workington Reds’ future is in serious trouble. I will not be moving to this new stadium. I will resign and the Reds will not play there.

“It is not sensible to build this new stadium because it is just being made for one team.

“We know that our rent is going to go up, but no-one will confirm the figure, and that will cause us a lot of problems. We won’t be able to survive.”

But Workington Town chairman Dave Bowden said: “This is a fantastic, positive step. We have argued all along that providing the best sporting facilities possible is the way for the clubs to develop.

“We have worked with the council from day one and provided all our financial information that they’ve asked for to ensure the new stadium will be viable for the council and the club.

“If the proposal receives final approval the community at large can look forward to a fantastic facility.”

Workington Comets boss Keith Denham said he was pleased with the result, which offers the option of Comets staying at Derwent Park.

He added he would like to refurbish the stands and car park. The scheme will now be examined in greater detail and a decision on whether or not to proceed is likely to be made next month.

Stadium debate, page 3