Rovers won't wait (From Stroud News and Journal)

Rovers won't wait

Forest Green Rovers is no longer prepared to wait for the outcome of the Nailsworth campus site.

The club now intends to forge ahead with plans to develop a new 1,000 seater stand and clubhouse.

The relegation threatened club's marketing and operations manager Colin Peake told the SNJ that it is tired of waiting for land next door to the pitch to become available.

The decision follows two years of discussion with Stroud College which owns the adjoining former campus.

A High Court ruling last month gave Stroud College another chance to win permission for housing on the site.

"In football parlance the club is going on the offensive," said Mr Peake.

"We've stopped defending and now we are going for an all out attack.

"Whether we will score a goal or not remains to be seen."

The club intends to pull down its existing social club and install extra seats. Forest Green Rovers must have a ground that takes 6,000 in order to meet its obligations by May 2004.

Mr Peake said the club's plan of action is already launched and in the next few weeks it intends to meet with the District Council and certain sections of the community.

"Should the community back these plans to develop the stadium, it hopes the District Council will then issue the necessary planning consent," said Mr Peake.

And he added: "In the short term this may result in certain drawbacks for the community but the club is determined to continue in the long term to serve them as best it can under the circumstances."