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SALFORD Reds owner John Wilkinson says he will exit the club if their stadium plans are blocked.
‘I’ve ‘ad enough’
Tony Howard2/ 2/2006
EXCLUSIVE
SALFORD Reds chairman John Wilkinson says he will exit the club if their stadium plans are blocked and they are forced to leave the city.
As Salford battles to retain its maternity services at Hope Hospital and save the Salfordian, the city now faces losing its only professional sports club following Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott's decision to call for a public inquiry into the City of Salford Stadium plans.
The Reds must meet rugby Super League criteria for stadium facilities by 2009, which will mean leaving the 105-year-old Willows.
But if they don't get permission for the 20,000 capacity stadium at Barton, Mr Wilkinson says their survival will depend on leaving Salford altogether.
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister announced a public inquiry last week, meaning the club will have to wait for an independent inspector to conduct a report that could take up to two years.
In order to have the stadium built by 2009, work needs to be underway by the end of this year.
Mr Wilkinson said: "If the plans are knocked back and the stadium is not built by 2009 then the only way the club will survive would be to move out of the city. I will not be a part of that.
"It will be for someone else to take the Reds out of Salford. It is something I cannot do, because this city should have a sports club and it should have a stadium.
"Salford having this stadium and having a professional sports club is very important for the city. It is like the Hope Hospital maternity issue - another part of the Salfordian's identity would be lost.
"Manchester has one, Wigan has one, Bolton has one, Warrington has one - so we are not asking for something that is out of the ordinary.
"I will fight this all the way and am still 100 per cent confident we will get our stadium at Barton. All the angles have been covered."
Adam Thomas, managing director of Red City Developments, has overseen the plans on behalf of the club. He said: "I'm gutted for the fans and the people of Salford. Together with the local authority we provided a detailed report but now unfortunately we will have to go through it again.
"I still expect it to be approved because I feel we covered all the angles during the planning application. The length of time it takes is now the key issue. We are waiting for a date in the inspector's diary before we will have any idea on that.
"Fans can be assured John Wilkinson will fight until he is the last man standing.
"We know we are doing the right thing with this application so I am confident it will be passed."
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11/10/2007 at 21:42
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