Rochdale AFC look for alternative to Bowlee

Rochdale AFC director Andrew Kelly

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Following requests by the Rochdale Supporters Trust Board, Rochdale AFC Director Andrew Kelly, has released the following statement:

"I have been requested by the Trust to give the up to date position on Bowlee.

"When this project was conceived some six plus years ago it was seen by the Board, at that time, to be the answer to the Club’s lack of training facilities. When I joined the Board four years ago the project was being managed by Rob Brierley, who resigned two years ago. I took on the mantle of trying to push this project forward and, to this end, the Trust volunteered to adopt the task of funding and managing the completion of the project. During the course of the last three years, many things have changed, including the success and aspirations of our management team. More recently, it became apparent to me that Bowlee would not meet the standards that they required to capitalise on their remarkable achievements, and I therefore embarked on finding an alternative site.

"In discussions with Keith Hill and Dave Flitcroft, it was determined that an ideal training ground should comprise an area equivalent to the size of 3-4 pitches. This would enable the squad to rotate on grass and, additionally, allow the Youth Team to train alongside the First Team squad, allowing the management to assess their abilities more closely. They currently train at different locations.

"I have made considerable progress with the Council in identifying an alternative site and, once discussions are completed, and only after agreement with the Trust, through its members with regard to funding, will an announcement be made.

"The Trust and its members have completed a remarkable task in raising the necessary funds, and I would, on behalf of the Board, like to thank everyone who has contributed. Until discussions regarding an alternative site are concluded, and agreed by the Trust members, this Board will not request, and the Trust will not release, any monies that have been raised. Please be assured that the Trust Board is a worthy custodian of your funds."

The Rochdale Supporters Trust added the following:

"Ironically, it is the success of the Team through its Management over the last three years which has significantly changed the criteria demanded of any proposed training facility, and the Trust believes that to utilise hard earned funds on a facility which fails to provide this resource would be to fail all those who contributed. Bowlee was the venue in the frame when we set out, but we believe that it’s the achievement of the most suitable training facility with the funds available that’s vital – wherever that venue may be.

"We should also like to underline the final part of Andrew’s statement which refers to those who contributed in achieving the challenging funding objective. These funds remain exclusively for the attainment of the most appropriate training facility available, and any proposal/s to achieve this objective by utilising this money raised will not proceed without the approval of the Trust members."