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M62 site for Wildcats?
WAKEFIELD Trinity Wildcats could soon have a new home following the collapse last year of the Thornes Park scheme.
The news will come as a massive boost to the club and it's fans who have been anxiously awaiting news on when they were to get a new home since the collapse of a previous scheme.
Yorkcourt Properties Limited have announced their plans for a new community stadium just off Junction 30 of the M62.
The proposal is to develop a scheme to support a 12,000 capacity ground on the site of the old Newmarket Colliery in Stanley.
The firm say the plans are "in order to safeguard the Super League future of Rugby League in the district, and to encourage the development and retention of local sporting talent by providing facilities worthy of a city with such a proud sporting heritage."
A new community trust has been set up, chaired by Sir Rodney Walker, to help deliver the project and to ultimately own and operate the facility.
Project bosses say the stadium could be used for the whole community.
There is also the potential for a link with the local college. The university is considering the possibility of a sport science department on site.
Sir Rodney Walker said: "We are delighted to have found an opportunity with great access and great potential to move sport on to another level in the district.
"We very much hope that this is the first step in creating world class facilities and clubs in the district."
Colin Mackie of Yorkcourt Properties added: "This is a very exciting opportunity for Yorkcourt to be involved in. We are confident that the project can be delivered in a timescale to guard the future of Rugby League in the district and create a facility for sustained sporting success."
Last year, plans for a new stadium at Thornes Park collapsed after a feasibility study and business plan drawn up by consultants for Wakefield Council deemed the site too expensive and not possible in the timescale of the club's Super League licence.
The feasibility study was drawn up by Leeds consultants Drivers Jonas and looked at the site currently occupied by Wakefield College.
Ted Richardson, chairman of Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, said: "This is very exciting for rugby in the district. We are under enormous pressure to be playing in a stadium which lives up to the world class Rugby League being played in Super League.
"Having seen a number of false dawns, we are confident that this is a deliverable plan and should safeguard the future of the club for many, many years to come."
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Friday 25 May 2012
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