By CCFCSleepingGiant.com
August 14 2002

City's new 30,000 all-seater stadium won't be ready for at least four years, the South Wales Echo has revealed. The plans came under scrutiny this week with some Cardiff councillors expressing concern about a lack of information to back up the proposals. News from CCFCSleepingGiant.com

The councillors also questioned the need to sign a heads of terms legal agreement with the football club now.

The new stadium, to be built on the current Leckwith site, looks unlikely to be ready until the 2005-06 season or, more likely, the one following.

The policy review and performance review committee said they did not feel the conditional agreement should be signed until there was a detailed economic appraisal of the Bluebirds' scheme.

They also said that Sam Hammam would have to fund £11m of road improvements as well as building a new athletics stadium before a single brick is laid. A new athletics stadium will cost Sam around £8m.

The application seems certain to be called in by the National Assembly because of the amount of retailing proposed.

Russell Goodway told the Echo: "I think we have done all we can to protect the council's interest and that of the council taxpayer."

"In fact, we have gone further. I am satisfied, based on advice, that we have built into the proposed heads of terms agreement the necessary safeguards. The club will have to meet the most stringent conditions.

"If Sam Hammam is able to satisfy all the council's requirements I don't think it is unreasonable that the council should enter an agreement."

David Temme added: "I would be disappointed with any delay in the signing of a heads of term agreement with the council."

"There is an opportunity to get to the First Division and Premiership, but a new stadium is crucial to that.

"As things stand, it is likely to be the 2005-06 season or probably 2006-07 for the new stadium to be completed."

This is obviously disappointing news. Sam Hammam has said that the most important thing for the club is that we get a new top quality stadium. At this rate, we will be playing our Premiership football in Ninian Park!