ABERDEEN FC has reached an agreement with Cove Rangers that will lead to a new stadium and training facilities at Calder Park.
The two Aberdeen-based football clubs plan to deliver a major sports facility at Calder Park which will consist of a new stadium for Cove Rangers, sports facilities for the Cove community and a superb new training facility for the Dons.
Cove Rangers had reached agreement a long term lease and detailed planning permission at Calder Park some time ago with Aberdeen City Council, but had yet to organise funding for the project.
However, recent talks with Aberdeen Football Club led to an agreement and the funds are to be raised through a combination of selling Allan Park and securing a long-term interest free loan to build a new 1000-seater stadium, a community sports centre with indoor hall for badminton, and a training facility for AFC.
Cove Rangers chairman Keith Moorhouse said: "Thanks to Stewart Milne, Bert McIntosh and our close co-operation with AFC, we now have a way forward for the club, and not only will we be able to proceed with our new stadium, the community will benefit from a much-needed community sports centre and AFC are able to deliver a long term training facility for themselves."
If and when the new AFC Stadium is delivered at Loirston, Aberdeen City and Shire will be able to boast one of the best Football & Sports Centres in the whole of Europe.
It is proposed that Stewart Milne Group purchases Allan Park for development at the open market value and that the remainder of the funding will come from a long-term interest free loan from Stewart Milne and Bert McIntosh personally.
Dons chairman Stewart Milne said: "These proposals solve three separate issues. Cove Rangers gets a new stadium, the community gets a brand new sports facility and AFC gets its long awaited training facilities.
"The SMG deal for Allan Park is an arm's length commercial deal on which appropriate advice was taken by all parties, Bert and I are simply pleased to be able to make a financial contribution which will allow AFC to have access to permanent, first-class training facilities, which has been a long term aim of the club and which we and all other supporters will be delighted has now been made possible".
"I am delighted that Bert agrees with me and is willing to put up his own money to help make this work. Bert is a well-established businessman who contributes significantly to the local economy and has been a long-time supporter of and benefactor to AFC."
Aberdeen Football Club managing director Duncan Fraser said: "This innovative solution, made possible by Stewart and Bert's generosity, will enable Aberdeen Football Club to develop the long established aim of delivering first-class training facilities.
"The massive bonus is that they can be fully integrated with the proposed stadium at Loirston".
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