Wakefield stadium plans move forward

Wakefield have released an artists impression of their new stadium after announcing final design plans are to be finalised soon.

The Wildcats were one of five clubs to receive warning letters from the RFL last week and have moved to help secure their Super League future with plans for a new Community Stadium.

Wakefield announced back in April their plans to leave their Hearwell Stadium home at Belle Vue to relocate to a new state of the art 12,000 capacity Community Stadium off junction 30 of the M62 near Stanley in conjunction with Yorkcourt Properties and Wakefield District Council.

The artists impression was presented to the club by developers Yorkcourt Properties last week, and although it is not the definite final design, it is a step in the right direction for the club.

Chairman of the Stadium Sub Committee, Sir Rodney Walker and the other sub committee members, as well as Wildcats chairman Ted Richardson took, took a tour around the Leigh Sporting Village last Friday- a site which the new Community Stadium will be based upon.

The Deputy Leader of Wakefield Council, Cllr Denise Jeffery, said the support matters were being discussed as a matter of urgency.

She said: “We are working with all three Rugby League clubs in the district and have been looking at innovative ways to support them. We are now using council land assets to help them realise their aspirations and to have facilities fit for Super League status.”

Cllr Jeffery continued: “We have agreed to give the clubs 12 months to develop their plans and then we will review progress.

“Rugby league is part of the district’s rich culture and heritage and we, as a Council, are doing all we can to make sure our clubs have the facilities they need to be successful.”

Stadium Developer Colin Mackie said: “It’s great news that the land has been placed in control of the Community Trust.

“It can be used as an asset and gives even greater security to the plans for the Community Stadium.”

Ten youngsters were this month signed onto part-time professional contracts after being impressed by Wildcats ethos, as explained by Chairman Ted Richardson.

“The club has been making strides on and off the field this season and none more so than with the stadium project,” said Richardson.

“It is vital to the future of the club and indeed to the city as a whole that Wakefield Wildcats remain a Super League club and delivering a stadium worthy of the competition is a huge part of that.”

He continued: “The vision of this club is to be the best of the best in everything that we do, and that starts at scholarship level, up through the first team, to the behind the scenes staff and of course the stadium.”

Richardson also praised the RFL for the warning letter it sent round to clubs last week.

He said: “We knew after the last round of applications that having a new stadium was vital to the 2010 applications, and we are on course to deliver concrete proof of the progress we have made to the RFL.”

“The letter was a reminder to all the clubs of the importance of having new stadia and we welcome that as an indication of where this sport wants to be.”