New Swinton stadium moves closer

Swinton expect to begin building work on their new ground at Agecroft by the beginning of next year.

Plans for a four to five thousand capacity stadium costing up to £3.5m are at an advanced stage.

Chairman John Kidd revealed that if work commences by January 1, 2012, the ground should be up and running by the end of April

He said: “The club is in regular discussion and formal meetings with Council officers.

“There is a willingness displayed by all parties to make the Agecroft development work and the plan is to see everything in place to commence building on site no later than January 1, 2012.

“Obviously there can be no guarantees as there are identified hurdles to overcome but none are insurmountable.

“If the start date of January 1 can be achieved, it is hoped that the stadium would be finished no later than April 30, 2012 in what will, hopefully, be a first season in the Championship.

“My personal hopes are for an earlier start and consequent finish to the project.”

The Lions, who won six championships and the Challenge Cup three times in their glory years, have played at Bury football club’s Gigg Lane, Salford City’s Moor Lane and Sedgley Park rugby union club before accepting an invitation from Salford City Reds to play at the Willows this season.

The club is enjoying it’s best season for years and is currently six points clear and unbeaten at the top of Championship One and are hot favourites for promotion under experienced head coach Steve McCormack.

Plans for a new home within the Swinton and Pendlebury boundary have been on the cards for years and sceptics believe it will never happen, but Kidd is convinced it will go ahead this time for a stadium on Agecroft Road opposite the junction with Langley Road next to Forest Bank prison.

The plans include seats down both sides of the pitch, standing for 1000 fans, offices, gym, restaurant and conference facilities.

Kidd said: “There are to be other partners sharing the facility, and we are negotiating with them as to how the stadium company will solve the logisitical and management problems that will inevitably arise during the next very busy six months.

“Funding the project is not easy in these restrictive times, however, there are one or two solutions being exhaustively pursued and will bring about a positive solution to that issue.”