Turf Moor Redevelopment Update

Burnley Football Club Development Director Paul Fletcher MBE has confirmed everything is still on track with the new £30m redevelopment of Turf Moor and Gawthorpe.

Speaking to the Offical Burnley website he said:

'We are constantly evaluating the design and revenue possibilities of the new stand development to ensure the building is profitable for Burnley Football Club.

'The whole world is in the middle of a so-called 'credit crunch' and it re-emphasises ther importance of designing and funding the building correctly.

'We have something special in store for the Burnley fans and the town and we intend to get it right.'

Planning permission for Phase One of the project involving the relocation of the dressing rooms to a new block situated between the James Hargreaves and Jimmy McIlroy stands is scheduled to commence in the next few months.

Most Clarets fans cant wait to see our side emerging from an area where a friendly home crowd will be cheering them on. It never seemed right coming out in front of an hostile away crowd in the Cricket Field End.

Phase Two, which involves the redevelopment of the Cricket Field stand aka David Fishwick) is still underway.

This phase involves replacing the Cricket Field stand with a complex that involves a 100 bedroom hotel, a 700-seater banqueting suite, 20 executive boxes, a health and fitness club, bar/restaurant and a new pavilion for Burnley Cricket Club.

A novel aspect of the stand will see the ability to convert it with ease into an exhibition hall, convention centre, performance arena, theatre and sports venue.

This will be so vital to raising finances from activities on non-match days and is an integral part of Pauls's vision based on his experience of his patented StadiArena concept (a Football Stadium that converts to a covered Arena).

In 2005 he filed the first patent for StadiArena followed by a worldwide launch in October 2007. StadiArena now have offices in London, New York, Sydney, Dubai, Capetown, Moscow, Beijing and the UK and StadiArenas will soon be seen around the globe including little old Burnley!

All pretty encouraging but I wonder how many Clarets fans have just shuddered at the mention of the phrase 'credit crunch'?

Let's hope this reading between the lines, doesn't mean cost cutting at the expense of quality.

There are bound to be some minor glitches along the way with such a complex development but we need some positive news at the club and any delays or problems could undermine confidence. Let's hope this all goes according to plan, at least Paul seems to think it will and as soon as we see building activity in the Phase One area, nerves will be steadied.

A little known fact about Paul Fletcher is that he is an active member of the George Formby Appreciation Society. One wonders when the project is complete whether he will then be employed cleaning its windows? (Ill get my coat!!)

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