Club Statement: Stadium Update

Following a long period of positive negotiation with the club’s landlord, North Lanarkshire Leisure Trust, with the purpose to agree a new format and charging structure for the club’s use of Broadwood, work has started today on the project to install an artificial surface with a view to it being ready in time for the first home league match of the season, due to be played at Broadwood on 18th August.

The early start is to be welcomed if it means that deadlines are met, however it was unexpected. A meeting on Monday this week to discuss detail of the new arrangements advised the club that works would commence on 11th June on an eight week project to lay the new surface for a 4th August completion. The club were naturally concerned that the timescale was tight but NLL were particularly confident that the project would complete on time. It is to be hoped that the early start has advanced the project.

The club has not yet finalised the detail of its new arrangements, nor signed any agreements and had not been advised of the earlier than planned start of the works and were therefore not able to advise its supporters of any developments in the manner that it would have wished.

Contingency arrangements have been made with Alloa Athletic FC to allow Clyde to ground share if the Broadwood pitch is not ready for use on 18th August. In the event that the first home game cannot be played at Broadwood then League rules, to protect sporting integrity, require that we play our first nine home games of the season at another nominated ground. We are very grateful to Alloa Athletic for the supportive manner in which they have welcomed the club and their willingness to recognise the needs of a professional football club has been very refreshing.

There are of course two cup ties prior to the scheduled home league tie on 18th August, these can be catered for by conceding home advantage should the situation arise.

We are advised by NLL that subject to agreeing an arrangement with Clyde, they are entering into similar usage rights at Broadwood with Cumbernauld Colts Boys Club who will make use of the facility on the occasions that Clyde do not. The proposal is that Clyde will have use of Broadwood for twenty matches per season for a term of 5 years. Additional matches and additional arrangements are built into the draft licence agreement.

It is not possible to add more until the arrangements are finalised.