AFC Bournemouth: Cherries plan 18,000 stadium expansion
Last updated on .From the section Football
Bournemouth chairman Jeff Mostyn says the club are looking to expand the Goldsands Stadium to 18,000.
Their current home in Kings Park, traditionally known as Dean Court, currently seats up to 12,000 fans.
"We know we can expand to 15,000 without any problem and hopefully look at further development," Mostyn told BBC Radio Solent's Sportshour show.
"We've spoken before about filling in the corners and that would probably take the capacity to 18,000."
Mostyn revealed the club were currently conducting feasibility studies on expanding the stadium as they look to match their ambition off the pitch with their success on it.
Building work on the initial three sides of the ground was completed in 2001 when the club were in the present third-tier, while a new South Stand was added to bring the capacity to its current figure in 2013.
Currently, their 12,000 limit is the lowest in the Championship.
"We will expand the stadium, we have the ability to expand it and we want to fulfil our aim of getting to the Premier League, the only thing I can't tell our supporters is when," added Mostyn.
"Promotion is not the catalyst. What we have to do is keep our feet firmly on the floor as a team and take the "one game at a time" mantra. However, off the pitch running as a business we have to be prepared for what we hope will be the fulfilment of all of our ambitions.
| Dean Court: A history |
|---|
| Bournemouth moved into their home in 1910, after Mr J.E. Cooper-Dean offered the land on a long-lease basis - hence the traditional name of Dean Court. |
| With the stadium starting to show its age, plans were made to renovate the ground on the existing site, turning the pitch round 90 degrees. |
| The Cherries ground-shared with Dorchester Town, 32 miles away, while work was completed. |
| Initially the ground had three sides, then a temporary stand was installed, before the new South Stand was built in 2013. |
| Since it was opened in 2001 the ground has had a number of sponsors, with Goldsands the current holders of the deal. |
"Those are our thoughts at the moment, we want to remain at the Goldsands, our fans want us to remain at the Goldsands and if we could develop the stadium to 18,000 and increase the commercial capacity then I think everybody would be happy."
Mostyn also says the club are in line to meet the requirements of the new Financial Fair Play rules when they are audited in December,
The Cherries posted a £15.3m loss for the 2012-13 promotion season but Mostyn says that should not be confused as debt and that they have managed to balance the books since that figure was revealed in May.
"We've done it by a combination of commercial and player sales," added Mostyn.
"One of the criticisms that people have directed at it is that we are a big spending club. It couldn't be further from the truth. There was a recent article in a Cardiff newspaper that showed us to be one of the lowest spending clubs. Fans would say if you have £15m worth of debt then how can you sustain Financial Fair Play?
"First of all we haven't got any debt, let me make that absolutely clear. The fact we posted a £15m loss is totally different to debt. This is equity put into the football club, predominately by the owner.
He added: "That is permissible by Financial Fair Play and through a consequence of player sales and we were obviously extremely pleased with the (former Southampton midfielder) Adam Lallana transfer (of which Cherries received a portion) to Liverpool that has balanced the books.
"I remain absolutely confident that when our accounts are submitted to the Football League that we will meet the Financial Fair Play requirements for this year and not have a transfer embargo in January."