Stadium is on track – Blitz

CHAIRMAN Simon Blitz believes Athletic can achieve their ambitious target of being able to move into their new £20 million stadium in Failsworth within two years.

Mr Blitz, on a flying visit from New York to see the architects, maintains a new ground can be completed by August 2011.

He explained: “We have moved forward at a faster pace than initially anticipated and are a long way down the line with the basic scheme.

“We hope to be able to break the ground next May or June all things being equal with Oldham Council. And from then we are told it will be a 14-month build.”

Mr Blitz added that he is confident that sufficient funds can be found to finance the ambitious project.

“Hopefully we can start the build without the full sale of Boundary Park and then feed the project with money as we go along,” he continued.

Mr Blitz stressed once again that relocation is vital for Athletic’s future.

“The new stadium will move the club forward and catapult it to the next level,” he said.

Athletic managing director Simon Corney, chief executive Alan Hardy and the architects, who have previously designed Shrewsbury’s new ground as well as Leigh Sports Village, will be visiting 15 new grounds built over the last five years.

They will be aiming to do this within the next 90 days, picking the best aspects from each to incorporate in their own design, but within their own budget.

Athletic are understood to be in the final stages of purchasing the BAE Systems sports ground at the Lancaster Club on Broadway which would be their new home.

Athletic are free to re-enter the transfer market today after the week-long embargo, which followed the window shutting, has come to an end.

Manager Dave Penney is still looking to strengthen his squad and maintains a goalkeeper is a priority.

Since Pole Przemyslaw Kazimierczak, who had been on a week-to-week contract, last week left Boundary Park, Athletic have had no experienced cover for Dean Brill.

Teenager Josh Ollerenshaw, a first-year professional, has been on the bench for the last two matches.