Boardroom Blues

WRIGHT MAY BUY WYCOMBE A NEW GROUND

from the Bucks Free Press 28 May 2004

European Cup champions Wasps are desperate to stay in Wycombe and are considering building a new ground in the town if they cannot increase the capacity of Adams Park. Wasps' dramatic 27-20 victory over Toulouse in Sunday's Heineken Cup final persuaded the rugby club's owner, Chris Wright, that the nomadic club needs to put down some permanent roots.
	£2m to burn

The club, who can claim a European and league double if they beat Bath in tomorrow's Zurich Premiership final at Twickenham, have been groundsharing with Wycombe Wanderers at the Causeway Stadium in Sands for two years.

But Premier rugby rules say capacities at clubs must be above 12,500 by 2006. Wycombe's current capacity is 10,000.

Mr Wright said: "We need to know in the next six months whether we can increase the capacity at the Causeway within the next two years or, failing that, we can build a new stadium within that time with a capacity of 12,500 to 15,000."

Mr Wright says he has £2 million to plough into Adams Park to increase the capacity but he will look at a new stadium if that is ruled out.

He said: "If Wasps are going to progress, we can't be lagging behind. We need to catch up with the other English teams.

"Here, we are like orphans with extremely nice foster parents. But we need more space. I would be prepared to work out a situation where Wasps build the extra capacity on some basis."

But Wanderers chairman Ivor Beeks told the Free Press he was disappointed to learn of Wright's plans through the media.

He said: "Wasps haven't made any communication to the club. I would have thought that if he (Wright) had these thoughts in mind he would have discussed them with me and my board.

"If he wants to come to me with £2 million to improve our ground we would have to talk about it."

But Mr Beeks said Wasps would not be allowed to buy into the ground. He said: "It's not on the agenda for Wasps to have a stake in the ownership of the ground. That's not possible."

Wasps are further hampered by council health and safety, police and fire safety officers who have capped the capacity at Adams Park because the ground currently only has one access road.

A spokesman for Wycombe District Council said: "The council can confirm that it has been engaged in exploratory talks with Wycombe Wanderers and Wasps about expanding the capacity of the Causeway Stadium.

"At this stage there are planning and health and safety issues that need to be resolved about access and egress to the ground.

If the capacity cannot be increased at the Causeway, or a site for a new stadium cannot be found within the town, Wasps could return to Loftus Road where they have a long-term groundshare agreement with Queens Park Rangers.

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