WASPS: ANOTHER YEAR AT WYCOMBE

Tuesday 30 March 2004 

London Wasps and Wycombe Wanderers today issued the following press release.

London Wasps will be playing their rugby at the Causeway Stadium, High Wycombe, for the 2004/05 season. This current contract will see Wasps spending another season in High Wycombe.

Commenting on the deal, London Wasps Chairman and owner Chris Wright, said, “I’m pleased that we have reached an agreement with Wycombe Wanderers Football Club (WWFC). The Causeway Stadium will be our home for at least another season. I’ve spoken to the players and staff and they are happy to be staying. We realise there are congestion problems around the area and we are continuing to source alternative parking and seek to improve access”

“The club has done exceptionally well since moving to High Wycombe, especially, with work done in the local community and of course our success on the field. Therefore we are staying and trust the fans will continue to support us”.

WWFC Chairman, Ivor Beeks said, “I am delighted that London Wasps are to continue playing rugby at Causeway Stadium. It’s good for Wycombe Wanderers, it’s good for High Wycombe and I believe it’s good for London Wasps. They’ve successfully established a new home here and this decision confirms that Causeway Stadium and the partnership with Wycombe Wanderers works well for them. We have developed a great relationship with London Wasps over the past two years and I’m sure that this will continue right through next season and hopefully beyond.”

With regards to the future, Wright, said “ Sometime during the next 12-months, it’s our intention to make a decision about where we will play our rugby for the longer term”.

The excellent independent Wycombe fans' site Chairboys On The Net had the following to say:

After protracted negotiations, Wycombe Wanderers and London Wasps issued a joint statement to the press on the afternoon of Tuesday 30th March that the rugby club would be taking up their option to stay at Adams Park for a further year. The decision had gone down to the wire with Wasps required to inform the RFU by 31st March of their home ground for the 2004/5 season.

Wanderers' Chairman Ivor Beeks said he was delighted that London Wasps were staying, commenting "It’s good for Wycombe Wanderers, it’s good for High Wycombe and I believe it’s good for London Wasps." He added "We have developed a great relationship with London Wasps over the past two years and I’m sure that this will continue right through next season and hopefully beyond.”

The one year deal will bring in an estimated £300,000 in rent for the Wanderers but this is offset with matchday costs and the ongoing situation with the Travel Plan. The Travel Plan was introduced at the start of last season and is far from meeting the requirement of reducing traffic movement on matchdays by 25%.

London Wasps Chairman Chris Wright commented on these issues in the statement, saying "We realise there are congestion problems around the area and we are continuing to source alternative parking and seek to improve access. The club has done exceptionally well since moving to High Wycombe, especially, with work done in the local community and of course our success on the field. Therefore we are staying and trust the fans will continue to support us”. He concluded “Sometime during the next 12-months, it’s our intention to make a decision about where we will play our rugby for the longer term”.

The deal will be seen as a compromise by many onlookers. Wasps orginally proposed a five year deal but this contained conditions, including those relating to an increase in the capacity of the stadium. Wanderers turned this down but the case for the landlords was not helped by the news that Fulham are returning to Craven Cottage next season, leaving QPR as the sole users of Wasps contracted home for the 2004/5 season. Rangers Chief Executive David Davies commented to the Hammersmith Times "They have a contract with us that says they have to return either this year or next and if they don't come back this year then we will be due a substantial amount of money, though it is open to negotiation."

Rangers themselves are desperate for money but Davies added "To be fair I think they are in a more difficult position than us - they are stuck between a rock and a hard place - but I think they will want to negotiate, I have never known Chris Wright to want to do anything else."

During the discussions, news also broke that Sir Edward Dashwood had been approached with a view to providing access through the Dashwood Estate. A report in the Bucks Free Press in January 2004 quoted Wasps chief executive Alistair McLean as saying "We've had talks with Sir Edward Dashwood. There's been lots of talking but the talks have not gone far enough."

The article prompted the switchboard at the local council offices to be jammed on the afternoon of publication with local residents attempting to find more details. Chairboys on the Net has since learnt that no application for a new access road has been made and Wanderers denied any involvement in the talks. However, Mr McLean added "If we stayed long-term, something like a new access road would have to be a commitment, otherwise we can't stay."

It's understood that there are several local Councillors desperate to keep Wasps in High Wycombe as they see it as a major boost to the local economy. However, this has to weighed up against the increasing traffic problems on matchdays due to Wasps success in attracting gates close to the current capacity of the ground.

Wasps tried to push up the capacity of Adams Park from the current 10,000 figure legally tied to the extension of the Hillbottom Road end. The idea was first rejected by Wanderers Safety Officer Richard Stanford and then formally by the Safety Advisory Board. The rugby club wanted an increase to 11,000 in the short term are likely to continue their requests into their term.

However, this latest agreement, which was an option in the original deal, will raise questions on whether London Wasps see their future in High Wycombe and also whether Wanderers and the local Council can justify allowing an additional road and/or an increase in the capacity of the stadium. 

The QPR Loyal Supporters Association met with Chief Executive David Davies and other QPR board members on 8 January 2004 and reported:

"DD stated that Wasps are obliged to return to Loftus Road - any change of plan would have to be negotiated along with possible compensation."

From the BBC website today:

Queens Park Rangers insist they still expect London Wasps to return to Loftus Road for next season. 

Wasps shared the ground with Rangers but moved to Wycombe in 2002, allowing Fulham to become QPR's tenants. Wasps chairman Chris Wright announced on Tuesday that his club will stay at Wycombe's Adams Park stadium. But with Fulham set to go back to Craven Cottage, QPR say Wasps are contracted to return to west London as part of a deal agreed two years ago. 

QPR chief executive David Davies said: "We welcome the fact that a decision has been made. However, we are very disappointed that Wasps did not inform us directly, prior to making this announcement. 

"Based on what we understand to be true, we look forward to welcoming London Wasps back to Loftus Road next year, as per the terms of their contract with QPR Holdings."

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