Crucial discussions will start this weekend between local people,city council officials and regeneration experts over a new future for the area of Maine Road.
Talks have now ended between the City Council and Sharks about the possibility of developing rugby at the stadium which will be vacated this summer by Manchester City Football Club.
An agreement that would bring benefit to both the local community and Sharks RUFC is not viable and NO further negotiations are to take place.
THE STADIUM WILL NOW BE DEMOLISHED
Residents will start discussions on Saturday 29th March with council officers and regeneration experts about a new way forward for the area.
There are several options including housing,business and other developments,and the local community will be involved in all discussions.
Leader of Manchester City Council Richard Leese said ‘We have explored fully a range of options with Sharks RUFC and we cannot find a situation which benefits both the city and the club. We were very keen to see rugby at the stadium, but will now move forward and discuss with the residents a wide range of options to improve the area using different routes.Its been very helpful to explore all options with Sharks and we’d like to thank them for the time they have put into examining the possible development. We wish them well in the future.’
Niels de Vos,Chief Executive of Sharks RUFC said ‘The City Council has been very co-operative working with us, to discuss in detail the possibility of a move to Maine Road and we would like to thank everyone involved for their efforts. We have been very interested but unfortunately it is not possible to proceed to a successful conclusion which gives confidence that Sharks can operate viably at Maine Road. We are confident that both sides have done everything within their power to try to succeed but it is now time to move forward in another direction.’
THERE WILL BE NO FURTHER COMMENT FROM SHARKS RUFC AT THIS TIME.
For more details contact:
Sale Sharks
Dave Swanton
Tel: +44 161 283 1861
dave.swanton@salesharks.co.uk