Hopes rise that football's coming home under sports village scheme

Scarborough's McCain Stadium has been pensioned off after Scarborough FC went bust because of the crippling debts it had amassed during its rise and fall from the fourth division.

But although the Seamer Road ground was too badly vandalised for it to be used for football again council bosses are hoping to bring the game back to the town under proposals for a new sports village.

Scarborough FC's 128-year history ended in June 2007 when it became a casualty of 2.5m debts and the failure of the board and the council to agree terms on lifting restrictions preventing the sale of the McCain Stadium to house-builders.

However, it is now hoped that the development of the leisure village will be completed within three years and football will be able to return to Scarborough for the 2014/15 season. But one of two fledgling teams formed in the wake of the demise of The Seasiders has already packed in due to lack of amenities.

As reported by the Yorkshire Post, Scarborough Council started the search for a private developer to create a new leisure village in the resort, which will also provide a new home for Scarborough Athletic, in September.

Now a new report has revealed that 11 organisations are interested in becoming the town hall's private sector partner in a deal to develop a site at Weaponness.

Projects & Procurement Manager Chris Bourne said: "In the absence of a stadium, Scarborough Athletic FC currently play their 'home' games at Bridlington some 22 miles from Scarborough and over 30 minutes by road in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division.

"Scarborough Town FC played their home games at George Pindar Community Sports College but their progress up the league pyramid was hampered by a lack of facilities including floodlights and the club subsequently ceased playing. There is therefore an overriding need for the provision of a suitable football stadium in Scarborough."

The council's brief requires the design and building of a new football ground to a standard equivalent to FA Grade C and a new Leisure Centre at its Weaponness site. The ground capacity would be 2,000 rising to 3,000 in the future, including covered stands for 500 and covered seating areas for 250, looking out over a third generation (3G) playing surface.

Sports facilities would include 25m eight lane competition swimming pool to FINA, International Swimming Federation standards plus 10m learner pool, sports halls, gym, climbing walls, tennis courts and bar and cafe area.

No money is expected to change hands. Following the design, construction and handover of these minimum facilities, the council will transfer the freehold or leasehold of its sites at Filey Road and

Seamer Road to the developer for them to redevelop, probably for housing.

Mr Bourne added: "As was expected, the project generated a lot of interest and the council has received 11 formal expression of interest from organisations who completed and returned the prequalification documents.

"These prequalification submissions will now be analysed and recommendations for a long list of maximum six bidders will be reported to the Cabinet Member to be accepted for selection to participate in the next competitive dialogue stage."

Six bidders will be chosen to submit outline proposals and from these a short-list of three will be invited to draw up detailed solutions and final tenders. Construction on site is expected to start in January 2013 ready for the gates to open in August 2014.

Council leader Tom Fox has heralded the formal procurement process as "hugely important" to boosting sports provision in Scarborough after grave concerns were expressed over the state of the existing ageing facilities.