Wakefield could lose Wildcats fears Hinchliffe

The Wakefield District Council planning committee will decide on Friday

whether to grant outline planning permission for the development of a new community stadium at the former Newmarket Colliery site near Stanley.

Trinity are in urgent need of re-locating from Belle Vue, their home since 1895 but which is crumbling, in order to secure a Super League licence next summer and pressure is mounting for the 19m scheme – part of a larger development incorporating a hotel, warehousing and distribution units – to finally get the go-ahead.

Local residents have aired their disquiet given the site is predominantly on green belt land and they are pushing for a public inquiry, further arguing poor public transport links will lead to significant traffic problems and that Castleford Tigers are also already planning their own new stadium within the district just a few miles further down the M62.

But David Hinchliffe – MP for Wakefield between 1987 and 2005 – told the Yorkshire Post: "Without the ground, clearly Wakefield will no longer be in Super League and the only option to retain its status would be to move out of the Wakefield district.

"That is absolutely shameful for a city like this, with such a proud tradition, to be in such a position and I genuinely fear for Trinity's future if it is not agreed.

"I've watched Wakefield Trinity for well over 50 years as man and boy and I can't think of a more important day in the club's history. It's absolutely crucial this stadium is delivered and the city retains the club it deserves."

Wildcats would be anchor tenants at the new ground, which would be owned and run by Wakefield Community Stadium Trust.

They are due to leave Belle Vue at the end of 2011 and have ruled out joining forces with arch-rivals Castleford, who have secured planning permission for their Glasshoughton site.

Barnsley FC's Oakwell ground has been suggested as a temporary home but Hinchliffe, a member of the Trust and a former shadow health minister, maintained: "It (Newmarket) offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Wakefield district to gain facilities for sport and physical activity which will be of enormous importance to the improvement of the health and fitness of our local children and young people, in particular.

"I walked round Wakefield city centre recently and was struck by the very obvious lack of physical fitness of many of the youngsters around.

"So many leave school nowadays and no longer take part in any form of sport or physical activity and the overall health of the population suffers as a consequence.

"This development would be of enormous benefit to the whole community."

A decision is expected to be announced outside Wakefield Town Hall at 11am on Friday and Wildcats head coach John Kear is equally aware of its magnitude.

"It's a very important landmark day for the club," he said.

"We're very confident things will go our way because – apart from Wakefield Trinity Wildcats – there is no elite sport in the city of Wakefield.

"I think it's vital for the city to have an elite sporting team. We have got one here and the easiest way to hang on to it and ensure it stays is for this new ground to happen. Now is the time for action and not words."

Kear is urging fans to join him, his fellow coaches and the Wakefield players on the steps of the Town Hall in readiness for the verdict; the club are also hoping to shortly announce a capture from the NRL.

Wakefield last month staved off a second winding-up order inside a year, securing an adjournment to a high court hearing after reaching an agreement with Revenue & Customs over the repayment of 194,000 in tax, and saw long-serving chairman Ted Richardson enter an individual voluntary arrangement in July, so they are desperate for some positive news.

Kear knows how vital this week's decision will be both in the short and long term as Wildcats – clearly seen as one of the most vulnerable to demotion to the Championship at the next round of licences – bid to do all they can to continue their 12-year stay in the top flight.

"Should things go our way we'd be very confident of having a good final season at Belle Vue and going on to secure a Super League licence," he said. "You've only to look at the effect a new stadium has had on other Super League clubs.

"I had first-hand experience of that at Hull when the KC Stadium galvanised them while similarly there's been a massively positive affect on Warrington.

"With more revenue streams, increased crowds and better facilities, it all adds up and it is what Wakefield Trinity Wildcats needs."