WORCESTER CITY have less than a month to find a new temporary home after announcing they will not be renewing their groundshare at Kidderminster Harriers at the end of the season.
National League North City have been playing 14 miles away at Aggborough since selling their St George’s Lane home of 108 years for development in 2013 with hopes of returning to Worcester being constantly dashed.
Thousands of pounds and hundreds of hours were spent on a detailed planning application for a 4,419 capacity community stadium at Perdiswell in the city but Worcester City Council have reservations and told the club before Christmas that they were looking for alternative sites.
Under their current agreement with National League side Kidderminster, Worcester had the option to extend the deal but it is one they will not be taking up due to the cost.
It means that Worcester will have to find another suitable ground to host games for next season by the end of the month. Football Association Rule 2.3.1 states a written agreement for a groundshare must be in place by March 31 in order to be effective for the following season.
It is thought that the Victoria Ground, the home of Step 6 club Bromsgrove Sporting and formerly Bromsgrove Rovers, is one of the leading options having been passed fit to host National League North fixtures. Evesham United‘s Jubilee Stadium is another possible destination.
Worcester chairman Anthony Hampson told the club’s website: “Worcester City Football Club has thoroughly enjoyed its stay at Aggborough and is extremely grateful to the directors (and former directors) at Kidderminster Harriers for the assistance they have given to us as a football club. I would particularly like to pay tribute to the office and backroom staff who have been so helpful to us.
“There is no doubt that Aggborough is a first class venue in which to play football and one which we leave reluctantly. However, as a board we have to look at the long term viability of Worcester City Football Club.
“It is clear that with on-going delays surrounding our return to Worcester, remaining at Aggborough is un-affordable to us in the long term. We must therefore pursue other alternatives.”
