TORQUAY UNITED‘S takeover could be in jeopardy if the prospective new owners can’t buy the club’s Plainmoor home.
The Gulls announced back in March that they were in “advanced” talks with Swindon-based Gaming International Ltd but negotiations have since moved slowly and chairman David Phillips expressed his frustration last week.
However, it has now emerged that Gaming International want to take ownership of Plainmoor, sell it and then build a new ground elsewhere.
Torbay Council currently own the freehold to Plainmoor and Phillips wants them to outline their position so the club can plan their next moves.
Gaming International’s period of exclusivity ends on July 31 and the club will seek investment from elsewhere if a deal cannot be struck by then.
“There’s a pretty good chance of it falling down,” Phillips told BBC Sport. “They’ve been talking to us long enough, we’ve had very constructive talks through that period and they’re not against other people coming to talk to us as well.
“You never know, there may be some sort of consortium involving Gaming International, you never know.”
This isn’t the first time Torquay have mooted a move to a new stadium. In February, they announced that an American company had proposed a new ground for the Gulls, which they would pay for, in exchange for council land to build housing on.
The new stadium was proposed to be on a 42-acre piece of land in the Barton area of Torquay and would have a synthetic pitch with a capacity of 6,000.
Chairman Phillips added: “We are fully aware that delay and uncertainty is potentially damaging to the football club. We are therefore urging the Mayor and Torbay Council to confirm their intentions in relation to the football ground as a matter of urgency to enable us to move forward.
“The board are working hard with Gaming International (as one of the possible purchasers of the club) and the council, to secure the necessary assurances that will allow Gaming International to proceed.”
