Isle of Wight football club buoyed by latest stadium plans

South Coast Leisure (SCL) have tabled changes to its original 2017 plans for Newport FC's new stadium, near the Racecourse Roundabout in Whippingham, which have scaled down some of the facilities.

Changes to the plans have been submitted to the Isle of Wight Council for consideration.

Impressions of how the new stadium's buildings look. (Image: Vision Architects)

Read more about the original plans here

Planning documents state while the space would reduce overall there would be no significant changes to the facilities its building.

Read more about the new plans here

The changes, with an indication work could start in time for next season, has invigorated everyone at Newport Football Club.

None more so than its manager, Steve Brougham, who has had to use all his abilities as a manager to get the Wessex League Division 1 side on an even keel after several key players jumped ship after they missed out on promotion.

Read more: Newport FC chairman fears club at risk as planning issues stall new stadium work

He said: "It is really positive news. It has really lifted the mood around the club, which has transferred onto the pitch, with us picking up some good results lately.

"I can understand the thinking behind the new plans and hopefully, later this year, we will be there. 

"I've been a critic of how long it's taken to get things moving, but if we can go into next season as a Wessex club at our new ground, things will start to happen positively for the club.

"One of my main aims at the start of the season was to keep Newport up, because I thought we would be in for a tough relegation battle.

"But we are in a much better place now."

His views were echoed by Steve Rackett, chairman of the Newport Isle of Wight FC Trust, the fan-run community organisation which owns the club.

"We are fully supportive of the amended proposal for a single-story clubhouse. Without the need for a lift to the first floor, which would have been a legal requirement in a new build, our long-term maintenance costs will be lower," said Steve.

"It will also be a significantly less complicated construction, with a swifter build time. The need for a quick conclusion to the project is something we very much welcome.

"The lesson of St Georges Park is that we don't want to have a building that will require such a significant upkeep in the future, leading to a financial drain that puts the club at risk again.

"SCL have given us a solution that is realistic and economically sustainable.

"The proposals, as a whole, including ground capacity, very much meets both our needs and FA requirements for either division of the Wessex League.

"This season, Newport have attracted the highest crowd in Division 1 and the Racecourse ground will comfortably accommodate such numbers comfortably, with room to spare."

You can view the plans, 24/00169/RVC, on the Isle of Wight Council's planning register. Comments can be submitted until March 8.