Delays to the Refurbishment of Meadowbank

THE chief executive of Surrey FA says delays to the redevelopment of Meadowbank will not affect their proposed move to the new site.

Surrey FA were due to relocate their headquarters to the new multimillion-pound facility in Dorking town centre, with the redevelopment originally planned for completion in time for the 2016-17 season.

But Mole Valley District Council has extended the design and contracting process, meaning that completion of the project is now set to be delayed until the 2017-18 season.
The delay has caused major issues for Dorking Football Club, who now face insolvency if they do not raise £30,000 in time for the 2016-17 season, in order to cover the costs of another season of ground-sharing.

But Caroline McRoyall, CEO at Surrey FA, insists that the delays will not alter the county football association's long-term plans to move to the site. "We know there have been delays," she said. "We haven't gone through finalising the sale of our offices [in Leatherhead], and there are still plenty of things to sort out.

For us, we have always said that this [Meadowbank] would mean we have our own headquarters on a bigger office site. Our current offices are quite tired and old and the fact this is only eight miles down the road is a bonus for us and our staff in terms of relocation.

"Long term, it is our ambition to move to the facility and that is where we want to be moving forward."

However, McRoyall admitted that the delays would mean that the Surrey FA will explore other medium-term options, until everything is confirmed.