sport Chelsea eyeing Battersea move?


Chelsea Football Club (CFC) is looking into the possibility of developing a new stadium at the Battersea Power Station site, which has laid derelict since the early 1980s. It follows the recent news


that CFC had failed in a bid to acquire the freehold land on which its existing Stamford Bridge venue is located from Chelsea Pitch Owners. Te Premier League club


has made no decision on whether to leave its current ground, but is aiming to take advantage of the Battersea site if it is seen as a viable option. According to reports, Almacantar chief


executive Mike Hussey has been appointed as development partner, while Kohn Pedersen Fox will draw up plans for the site. A CFC spokesperson said: “In the past we’ve talked to various people with interests


Te club hasn’t yet decided to leave its current Stamford Bridge ground


in Battersea Power Station, but we haven’t had any substantive discussions with anyone regarding that site for several months. “However, in light of current developments


we now think it prudent to look again at the feasibility and potential for the site to be devel- oped for a football stadium.”


Two clubs challenged the OPLC’s bidding process Trust invests £52m in grassroots cricket


The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has revealed that the England and Wales Cricket Trust invested more than £52m in capital grassroots projects during the last financial year. Te trust, in conjunction


with Sport England, directly invested more than £11.6m during the period, with more than £40m of partnership funding helping to benefit nearly 700 projects located across the country. Meanwhile, the trust was


OPLC’s stadium legal costs revealed


The Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) has spent £1.05m defending legal claims from two football clubs over the future of London’s Olympic Stadium. According to the Telegraph, the cost of


solicitors fees and barristers in relation to the judicial review claims launched by both Tottenham Hotspur and Leyton Orient football clubs was more than those from the initial bid process. Te newspaper said the figure had been


released aſter a Freedom of Information request, which was confirmed to Leisure Opportunities by a spokesperson.


Nearly 700 schemes across the country benefited during the past year


also responsible for contributing nearly £6m worth of revenue funding towards grassroots cricket through the work of 39 county cricket boards throughout England. Te ECB said the funding had helped deliver progress in four key development areas, such


as women and girls; disabilities projects; and initiatives to grow adult participation. ECB chief executive David Collier said:


“Assisting communities to maintain and develop their people and cricket facilities is key to sustaining and increasing participation.”


Mayor announces £1m more funding for London facilities


London mayor Boris Johnson has announced that 20 projects at sports clubs, playing fields and recreation grounds across the capital are to benefit from a further £1m of funding. The support forms part of the £15.5m Sports Legacy Fund, which has attracted a


© CYBERTREK 2011


combination of match funding and private sector backing to stand at more than £30m. Te latest awards include £100,000 to the


London Playing Fields Foundation for a revamp of all-weather football pitches at Douglas Eyre Sports Centre in Waltham Forest.


Twitter: @leisureopps


AFC Bournemouth plans new training facility


AFC Bournemouth intends to establish a training facility close to its Seward Stadium in Kings Park, which will be available for use by the club and the community. The npower League One club is pro-


posing the development of two full-size training pitches and two 3G pitches, which will become a new training base for its pro- fessional and youth squads. Meanwhile, members of the community


would be able to use the 3G pitches, while top local league matches will also be played at the new complex when complete.


Read Leisure Opportunities online: www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/digital 3


ECB secures new Investec sponsorship deal


International bank and asset manager Investec has signed a new agreement with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to sponsor England Test matches for the next 10 years. It is the longest sponsorship deal signed


by the ECB and will include three home Ashes series and tours by the West Indies, India, Pakistan and South Africa. Te deal allows Investec, which succeeds


npower as Test sponsor, to benefit from “comprehensive” rights, such as ticketing, hospitality and access to England players.


image: david poultney/locog


image: david samuel


image: jaco van rensburg/shutterstock.com


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