Project Blue Yonder November board meeting update
At a board meeting held at Brunton Park on Thursday 5 November 2015 the CUFC 1921 Ltd Board of Directors agreed to a request from the developer, with whom the club has been in discussions with regarding Project Blue Yonder, for an extension to the existing Non-Disclosure [NDA] and Lock-Out agreements until October 2016.
The agreement was reached on provision that the developer will provide regular updates on the overall project and that tangible progress will be measured throughout the 12-month period.
Finance Director Suzanne Kidd said: “The key to agreeing to the extension was that it will continue to be at nil cost to the club and it will keep open our options regarding a possible move to a new all-seater stadium.
“We feel we have a duty to explore all of the possibilities, including the redevelopment of Brunton Park, and I would like to stress that there has been no financial outlay for this project from the club since the initial feasibility study was conducted in 2011. All costs are currently being picked up by the developer.”
Sales and Marketing Director Phil King said: “The agreements in place with the developer we are in talks with at the moment are for them to look at a move to one location.
“This does not prevent the club from exploring other options in other areas of the city with different developers. It does not prevent us from looking at the development of our current site and we would also seek to continue to improve our current facilities at every opportunity.
“We have to stress that no decisions have been made. Project Blue Yonder is just one part of a larger development project being looked at by the developer and, as has been stated previously, we would need to see tangible evidence of a clear way forward before we would take the next steps.
“The extension period has now been agreed and we would hope to have a definite direction, before the end of the extension period in October 2016, as to whether a new development is viable, and that it has the full support and backing of all interested stakeholders. We would also need to be clear that any final decision made would be of full benefit to Carlisle United Football Club and its loyal supporters.”