Council set to buy Macclesfield Town's Moss Rose ground

by Lisa Reeves

Friday 7^th June 2013

Fri 7^th Jun 2013

Cheshire East Council looks set to sign a deal with Macclesfield Town FC to acquire the freehold of their Moss Rose ground for £285,000.

The Council says the deal will see the club escape financial difficulty, by enabling them to consolidate their debts.

It is believed that the historic deal will result in the club becoming the first senior club in England to become community owned without suffering an insolvency event.

Cheshire East has confirmed that the football club will remain at its current home until a new stadium is built in the future.

The decision is subject to an extraordinary Cabinet meeting to be held on Monday, June 10th, at noon.

Leader of Cheshire East Council Michael Jones said: "Macclesfield Town Football Club is part of our heritage and we should not – and cannot – lose it.

"We are incredibly proud of their achievements and it is unfortunate that they have succumbed to the financial pressures exacerbated by circumstances. But they are not the first football club to run into difficulties.

"It is in times like this that Council's can and should play a part, after all the club is incredibly important to the town's identity and adds to the visitor economy enormously, providing much-needed jobs and prosperity.

"We have a good relationship with the club and we wanted to do what is right for them, the fans and for the people of Macclesfield.

"We will ensure that the club has the option to buy back the asset in the future when they are in a position to do so as a community owned club."

Macclesfield Town FC director Barrie Darcey said today: "This arrangement gives the Club the cash flow it needs at a difficult time but it also creates a club that will be genuinely owned by and anchored in Macclesfield.

"The Council's help in this process has been absolutely invaluable. Everyone at Cheshire East has been enormously helpful and we thank them for their support.

"We would encourage everyone to get involved in the new community venture. We now have a vehicle to take the club forward with confidence."

Share you views on the Council's plans to buy the Moss Rose ground via the comment box below.

Tags:: Cheshire East Council, Football, Macclesfield, Macclesfield Town FC

Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

Jon Williams

Saturday 8^th June 2013 at 10:20 am

More houses to be built at Moss Rose then !

Mario West

Saturday 8^th June 2013 at 11:03 am

No doubt! Interestingly the press release by MTFC seems to state that the vote next Monday was unanimous!!!

http://bit.ly/12wjXTP

Kelvin Briggs

Saturday 8^th June 2013 at 1:33 pm

Really hope Cheshire East Council support other local grass roots sports clubs and schools in desperate need of more Sports pitches to meet the growing community need for facilities. More local people, playing more sport, more often , encourage healthy lifestyle choices. I'm optimistic this is a turning point in recognising the benefits of sport in Cheshire East.

David Clark

Saturday 8^th June 2013 at 4:59 pm

Surely the freehold value of the Moss Rose ground is worth considerably more than £285000

Terry Bowes

Sunday 9^th June 2013 at 3:59 pm

Very strange,this council is extremely busy turning itself into an empty shell by selling off or passing to local councils all manner of assetts and services,yet buys a pig in a poke! I'm all for supporting Macc Town but this sort of thing makes one think there may be an ulterior motive lurking somewhere.

John Simpson

Tuesday 11^th June 2013 at 7:39 am

No , not houses on the Moss Rose unless/until the football club has a new stadium - there is a covenant in the lease to that effect .It looks as if the council have saved a major amenity for the area - well done .

Wednesday 12^th June 2013 at 9:17 pm

The club is having a new stadium, it was on the BBC (local) TV on Monday evening, CE just have not told the club it's location yet !