News
05 March 2013
3G Pitch - An Update
Further to our last update on the pitch in January 2013, we thought a further update would be useful. Our Stage 2 application was submitted to Sport Scotland in January, but despite assurances that this would take less than 6 weeks to process due to the work that has been done with us over the past 12 months, the 6 week point was passed on Wednesday 27th February. Sport Scotland are now meeting on 13th March to discuss our application. Added to this, despite assurances that the independent report on the club commissioned by Sport Scotland would be finalised mid-January, we are still awaiting the final version of this with various wordings in the report being amended . The report, however, essentially ticks off everything we have in place for this project and hopefully allays any of the fears that Sport Scotland had. In the meantime, due to the reduced amount we could apply to Sport Scotland for, due to their own initiative of linking their Facilities’ Fund to the SFA’s Community Cashback Fund, we have had to approach other funders and are delighted to announce that we have secured the requested funding from The Robertson Trust and The Football Partnership. This leaves Sport Scotland and Perth & Kinross Council to confirm their funding. Ken and I met with the Deputy Leader of the council on Friday who reiterated the councils support for us, but need Sport Scotland to commit before they can make a decision. The council also expressed their frustration with the delays of the project. Therefore, we are now awaiting the outcome of the panel meeting of Sport Scotland on the 13th March. Essentially, we are now EXTREMELY close to getting a spade into the ground and once we get the nod from Sport Scotland, we are confident that we can make a start on this project. The aim is to have the pitch in place for the start of the new 11-a-side season, however, we will keep you up to date with any progress.