It goes without saying that this has proven to be a very frustrating and long
road. Are we at the end of it? Not really!! However as a board, we feel it is the
right time to inform you where we are regarding the development of the War
Memorial Ground.

The critical part of making these works happen is the funding of the project
which will be circa. £800,000. Our ability to obtain this size of investment is
not possible without an extended lease on the ground. These discussions
with Dudley council have been long and protracted and it has been essential
that confidentiality has been maintained to move things forward.

All stakeholders in the project appear to now be firmly on board. With this in
mind, we felt confident in publishing some of the plans for the new
development for our supporters to see (see pictures shown). Planning
Permission has been submitted and we hope to receive confirmation from the
council in due course that this has been accepted.

In the meantime, we aim to secure the necessary funding that will help us
complete this project. The club are likely to have to raise in the region of
£50,000 towards this and more detail will follow on how we plan to achieve
this in the coming weeks.

We are in the process of re-negotiating a 50 Year lease to ensure Stourbridge
FC has its future at the War Memorial Ground secured.

The wording of the lease is complete and Dudley Council have issued Heads
Of Terms, however the subject of rent is yet to be agreed. It appears that the
only way to agree this will be via independent valuation and arbitration. We
hope to be able to bring you good news in the New Year and that we will not
be far away from putting a spade in the ground.

In the meantime, the Board as a committee appointed by the members will
continue to work tirelessly in the hope we can secure the prospects of
Stourbridge Football Club for the near and distant future.

Andy Pountney, Andy Bullingham and the board of directors.