DUMBARTON FC has fired the starting pistol on a proposed £14m relocation to the west end of town by submitting its planning application to West Dunbartonshire Council.

Top brass at the Sons want to move from their current base, in the shadow of Dumbarton Rock, and move to Young’s Farm.

The plan is to sell off their current base in Castle Road and move west to Young’s Farm and build a new 3,000-seat stadium.

Also part of the project are plans for as many as 200 new homes, along with leisure facilities, restaurant, gym and training facilities.

Fans’ group Sons Trust has expressed “relief” that the long-awaited application has come to light, and welcomed the fact the club will have no liability for a new stadium build. 

The proposals are being driven by Brabco, the company which owns a 75 per cent stake in the club.

Club director Ian Wilson issued a statement via the club’s website on Friday, which read: “Further to consultation at the end of 2016, plans have been submitted by Brabco to West Dunbartonshire Council for the relocation of the stadium from Castle Road to Young’s Farm.

“The mixed-use development includes residential enabling 
development to cross fund the new stadium build, together with additional commercial and community sports facilities which will contribute to the ongoing sustainability of the club.

“West Dunbartonshire Council will now consider the application, before making a decision in four to six months.”

Simon Barrow, communications and projects officer for the Sonstrust, who has been the fans’ lead negotiator with the club’s owners on this issue, said: “After several years of uncertainty there is a sense of relief that the planning application for a new stadium has now been submitted, and that we should have clarity on whether or not this development is going ahead by the end of the year.

“We note that, according to the club’s statement, the application has gone in under the name of Brabco, the majority shareholders and owners, not the club itself.

“This is important in terms of financial liability for the application and the project overall.

“We have always been told that the club will have no liability for a new stadium build, so that if there are future problems they will not imperil the club’s assets and its future sustainability. This is vital for us as fans, obviously.”

He added: “We will now be looking at the planning application, which we have not been shown ahead of its submission, in detail. 

“We have had several indicative meetings with Brabco in the run-up to their application, to discuss general principles and concerns.

“Obviously, it is now all about the detail, the feasibility of the plans, the financing, the security of the club, and building a stronger partnership moving forward between ourselves as supporters, the new chairman, the club board and the majority shareholders.”

In November 2016, the Reporter told how the championship club rolled out the red carpet to fans as they revealed their stadium relocation proposals.

During the day fans were able to peruse drawings and architect’s plans of their proposed new stadium, to the west of town, and they were given an opportunity to fill out a questionnaire.

Mr Wilson is hoping the overwhelming majority of supporters understand the commercial case for the club’s proposed relocation to Young’s Farm.

He said last year: “I think there’s an overwhelming majority who understand the commercial case and have the desire to see the club play at a high level.”

Since the proposed relocation plans were revived, though, debate has raged about whether or not the club should relocate to an area designated as Greenbelt.

There have been other issues too, such as who will own the new stadium.
In December it was revealed that the club, would not own their stadium if the proposed relocation move was to go ahead.

Speaking at a supporters meeting, Mr Wilson revealed how Brabco would own the new ground at Young’s Farm.

But he stressed to fans that there would be a legal documents drawn up to protect the club and its use of the ground.

Mr Wilson himself has also prompted controversy in recent months after an investigation by the Reporter revealed that he was part of an “aggressive” tax avoidance scheme.

The Reporter did approach Silverton and Overtoun Community Council for a response but they declined, as they have not yet seen the official plans.

The Reporter can reveal though, that the organisation did oppose the Local Development Plan, which historically earmarked the site at Young’s Farm as “opportunity for football club”.

The application has gone in under Dumbarton Community Football, which is understood to be the holding company Brabco have set up for the stadium move.