Rochdale Aim to Take Control of Spotlands

Rochdale have released a statement about offering to take control of the troubled company running Spotlands.  Spotlands owner, Denehurst Park Stadium Company, have struggled financially for several years and debts are thought to be in excess of £670,000.

Rochdale Chairman Chris Dunphy has confirmed that they have made an offer to buy the shares held by Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council (RMBC) and the Rugby League in an effort to secure the future of Spotland Stadium for both Rochdale Football Club and Rochdale Hornets. The deal includes a lease being offered to Rochdale Hornets to ensure their security of tenure at Spotland.

The statement in the name of Dunphy and released by Rochdale says:-

I am grateful to the RMBC for temporarily underwriting the debt, but the situation is now becoming extreme and it cannot be allowed to continue. It is only a matter of time before it will start impacting on the day to day operation of the stadium.

We have made an offer to the Rugby League for their shareholding which they obtained from Rochdale Hornets three years ago when they went into administration.

We are also in advanced negotiations with the council to take over their shares and the debt, in order to allow us to develop the ground and ensure Spotland is the home of Rochdale Football Club for the next hundred years.

Rochdale Football club has a proud history of fiscal propriety and employs 150 people; I would not like to see that compromised by a situation beyond my control.