Aberdeen faces “significant challenges” in funding stadium move

Aberdeen faces “significant challenges” in raising money to fund the Scottish Premier League football club’s move from Pittodrie to a new stadium, according to its latest annual accounts.

The club posted an operating profit of £448,000 (€503,000/$555,000) for the year on the back of revenues of £13.4m.

The financial report confirmed that a planning application for a new stadium at Kingsford, seven miles from the city centre, would be submitted before the end of the year.

Aberdeen chairman Stewart Milne said that, having completed the opening round of public consultations, there is “widespread support across various supporters’ groups for the Kingsford site”.

He added: “Subject to planning consent being obtained, the proposed site layout will feature much-needed training, community and youth academy facilities.

“The final stadium design will incorporate many of the features being proposed in feedback received from supporters and as part of the detailed consultation process that was undertaken in July.”

Milne confirmed that the club’s representatives are visiting stadia across the UK and northern Europe to gather ideas for the stadium move.

“There are significant challenges ahead, not least in the raising of the funds that will be required to deliver the project, which would provide the club, the community trust and our youth academy with appropriate facilities and infrastructure to increase their portfolio of activities in the local area,” Milne said.

“The fact that we have continued to make progress, both on and off the field of play, without a permanent training base and with accommodation that is simply not fit for purpose in the 21st century is quite remarkable and demonstrates what great potential there is for this club if we were operating on a level playing field with the competition.

“If we can maintain the momentum on the playing front and build our average home attendances that will greatly assist in raising the finances that can deliver the much-needed facilities that can take our club to new levels on so many fronts.”