CELTIC expect to hear within the next few days that the #22m required
to pay for the construction of a stadium in Cambuslang, Glasgow, has
been pulled together and that a date can be set for the start of
constructing the club's new home.
Work would take about two years, according to Celtic's chairman Kevin
Kelly, who yesterday said an announcement from the project's main
parties in London was imminent.
A spokesman for John Laing Construction in London did not give a date
for an announcement. ''Discussions are continuing with other parties to
develop an international events stadium in Cambuslang and we are hopeful
about the outcome,'' he said.
Deadlines for announcements regarding Celtic's new ground, which would
open with between 35,000 and 40,000 seats, have been set and missed
before.
However, Mr Kelly claims the consultants, Stadivarious and Laing, who
will be among the main investors as well as builders, and other
investors are in a position to announce the #22m package, which it is
hoped would be the catalyst for further development of the Cambuslang
site.
''It looks now as though the funding is in place and the good thing
about all of this is that Celtic have to put in very little money,'' he
added.
There has been no shortage of cynics about the club's plans and,
despite the chairman's latest bout of optimism, disbelievers will exist
until the turnstiles actually click. It is also not certain yet whether
problems which would prevent building on the Cambuslang site can be
overcome.
Even if work does start on making Celtic's dream a reality, Mr Kelly
admits that the club's dire state of affairs will not be alleviated
overnight.
The club still has an overdraft, said to be running at more than #6m,
and presumably the Bank of Scotland will want to know how that will be
repaid if Celtic are to enter into a financial arrangement with others.
Celtic do not find it easy to service their loans on current gates.
However, Mr Kelly said: ''We would have first option on the land
around the stadium and, as other people wish to build, there we might
benefit from cash sales.
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