An exciting plan for a sports village, housing a new stadium (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

An exciting plan for a sports village, housing a new stadium

Mark Devlin, Swindon Town's chief executive, hopes that the first glimpse of Swindon's own sporting village will ease the concerns of those who fear a concrete bowl is about to be dumped next door to them.

Speaking exclusively to the Evening Advertiser, Mr Devlin said that he believed it was an imaginative scheme which presented a fantastic opportunity to put Swindon on the sporting map.

He said: "It is human nature for people to be frightened of the unknown.

"If I was a resident in the Sparcells area, then I would be a little agitated on first hearing of this scheme.

"The model gives a flavour of what the scheme could look like.

"I think it demonstrates clearly that there will be landscaping, the village will be screened and that a stadium is not going to be dumped right next door to residents.

"There are many green areas compared to buildings with numerous pitches for football, rugby and cricket for example.

"It is an exciting and imaginative concept that St Modwen's has put together."

Although a new stadium is crucial to Swindon Town's future prosperity, Mr Devlin feels the whole project represents a fantastic opportunity for Swindon.

He said: "As far as I am aware, this sporting village would be the first of its type in the country.

"Obviously, we now have a period of public consultation where people can put

forward their views."

While Mr Devlin's prime concern is a successful professional football club, he believes there is potential for other sporting success to blossom from the project. He said: "As I understand it, those who have shown great promise in sport in Swindon have sometimes had to base themselves elsewhere to really progress.

"I would love to see sporting talent remain in Swindon and excel from this town as a base."

As for Swindon Town's new home, Mr Devlin has confirmed that naming rights will

go to those who are prepared to pay for the privilege.

He said: "It is clearly an important issue which will have to be addressed.

"We would be looking at talking to local companies and also those outside Swindon.

"It's a practice which is commonplace in the US and in this country you have seen a similar pattern develop with places such as the Reebok and Britannia stadiums. We would expect a good deal of interest."

The Reebok stadium is home to Bolton Wanderers, while Stoke City moved to the new Britannia Stadium from their old Victoria Ground in 1997-98.

Town fans attending Saturday's clash with Bristol City will be handed a copy of the club's official newsletter, The Informer, outlining the reasons behind the decision to seek a new home.