Rochdale AFC offer to buy shares in Spotland Stadium held by the Council and Rugby League

Dale chairman Chris Dunphy

Rochdale AFC has made an offer to buy the shares held by Rochdale Borough Council and the Rugby League in an effort to secure the future of Spotland Stadium for both Rochdale Football Club and Rochdale Hornets.

Dale Chairman Chris Dunphy confirmed the offer in response to a question raised by a shareholder at the football club’s recent AGM.

Denehurst Park Stadium Company has been struggling financially for many years and the debts of the company are in excess of £670,000, and rising on a daily basis.

“I am grateful to the council 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,” said Mr Dunphy.

“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.”

The deal includes a lease being offered to Rochdale Hornets to ensure their security of tenure at Spotland.