Dons and Cove may share stadium

By Charlie Allan

Published:

ON BOARD: Cove chairman Keith Moorhouse

THE Dons and Cove Rangers will consider ground sharing at any new community stadium.

The group tasked with finding the most appropriate site in the city today confirmed that Cove chairman Keith Moorhouse has been invited to join them.

The Arena Project Board – which is a partnership between Aberdeen FC and Aberdeen City Council – has identified two potential sites, at King’s Links and Loirston Loch.

Moorhouse has been asked for his input, and that could lead to the Highland League champions eventually moving house with the Dons.

The Arena Project Board stress that this does not mean there will be a preference for the Loirston site and that the two football teams could work together in either location.

Dons managing director Duncan Fraser said: “This project will offer opportunities for working together and we think it is important to speak about the partnership possibilities now.”

Cove have planning permission to move to a new stadium at Calder Park.

But Moorhouse believes it makes sense for them to consider using the community stadium instead.

Moorhouse said: “The prospect of a new, high specification community stadium is an exciting one for Aberdeen,.

“Our stadium at Allan Park is suitable for our current needs, however, we fully realise that to achieve our ambition of playing in the Scottish Football League that new facilities are vital.

“We recognise that from a business perspective we must keep all our options open and we are keen to explore the opportunities that being a part of a much larger project offers.”

Two feasibility studies are being carried out by specialist consultants Faber Maunsell.