Tuesday 22 August 2017 13:37, UK
Stewart Milne says he finds it strange that objectors to Aberdeen's plans for a new stadium "always seem to have the loudest voice".
The club's chairman is calling on support from fans and the local community to get behind the proposals for a new 20,000 seater stadium as well as a community sports campus and football academy.
Those at Pittodrie have been left frustrated at delays in the progress of their application, which they believe is essential for the sustainability of the club. Milne even warned Aberdeen may have to play future European ties in Edinburgh or Glasgow if the plans are rejected.
Milne said: "In these situations for some strange reason the objectors always seem to have the loudest voice, and the majority of people for it tend to stay quiet in the background. So what we are trying to do is rally that support in every way we can."
"It's important it's not just of the voice of the people in the club. The biggest single thing is the general public speaking and writing to their local councillors, their MPs & MSPs."
"Pittodrie has passed its sell-by-date by a long-long time," Milne continued. "It's a major burden to maintain on an annual basis."
"We've said on many occasions we are reliant on dispensation from UEFA. Every year requirements tighten up and at some point in time, I genuinely believe in the next five years, we will no longer get those dispensations. What that would mean for Aberdeen Football Club is playing European games in Glasgow or Edinburgh, which would be horrendous."
A request from councillors saw a hearing scheduled for June moved back to October, with Milne insistent on this being the final chance for the club to get their proposals over the line.
Milne said: "This is the last option as far as we are concerned we've spent the best part of 18 years trying to get to this point. I am reasonably confident that we will get the right decision."
"When you are dealing with the council and when you are dealing with planning you can never be 100 per cent confident. We have invested a lot of money, a lot of time and a lot of effort and we believe we have made a really robust solution."
"It would be massive for the club. Derek, and every manager before him, has had to work with very substandard training facilities. To have these facilities not just for Derek and the first team, but also for the youth development, it would be a massive boost. And also for all the work we do out in the community with the AFC Community Trust."
The Aberdeen chairman was also full of praise for manager Derek McInnes and the way his side have started the season.
"We knew at the end of last season we had quite a big job on our hands to rebuild the team and over the summer Derek has done a tremendous job there, with support from the board," said Milne.
"But I genuinely believe we are going into this season with a very strong season and we will finish the season at the top end."
