Wakefield Trinity edge closer to Belle Vue exit
Wednesday 11 January 2017 17:59, UK
Wakefield are edging closer to a move out of their historic Belle Vue home after becoming increasingly frustrated at the lack of progress on a new ground.
Belle Vue is one of the surviving stadiums from rugby league's first season in 1895 but has been declared "an embarrassment to Super League" by Trinity chairman Michael Carter.
Hopes of a move to a new site near the M62 have stalled despite planning permission being provisionally granted in 2012.
However, the area around Belle Vue still resembles a building site and Carter says the Dewsbury move could be back on by Easter.
"When we launched our season tickets in the second week in September, we gave a six-month deadline for something concrete to happen and virtually nothing has happened in that four months," Carter said at the club's pre-season media day.
"We went to see the owner before Christmas and he seems relatively confident of getting a scheme together that will provide a retail park and a new stadium but the clock is ticking.
"He asked us to wait until Easter and we agreed to do that but we can't let this drag on. We've put it off twice in the last two years and the ground has got no better.
"I cringe at times when I see young kids running around in the ground and some of the hazards that are out there.
"Myself and Chris [Brereton] have got to the stage where we are no longer willing to put our necks on the line, especially in a day and age where corporate manslaughter is all too prevalent.
"It would be a crying shame to move out of the district. It would leave Wakefield with no professional sporting team whatsoever and it would be a very sad day because this is the oldest rugby league pitch in the world and it feels like the bits around it were built around it in 1873.
"I've said it before, we're an embarrassment to Super League. You go to the majority of grounds and they're clean and inviting and there's a good view for everybody and you come to us and it's terrible. If nothing happens, it's Dewsbury here we come.
"With a bit of hindsight, we probably should have gone at the end of last year. We're definitely not crying wolf."
Wakefield fans had a potential glimpse into the future when Trinity played a pre-season friendly against Dewsbury at the Tetley's Stadium last Sunday.
"It provided an ideal opportunity not only for us to see a match day in progress there but for our fans to see one as well and, from the feedback I've had, Dewsbury is perhaps not the devil they thought it was," added Carter.
"We've already got plans rolling to move to Dewsbury for 2018. This is last-chance saloon in terms of this ground."
