New stadium on target for 2012 opening

Since leaving Millmoor for their temporary home at Sheffield's Don Valley Stadium more than two years ago, the club have aimed to return to a new base in Rotherham by the start of the 2012/13 season.

Chairman Tony Stewart says they are still on target to hit that goal, with the first stage of work at the Guest and Chrimes foundry site, rasing the ground level to combat flood risk, due to start in May.

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He told the Advertiser: "Subject to (full) planning consent, we're hoping to start the flood alleviation work in May and major construction of the stadium itself in June.

"The build time is 12 months, factoring in a bit of time for bad weather, and we're aiming to be open and ready for August 2012.

"All the companies who have tendered to build the stadium have had to prove they could fit it into that time span, including the car parking and roads and infrastructure around it.

"It's a turn-key operation, so that when we go in (on the first day) the seating, the tables, the fire extinguishers, the alarm systems, the IT and the furnishings, it's all in and it's all done."

A BEACON FOR THE FUTURE: More reaction and full coverage in this week's Advertiser.