SOLIHULL MOORS are improving facilities at their home ground in preparation for the ‘fairytale’ of playing in the football league.
The National League club have announced three phases of stadium renovations in order to satisfy English Football League (EFL) requirements.
The club currently sit second in the table in a hotly contested promotion race.
The EFL requires the club – formed in 2007 following a merger between Solihull Borough and Moor Green – to update stadium capacity and revamp facilities to pave the way for promotion.
The regeneration is scheduled to be completed by July next year.
Plans will see the club’s 3,000-capacity Damson Park home ground – now known as the Automated Technology Group Stadium – increased to accommodate more than 5,400 spectators.
Moors’ fortunes have been transformed after former England and Blackburn goalkeeper Tim Flowers took over management.
He replaced Mark Yates who left to become Macclesfield boss in the summer, after saving Moors from relegation last season.
Chairman Darryl Eales told the Observer: “We came in to give Solihull the football club it deserves, because Solihull is a massive catchment area in the shadow of Birmingham City, Aston Villa and Coventry City.
“We had a five-year template but I am still pinching myself about where we are in the league this season – which is an unexpected bonus.
“It’s fair to say Tim, the coaching team and the players have exceeded all expectation.
“There’s now a real belief. We are up near the top on merit. I do think we have a very good side, with proven pedigree.
“Getting promoted would be transformational. I think there would be a feel-good factor across the borough.”
The first phase of revamping the ground is to begin immediately, with a new 1,131 all-seater stand to be installed in the Car Park Side Stand ahead of the club’s meeting with AFC Telford United in the FA Trophy quarter-final on Saturday (February 24).
The Wadsworth Stand is to become an all-standing terrace, removing the existing seats in place, with crush barriers to be fitted.
The club expects phase one to be completed by March 1 this year, boosting capacity to more than 4,600.
A second phase will commence from May to July this year, regenerating the Main Clubhouse Stand – installing a new control room and media room.
Toilets, refreshments and disabled facilities around this side of the site are also to be renovated.
To round-off this part of the plan, the club will upgrade its floodlighting system.
The third phase is to be completed between May and July in 2020 with the installation of 2,000 capacity, all-seater stand on the car park side – featuring 18 wheelchair places, new toilets, refreshment huts and an away supporters bar.
New changing rooms and a further extension to the Main Clubhouse Stand will also be carried out.
