All change at Fratton for stadium
For three decades they've searched for a new home.
Plans for a stadium to fulfil fans' dreams has taken the club to Farlington, The Hard and Horsea Island. But after yesterday's shock announcement, it now seems Pompey's immediate future rests with its birthplace – Fratton Park.
The club said it will concentrate its efforts on a plan almost identical to one announced in 2003 by then chairman Milan Mandaric.
Pompey's plan is to increase capacity at Fratton Park to 30,000 by turning the pitch 90 degrees and building two new stands – for which the club already has planning permission.
In an ambitious two-stage proposal, Pompey say Fratton Park will be completed by the beginning of the 2011/2012 season.
The first phase will see a new stand built behind the North Stand, which will then be demolished in time for the start of the 2010/2011 season. There will be an extension to the Fratton End to link it up to the new North Stand, bringing capacity up to 25,000.
By the beginning of the following season, improvements will be made to the South Stand and the Milton Road End will be rebuilt.
The pitch will then be rotated 90 degrees, extending capacity by a further 5,000.
Pompey say a proposed supermarket next to Fratton Park, along with a new club shop, ticket offices and club offices, will help fund the redevelopment. While Fratton Park is redeveloped Pompey insists the Horsea Island dream of building a 40,000-seater stadium is still alive – it has only been put on hold.
While fans have major doubts over the scheme, the club says the stadium will be built in line with the Football Association's current World Cup bid for 2018 or 2022.
Once Pompey are in a position to move to Horsea Island, the club says the 7.5 acre Fratton Park site will be sold off for residential development.
The club says their development team are working hard to submit a planning application for the Fratton Park stage as soon as possible.
Cllr Darron Phillips, chairman of the council's development control committee, was upbeat over the stadium plans.
He said: 'Thank goodness they have brought forward a plan and they are looking to start to do something. We have been waiting a long time to get to this stage.'
Terry Carter, chairman of Fratton Residents' Association, is worried that the increase in capacity will cause more match-day traffic problems though.
He said: 'From my point of view, these plans are a cause for concern but I can understand why the club have done it.'
Pompey yesterday released a list of reasons why it had put the stadium on hold.
These included the credit crunch, the fact a bridge was needed from Tipner to Horsea Island, as well as new exits from the M275.
And the club said the city plan, which the council had wanted to revise to include the stadium, would need to go to a public inquiry, potentially causing major delays.
Caroline Collings, sustainable development spokeswoman for South East Hampshire federation of small businesses, said: 'It's disappointing, but understandable. The fact there is still some long term plans there for Horsea Island is great.'
THE SAGA IN FULL
1970s: Pompey chairman John Deacon plans to build a new ground on the old city airfield.
1993: Club chairman Jim Gregory gets planning permission to build a new stadium on the St John's College playing fields in Farlington.
1994: Planning inspector throws out St John's plan because of problems over transport, but mainly because it is grazing ground for Brent geese.
1999: Milan Mandaric saves the club from bankruptcy and plans new ground.
May 2003: With Pompey newly promoted to the Premiership, Mandaric confirms his 25m dream to convert Fratton Park into a 28,000-seater stadium by February 2005.
July 2004: City councillors give planning permission for the 90m Pompey Village scheme. The club says work will begin in October 2004 to build a new north stand. The club promises this first phase of the ground's redevelopment will be finished by February 2006.
March 1, 2005: Club announces demolition of north stand during 2006-07 season.
March 25, 2005: Mandaric bows to pressure and ditches north stand idea.
January 2006: Sacha Gaydamak arrives at the club and a rethink of stadium plans begins.
March 2006: Pompey's new stadium plans for the Fratton Park site are delayed because of a series of planning wrangles.
April 2006: Mandaric announces work on the new stadium will begin in the summer.
September 2006: Milan Mandaric leaves the club a hero, but still there is no new stadium.
March 6, 2007: Concerns raised over Pompey's plans regarding Fratton Park after the club revealed it was planning to put a roof over the Milton Lane End.
April 25, 2007: Pompey unveil plans for a new 600m, 36-000 seater stadium on harbourside.
May 5, 2007: A survey by The News reveals half of city councillors would like to see the stadium built at Tipner and not The Hard.
July 4, 2007: City council sets out 40 concerns they have with new stadium plans, ranging from the impact on the city's skyline to transport infrastructure.
August 18, 2007: Rail bosses reveal they have no plans to revamp Portsmouth harbour station to allow for the influx of fans.
October 26, 2007: Pompey announce plans to build a 36,000 seater stadium at Horsea Island also including restaurants, shops and flats.
June 18, 2008: Images of the proposed stadium at Horsea Island are unveiled.
February 19, 2009: City council announce plans to build flats near Fratton Park to help fund the planning application for the stadium at Horsea Island.
March 19, 2009: Pompey announce plans to redevelop Fratton Park again.
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