Moneyfields’ £3.5m stadium redevelopment put back a year due to the pandemic

The project was due to be started in the summer but will now not begin until March at the earliest following the Covid-19 outbreak.

The new-look sports complex will include the 1,180 capacity John Jenkins Stadium - named after the Portsmouth D-Day veteran - two all-weather pitches, boxing gym, dance studio and social club across the six-acre site.

Initially, with a planned 12 to 16 month completion estimate, hopes were that the new venue would be open by the start of the 2021/22 football season.

However, with work not beginning until next year the new site opening is set to be put back until 2022.

But with the current 'chaos' brought on by the pandemic, Moneyfields chairman Pete Seiden conceded it's difficult to put a timeframe on when the redevelopment could be completed.

‘We’re looking at about March (for work to start),' he revealed.

‘It was meant to start in probably August/September time but the whole world is in chaos.

‘All the planning conditions are currently in the process of being lifted. Although it looks like nothing is happening here, there is quite a lot going on behind the scenes.

'We’re nearly there on lifting the conditions, then you’ve got Christmas and I think it will be a 10-12 week lead in time before work starts.

‘We think 12 to 16 months (for the development to be completed).

‘I don’t like to put anything on it because, as soon as we do, something happens which pushes it back with this pandemic.

‘We’re literally dealing with tomorrow and seeing what that brings.'

The new venue, as well as providing Moneyfields with a 3G pitch, was due to be the new home for Portsmouth Women, but the latter are currently playing home games on the new 3G surface at Westleigh Park.

With work put back, it leaves Moneys facing another season playing on their current Dover Road pitch.

But Seiden revealed the redevelopment will not mean the first-team are unable to play matches at the site in 2021/22.

‘The whole set up is so that we can play through while the work is going on,' he added.

The new pitches will hopefully go down when we’re out of season.

'When the season stops now, say in May, the pitches can then start going down.

‘But, again, you say May, if they put everyone in lockdown again that will then get pushed back again.

‘It’s quite difficult to plan anything. We’re just playing it by ear and doing it the best we can.

'Fingers crossed, if there are no more major setbacks, we’re looking to start in March and looking forward to next Saturday really.'

Moneys are due to return to action, after the month-loan lockdown, at home to higher division Truro City in the FA Trophy on December 5.