THE LAND on which Liberty Way, the long-standing home of Nuneaton Borough Football Club, stands will be renewed as an asset of community value (ACV) amid the ongoing saga around the stadium.
But council leader Coun Kris Wilson has said the authority would ‘not be bailing anyone out’ despite the club’s financial woes.
The authority said it has ‘stuck to its commitment’ to process the application for the land to remain an ACV following a request from the Nuneaton Borough Supporters Co-operative at December’s full council meeting.
The ACV will remain on the Council’s records for a minimum of five years and will ensure the land and any buildings on it cannot be sold without allowing the community the chance to buy it.
Boro has been mired in financial difficulties recently, and in October fears spread the club might be unable to continue playing.
The club said it had been behind in rent payments since 2019 due to the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.
It is still facing ‘ongoing issues’ regarding their ability to use Liberty Way as their home ground.
The Boro are currently playing their home games at Kirkby Road, home of Barwell FC, until March 6, as part of an emergency ground share deal.
If the club is unable to return to Liberty Way by that date, bosses will have to submit another ground share request to the FA.
Coun Wilson said: “Nuneaton Borough Football Club has a long and proud history in our town but, unfortunately, it has a chequered history of late to go with it.
“We do not have the financial resources to bail anyone out, nor do we have the knowledge or capacity to run a club ourselves.
“We will not get involved in such high-risk ventures.
“I want to see the parties get together and put together a responsible business plan reasonable for the long term.
“This is ultimately a dispute between the club, its creditors, and the owners of the land, therefore, we have no standing in this situation.
“What we do have an obligation to do is process the new Asset of Community Value designation and I can assure residents and council this application will be processed according to the legal regulations.
“I should also confirm, while I can never say never, under the Borough Plan as it stands in the review, the land is not designated for any kind of development whatsoever.”
