RUFC - New Ground Plans?

Rotherham United could be leaving Millmoor - and it's all down to the fact that they recently lost a court case.

The club v the Booth family court case was lost by the club last week, meaning the land which Millmoor is stood on belongs to the Booth family. The monthly rent being in the region of £16,000 means that, with help from the Borough Council, it could be cheaper for the club to build a community stadium.

Of course, this is a story we have been hearing since Denis Coleman took over as chairman and upto now the Council are 'keeping mum' and refusing to say anything, although, in the past, they have always said help would be available.

Mr Coleman spoke to The Advertiser earlier saying, 'We have not ruled out moving to a new site and I am actively working on that.'

Giles Brearley, the club's finiancial director, said that he understood the council had gone off the idea of buying Millmoor and bringing it into the twenty-first century and he told the Advertiser, 'we will meet with the council to see if we can establish anything. But, in the long term we have to move forward, we have to have a new stadium

'I love Millmoor but the size is really only suitable for the division we are in now. The ground standards required are increasing all the time and we can't have this situation where our teams change in cabins.

'We have looked at places like Hull City and Swansea and those stadiums give their towns something to be proud of. We would love the same.'

Mr Brearley accepted that getting together the necessary finance for a new ground, finding a site and finding a private sector backer would all take time.

Then again, there is time. The Millers are not free to leave Millmoor until 2011 which is the 'break free' year in the twenty-five year lease.

Over the next few weeks talks are going to take place with the council, the club and possibly Rotherham Rugby Club, with the question of relocating being a main talking point.

Join the Vital Fantasy Football League - its Free!