Rovers ground plans 'unaffected'

Last Updated: February 8, 2012 2:34pm

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Pirates: Set for new stadium

Sky Bet

Club director of finance Toni Watola says Bristol Rovers' stadium plans will go ahead whether the rugby team are with them or not.

Current Bristol City chairman Steve Lansdown has become a majority shareholder in Bristol Rugby Club, who currently play their matches at the Memorial Stadium, and fans have questioned whether the deal will see the two part ways.

Lansdown has refused to rule out a move to Ashton Gate or a proposed new stadium at Ashton Vale for the rugby club, but Watola has reassured fans that, for another year at least, they will be staying with Rovers.

"We are already contracted with Bristol for them to play at the Memorial Stadium for another 12 months from the end of this season," he told the Bristol Evening Post.

"People are obviously asking what would happen if the rugby club then moved out and whether it would have any effect on our plans to move to a new stadium. The answer is that it wouldn't. Those plans are not reliant on whether or not they come with us."

The Pirates are hoping to move into their new £40million 20,000-seater ground on the Frenchay site in 2014.