Club statement on Arbour Vale

In the absence of Steve Easterbrook, who is currently out of the country, this information has been prepared to keep supporters advised of issues reported in the local press today.

Negotiations over the Arbour Vale site have progressed over recent weeks with the Club working with the local council and St Joseph’s School to secure the best possible solution for all stakeholders.

The plans provide a community football facility which would benefit the local community, along with much needed housing and enhanced facilities for St Joseph’s School. It would also provide a base for our successful Academy, along with a number of exciting plans which would benefit the youngsters of Slough, the footballing community and the community as a whole.

The story carried in today’s local paper is yet another obstacle, the severity of which is not yet fully understood. The Management Committee will work with Slough Borough Council and all stakeholders to ascertain the best way forward. Slough Borough Council has made it clear that they will fight the instruction received from the Department of Education and we will work with them to this end.

The Club, like the Council are disappointed that this story has found its way into the press before being presented to the full council and the extent of the impact being fully understood. We can only await the full report from all concerned parties and until this is available we have no reason to believe that this is anything more than another obstacle to be overcome.

Disappointing as this is at present, until the full extent is known, supporters are asked to carefully consider any comments they make on any public forum which could be perceived in a negative manner by any interested party.