Dulwich Hamlet FC to close down?

[Prunella_Gatsby]

Not sure if its true but i heard a rumour in Sainsburys the other day that Dulwich Hamlet FC might be shutdown by its owners and turned into a new housing complex. Can anyone shed any light on this, is it true?

[StraferJack]

Oh look who it is

[Bluerevolution]

Bit difficult:

Champion Hill's long-term future is strengthened

Dulwich Hamlet's Champion Hill Stadium has become the first football ground in London to be listed as an "asset of community value."

The listing follows an application made in August by the Dulwich Hamlet Supporters Trust, with help from South London football bloggers "Tales from the Pigeon Stands." The listing lasts for five years and means any owner of the property has to apply to the council before they can sell the freehold or a lease longer than 25 years. Community groups then have six weeks to decide whether they would like to express an interest in bidding for the property. If they do, the owner is not able to sell for six months, although they don't have to sell to the community group. Until spring 2012, the freehold for the stadium was owned by DHPD Ltd, which had borrowed ?1.2m to buy it from Kings College. It then went into adminstration, believed to be owing far more than the original sum borrowed. As well as being home to Dulwich Hamlet for almost a century, Champion Hill has also been used by Fisher Athletic, Millwall Lionesses and London FA representative sides. In the 1930s, the original stadium attracted crowds of more than 20,000. The continuing uncertainty and specualtion about the stadium that the admininstration caused threw a spotlight on the need to ensure that Dulwich supporters were given maximum opportunity to influence the future. Dulwich is not alone in taking this action. Manchester United's Old Trafford and Oxford United's Kassam Stadium have already been confirmed as assets of community value and there are at least 15 more nominations in process.

Dulwich Hamlet Supporters Trust chairman Eddie Muraszko said the group was delighted that the council had agreed to the listing. "These powers are designed to give the community greater chance to secure the futre of community assets like this stadium," he said. "While it is only limited protection, we are pleased to have the added safeguard it does provide."

Many football teams-especially non-league clubs in London-have lost their stadiums over the last 20 years after owners sold up. "Our aim is to make sure that Dulwich Hamlet Football Club is not added to this list and to ensure that, on top of the success the club is having on the field, it has a sustainable future in it's long-term home," Muraszko added.

Tom Hall of Supporters Direct-the national umbrella body for supporters trusts-also welcomed the decision. "The facility, despite significant uncertainly as to its future for a number of years, has continued to provide value to its communities and the clubs that use the stadium," he said. "Wehope it is the first step in securing its future and potentially under community ownership. We congratulate Dulwich Hamlet Supporters Trust on this achievement."

[Prunella_Gatsby]

Oh thats good news that Dulwich Hamlet is safe, its always worrying when you overhear things...!

[jctg]

So that's sorted that out then.

[Bluerevolution]

and tonight we are hosting Rodney Marsh and Tommy Booth