Swindon Town Supporters Trust outline ambition for the County Ground

Trust STFC announced an intention to buy the County Ground yesterday (Thursday) and detailed their plans for Swindon Town's stadium at their AGM last night.

The Trust have been working on trying to buy the ground since March 16, 2015 but plans to redevelop Swindon's stadiums have been in place since 2014 when the Trust launched their 'Raise the Roof' scheme to try and get a roof on the Stratton Bank.

Around £1.1 million is needed for the Trust to buy the County Ground from the council and Trust chairman Steve Mytton, in the downloadable PDF pack the Trust have released, has listed 10 possible methods of raising the desired funds. These include £300-a-year donations to the Red Army Fund, high-net worth individuals in the area and crowd funding, among others.

When outlining plans for County Ground development, which include more help for disabled supporters and a club museum to celebrate the club's history, Vice chairman Mike Welsh said the Trust are "looking at the next generation".

"Some of the things we are trying to do are long-term, as well as the short-term, because this is the club we love. We're looking at the next generation," he said.

"If it's not high on Mr.Power's agenda, it's high on our agenda, we're going to make sure that happens.

"We have to be emotional in one sense because this is the club we love. On the other side, we've got to be hard-headed, we've got to be realistic and see what is possible, but these things are possible, we can improve.

"Our architect has drawn up plans where they could be seats, in the Arkell's stand, for disabled people to actually watch football. It would not cost very much, we can get it funded through grants as well. 

"There are things we are looking at in helping the matchday experience now, not just waiting for the future, we're actually getting on with things.

"We've got to show Mr.Power that there is an economic sense to bring families in. Another thing we want is a fully-fledged family enclosure - this club does not actually have an award-winning status.

"Our children must really engage and have that enthusiasm"

Mytton then expressed a desire to make the Stratton Bank a stand for home fans again. The Bank is, for the majority of the time, unnused with the exception of teams that bring a big away following to the County Ground, such as Oxford United, Bristol Rovers and, most recently, Sheffield United on Tuesday. 

"Just because we're in League One, why can't we have (home) people stood in there?" Mytton asked.

"It's the cost of a steward or two or three stewards, we could fund that through the Trust." 

Welsh then continued: "The position with the County Ground is that we've made a submission of £1.1 million, this is practical. That's £175,000-a-year rent, we can reduce the rent for the club to put another player on the pitch.

"We could reduce the rent for the club and, at the same time, there is an income there and that income could be used to invest in the club. This is not pie in the sky, it's reality."

To find out more information on the Trust, visit their website.