Victoria Park sale on the cards

Hartlepool United?s owners Increased Oil Recovery (IOR) are on the verge of securing a deal to purchase Pools Victoria Park home from Hartlepool Borough Council. IOR and the council have been in negotiations over the sale of the Vic for sometime now and it is believed that an agreement could be close.

Hartlepool United chairman Ken Hodcroft told the Hartlepool Mail:-

‘From the owner’s point of view, it is very important that we own the ground because we want to invest more money in the club, but that is difficult when you don’t own the stadium.’

Mr Hodcroft added:-

‘We have offered a sum of money and are willing to buy it on conditions that say we will not sell the ground for the land. Our intention is to stay here and develop the ground. If they do say no, there is still the possibility of further negotiations because the talks have been very amicable.’

All sounds very promising doesn’t it? Concerns have been raised amongst fans over IOR’s plans to buy Victoria Park, all to often in football we’ve seen owners selling off football stadium?s for their land. It appears that IOR are serious about developing Victoria Park and it make’s sense that they are only willing to invest money if the ground becomes an asset of the football club. It is also a relief that they appear to be committed to the club in the long term.

Just how much money this investment in the Vic amounts to is still to be confirmed, we could be talking about a general clean up of the ground or hopefully major investment in the form of new stands and better facilities, either way IOR?s continued attempts at moving Hartlepool United Football Club forward should be welcomed and embraced.