Third Division Clyde have announced their intention to move away from their home of nearly 17 years, Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld. The Stadium is leased from North Lanarkshire Leisure which is part of North Lanarkshire council and Clyde have told their landlords of their plans to quit, although no date or new home has been advised.
A Club statement said, “Following extensive discussions between Clyde Football Club and on the conduct of the lease between both parties, the club has advised its landlord that it wishes to leave Broadwood.”
“Both parties have agreed that the club will work towards an exit over an extended period. There are no plans for an alternative location at the moment, however the club believed that it was best to discuss the matter with its landlord before taking proactive action to secure a new home. This process will now begin in earnest.”
The club were nearly ousted as tenants in the summer of 2009 in a dispute over unpaid rent, however this does not appear to be the cause of the move with the club adding, “The move comes after many years of well publicised financial problems at Broadwood. These were reversed this season when the rent was paid a year in advance, bringing much needed stability and allowing the club and North Lanarkshire Leisure to focus on the practical business difficulties arising from both organisations operating from the same location.”
“Development at Broadwood in recent years and limitations of the lease mean that the club is unable to operate on a long term sustainable basis compatible with its ambitions.”
The club hails form the south side of Glasgow where they occupied Shawfield Stadium from 1898 to 1986 before having an eight year nomadic existence before they moved north to the new town of Cumbernauld.
A move back to Glasgow has not been ruled out with the statement advising, “
An extensive process will now begin to consider alternatives that will see Clyde back in control of its own destiny for the first time in 80 years, since the club became tenants on the sale of Shawfield.”
“Former landlords North Lanarkshire Council have previously offered to support the process by finding an appropriate site for development. Current landlord, North Lanarkshire Leisure, have also agreed to support the process positively and will place no barriers on the ambition of the club. This supportive attitude is appreciated.”
Broadwood opened for business as a Football Stadium in February 1994 when Hamilton Accies defeated the Bully Wee 2-0 and it has also hosted Scotland under-21 and B Internationals as well as four Challenge Cup Finals.
The ground was also the scene of Clyde’s stunning 2-1 win over Celtic in the Scottish Cup back in 2006 when the game was shown live on Sky Sports.
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