Premiership goal

6:03am Wednesday 25th July 2007

Martin Perry is no stranger to building football stadiums. He was an executive for construction giant Alfred McAlpine and his first project was the McAlpine stadium in Huddersfield.

The boom in new stadiums came after the Taylor Report into safety at matches following the Heysel, Hillsborough and Bradford City disasters and prompted massive investment in the sport's infrastructure.

Mr Perry, Albion chief executive, was involved in building Wigan's JJB Stadium and put together design and infrastructure work on Bolton Wanderers' Reebok Stadium.

He has also had a hand in redevelopment work at Molineux in Wolverhampton and in the replacement of stands at Anfield and Goodison Park in Liverpool.

He said: "Of all the stadiums I've been involved in, this has been by far and away the longest and hardest goal to achieve.

"But, because I am a fan, it has also been the most rewarding. We have been given the green light but cannot rest on our laurels until the period for an appeal is over.

"It is then that the next stage begins. We need to sign legal agreements, go out to tender and appoint contractors.

"We have been gearing up for this stage for a long time and we are ready for it."

Mr Perry said the club needed to secure the full funding package before work can begin at the site. Work is expected to start in autumn next year.

Albion plan to raise just over half the £50 million cost of the stadium through sponsorship, grants, sale of assets and investment. Grant sources include the Football Foundation and regional development agency Seeda - which recently announced a £5.3 million support package.

It is likely the club will also put a large price tag on the name of the stadium, following in the footsteps of Arsenal, Bolton Wanderers and Leicester City.

The deficit will be borrowed and paid off annually from gate receipts. Mr Perry added: "There is still a long way to go but we are absolutely thrilled the Government has again recognised the huge benefits that the stadium will bring to Sussex.

"There is never a dull moment at this club and that looks set to continue.

"The ultimate aim is for the team to get into the Premiership - and there is no reason why we could not achieve that at Falmer."

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