AFC Wimbledon are in discussion with contractors Buckingham to see if the prospect of playing in a “bare-bones stadium” at Plough Lane next season is still a possibility.
The Dons currently need to make up an £11million shortfall to complete their move back to the new 9,000-seat Plough Lane and are considering bringing in outside investment to do so.
That would mean diluting the controlling stake of the Dons Trust, the fan group who own the League One club, and as such there is hostility to that idea.
Initially a solution last month was suggested by playing in a “bare-bones stadium” next season at Plough Lane, which would cost just an additional £1m and require no outside investors.
The ground would, however, have only one stand with 3,260 seats, no bar or conferencing facilities and even no carpets or roof tiles.
The cost of such a stadium has also been revealed to be more than £1m initially estimated and consequently an unattractive option, but the Dons Trust remain in talks with Buckingham to see if a compromise can be found where Plough Lane could be completed for a new price.
“At the time we sent the SGM papers, we thought we were within about £1m of that based on the conservations we had,” said Dons Trust chair Mark Davis at a special general meeting on Monday.
“But since then we have had a quote back for a ‘bare-bones stadium’. Having had the quote back for that, the financing gap is fair bit more than the £1m.
“That leads us to conclude the initial quote for the bare-bones stadium is just a non-starter. We thought it looked a runner, but it doesn’t.
“But we will continue to work with Buckingham to refine it. Is there some bar and catering facilities that give us some revenue and some refreshments for you?
“Can we do a Gillingham? Put some temporary stands round the outside.
“So I think the question is, what exactly does that look like? How much money do you need to raise? Can we raise that money? Would we generate enough revenues from that to service that.
“The answer is we don’t quite know. We are continuing to refine it.”
Following the SGM on Monday, the Dons Trust are due to meet again tomorrow and there is also a meeting scheduled for December 16 as talks over the future of Plough Lane continue.
