In February, TrustSTFC and the club outlined the current time frame for the redevelopment following a Joint Venture board meeting. In that meeting it was announced that designs would be presented to the JV by the end of February, beginning a three-week consultation period that will end with an Advisory Board meeting. Feedback and changes from this meeting would then be made prior to formal approval from the JV and then a planning application would be submitted. As part of this, the plans would require approval from TrustSTFC members, with a vote anticipated to take place in the middle of April, and this would require an approval of 75 per cent and a voter turnout of more than 50 per cent. Since this meeting, The Adver is aware that the initial plans have still not been presented after the club requested to make changes and this is now expected to happen at a special meeting next week. Swindon’s plans have focused around developing the pre-existing mezzanine in the Don Rogers Stand for over a year, and the plans they will present will focus around installing hospitality facilities in that stand. The club have also committed to improving facilities, including toilets, around the ground, although there is no firm plan for this yet. The decision to pursue hospitality facilities was made with a view to increasing the club’s revenue, both on a matchday and during the week. Chief Commercial Officer James Watts has been pursuing using the ground as an events space to help bring more revenue in, and having better hospitality would expand this possibility. By doing this, the plan is that by driving the increased revenue with the first stage of the redevelopment, it will help pay for the subsequent steps. Placing hospitality facilities in the Don Rogers Stand is expected to disrupt the current seating arrangements, and Swindon will meet with supporters groups to develop a procedure to support anyone who is impacted by the displacements to change their season ticket. So far, no funding plan has been made public and members of the JV board have not been enlightened further as to how this will be paid for. The terms of the purchase agreement with Swindon Borough Council stipulate that this development will need to cost more than £1 million to prevent a buyback. With the club’s debts standing at £8,111,047 as of the last accounts, this is a major financial undertaking and will need a clear plan to be affordable. Anthony Hall said last July: “Ultimately, to meet that £1 million plus buyback clause which is currently in the purchase from the council – that money and funding will come from Clem Morfuni.” TrustSTFC board member Nick Coote, who worked on Reading’s move to the Select Car Leasing Stadium, explained the difficulty of funding such a development and how many of the methods which have been used by other clubs may not be available for Swindon. The £2.3 million purchase of the stadium was completed on March 24, 2023, and this began a three-year period in which Swindon had to commit to such a development or Swindon Borough Council will have the option to buyback the stadium. The work would not have to have begun, but a contract would need to be agreed. Those close to the development find it unlikely that the council would be interested in exercising that clause. If the current timeline continues to be followed, then Swindon would be in no danger of the buyback impacting them.