MYSTERY last night (January 10) surrounded Blackpool Football Club's reaction to reports that council planners had refused to accept new plans for a super-stadium.

Senior officials of the club were locked in discussion and unable to comment and council officials insisted they were so-operating with moves to start the £50 million first phase of the development.

Seasiders managing director Gill Bridge had earlier been optimistic that demolition work on the Bloomfield Road site would go ahead as planned in the spring.

But despite the club's efforts, the question apparently no-one could answer was: What about the fans?

They have been promised a new 20,000-seater stadium for years only to find delay after delay involving council planners over questions of car parking, safety access and environmental impact.

These seemed to have been partially resolved when outline planning permission was granted 18 months ago. Then the club submitted amended plans for the Blackpool International Colosseum to cover a further 6,000-seater stadium in addition to the original plans which included a hotel, restaurants, shops and parking.

Now, it seems the club and the council have still to reach agreement in key areas.

Which leaves townspeople, and more particularly the fans, asking the question: "What the hell is going on?"

It is understood a joint statement has been prepared by the council and the club but that it will not be released until later today (January 11) or tomorrow.

Which still leaves the townspeople and the fans asking: "What the hell is going on?"

It would seem everyone agrees Blackpool needs a new sports stadium and shopping centre but can't agree how that can be achieved.

It is to be hoped that the council/club statement will set our minds at rest and live up to the early season promise of the team's performances in the Endsleigh Second Division.

It is hoped it will answer the fans' question: "When can we expect work to begin?"

Or will it leave us still asking: "What the hell is going on?"

In February 1994, following a mass rally led by Seasiders chairman Owen Oyston, the Citizen added its voice to declarations of a new spirit of co-operation between the club and council planners.

We urged them:"Build on the determination to overcome the difficulties, whatever they may be. Build the stadium."

And then we, and the fans, will stop asking:"What the hell is going on?"

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.