Council to vote on motion backing Gateshead FC bid for secure 10 year tenancy
The team were ruled out of playing in National League despite top finish because of the lease
There are calls for Gateshead football club to be given a 10 year tenancy at the International Stadium.
The team won the FA Trophy at Wembley a few weeks ago but were denied the chance of vying for promotion after being barred from the National League play offs because of concerns of the stadium's lease.
The decision on the tenancy is now with councillors - it's something that's being discussed at a meeting today (Thursday, 23 May).
Liberal Democrat Councillors are behind the motion - they're calling for the town’s football club to have a secure 10 year tenancy at the Stadium when the facility’s management is transferred to another operator.
The party believes a secure tenancy would enable the club to compete for promotion next year and its urging the Council to ensure any new operator of Gateshead Leisure Centre to guarantee this.
Leader of the Lib Dem opposition, Cllr Ron Beadle, will be moving the motion. He will warn that Gateshead could pay a price for the failure to ensure the required tenancy.
“This issue is not just about our local football team,” said Ron in advance of the meeting.
“It is not just about football generally. Failure to support the club’s ten year tenancy at the Stadium would prevent the town from gaining the economic and reputational benefits of having a football league team. When the team is playing at home, money is brought into the area by supporters of both Gateshead and their visiting rivals. If Gateshead had been able to progress to League Two, the economic benefits would have been all the greater... therefore this issue is much more than just about the football club. It is very much about boosting our local economy and creating jobs.”