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| Bury Free Press, 10 June 2005 |
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| Talks on the future of Stowmarket Town Football Club will be held today in a bid to resolve a 10-year legal wrangle. |
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| For the last decade, the Greens Meadow club has been unable to develop its ground because it does not own the land. |
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| With part of the site owned by Mid Suffolk District Council and another part by the Stowmarket Church Charity, the club has been left in limbo. |
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| It now hopes renewed talks between the three groups will bring a resolution to an issue that has put the club's very future in doubt. |
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| Club secretary Colin Davies said: "We'd like a resolution as quickly as possible as the discussions have been going on for many years. |
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| "It's incredibly frustrating. As a club we cannot do more – we have tried our level best to encourage the two to come up with a proposal. |
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| "I am not putting blame on anyone but we have been left in the middle of it all and it's important it's resolved so the club can move forward." |
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| The long-running dispute stems from the Stowmarket Church Charity indicating it may wish to sell the land for development. |
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| Mid Suffolk District Council is keen to prevent the club from having to move but its hands may be tied if the church decides to sell. With the club's lease in doubt, its board has been unable to apply for any Government grants to help it upgrade it facilities. |
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| "Things cannot just continue in this limbo," added Mr Davies. "It all comes down to money at the end of the day but we need a resolution." |
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| Today's meeting will be attended by club, council and church trust officials, as well as Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket MP David Ruffley. |
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"I'm keen to regain some momentum," said Mr Ruffley. "I fully support the club in its desire to build facilities fit for the 21st century."
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