Hamilton Accies' move to Broadwood 'no-brainer' with club saving over £500k a season

Daily Record

13-05-2025

The club are set to agree a two-year lease with North Lanarkshire Council, with the option of a further year, after leaving New Douglas Park earlier this month
Hamilton Academical's move to Broadwood Stadium will save the club over half a million pounds a season, Lanarkshire Live Sport can reveal.
The Lanarkshire side were relegated from the Championship to League One earlier this month after being hit with a 15-point deduction for breaching multiple SPFL rules, and they are now preparing to complete a move across the region to Cumbernauld's Broadwood Stadium.
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Accies chairman Jock Brown issued an open letter to supporters last night explaining that the club is leaving New Douglas Park because stadium owner Colin McGowan, who was trying to sell the facility to current Accies owner Seref Zengin, 'made it impossible' for them to stay in the town.
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The club claims Mr McGowan refused to provide the necessary information showing what liabilities any new owner would take on, giving Accies 'no option' but to leave.
And now the eye-watering costs facing Accies under their recent lease go some way to explaining their move.
From July 2023 to February 2024, it cost the club £714,000 to lease New Douglas Park, while switching to Broadwood in a groundshare agreement with Lowland League outfit Cumbernauld Colts will cost the club £6,900 a month or £82,800 over the course of a year.
Accies are currently in the process of agreeing a two-year lease with North Lanarkshire Council, with the option of a further year.
The impending switch has.
A fan petition which has garnered almost 1500 signatures has also been set up to try and stop the move.
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However, it appears there is no going back to New Douglas Park as the club are seeking a brand new stadium site in the town during their temporary switch to Cumbernauld.
A spokesman for Accies said: "Quite literally, this keeps the club alive for five years or so at the cost of one year at New Douglas Park.
"It also allows the club to invest in the academy and the first team as well. It is a no-brainer financially."
Hamilton are due to return to pre-season training on June 19 but they will not be able to train on the Broadwood pitch, with the surface being relayed over the summer. Any sessions will be held on the public park adjacent to the stadium, while Accies are also considering a training camp elsewhere for their preparations.