Firhill Stadium plans go into extra time for Thistle supporters

Mar 18 2010 By Fraser Wilson

Firhill Stadium

PARTICK THISTLE supporters are to get an extra opportunity to view plans for the redevelopment of Firhill Stadium after the initial date clashed with the Jags trip to Dunfermline.

Details of the proposed rebuild of the famous ground's South Terrace will now be made available in the Aitken Suite at Firhill prior to the match against Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Saturday, March 27.

It follows unrest among fans over the date of the original open meeting to view the plans, which was scheduled for next Tuesday, March 23 - the same evening Thistle are playing at Dunfermline.

Angry supporters claimed they were being asked to choose between following the club or examining the future of their stadium.

However, the issue has been resolved with the provision of the extra date.

The redevelopment of Firhill's south end has been on the cards for years. Last year the club sold the South Terrace and Main Stand to an independent property company for s1 million.

The Firhill Development Company plan to develop the end into a mixture of housing, commercial development and some new facilities for the football club with Thistle receiving half of the profits from the development.

A spokesman for supporters association the Jags Trust said: "We know that fans will be as interested as the local residents in what is currently on the drawing board.  

"We're pleased that Firhill Development Ltd has agreed to this extra date, in addition to the local consultation that is required under the planning rules."

The open meeting next Tuesday will still go ahead as planned. Information will be available for viewing between 3pm and 7.30pm in the Alan Rough Lounge, Jackie Husband Stand.

Interested parties who wish to find out more about the proposed developments or make a comment on what is planned, you can attend either meeting or put their comments in writing to Nick Blair, ZM Architecture, 62 Albion Street Glasgow G1 1NY by Friday, April 2.