 St Mirren Park will be sold to a supermarket developer |
St Mirren say they have effectively been saved from liquidation after the Scottish Executive decided not to call-in their plan for a new stadium. The First Division club will now sell the Love Street site to a supermarket and build in nearby Greenhill Road.
Buddies chairman Stewart Gilmour said: "It means we can now go ahead doing what is necessary to clear our crippling long-term debts.
"It also means that the club's 128-year link with Paisley remains."
The Scottish Executive had delayed its decision twice, raising fears that it would decide to call-in the club's plan for re-examination after Renfrewshire councillors voted against a recommendation to reject the application.
"You could feel the relief in and around Love Street when the news came through that the Scottish Executive was not calling in our planning applications," Gilmour told his club's website. "We will now start the rebuilding process both at St Mirren and in the north end of Paisley.
"We said all along that our proposals could be the catalyst for the regeneration of the North of Paisley and I am sure this will be the case.
"I'm also sure that, as a football club, we will bring much pride back to Paisley with success on the field.
"And, off the field, I hope we can kick-start a similar process - socially and economically - in the north end of Paisley. "Sure, it will be sad to leave Love Street, but there was no alternative.
"We would have had to sell the ground no matter what the outcome of our planning applications.
"The difference now is that we can raise enough cash to pay off the debt and stay in Paisley in a fabulous new stadium less than a mile from St Mirren Park."
MMIX
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
It will be sad to leave Love Street, but there was no alternative