THE future of Pontypool RFC at their historic home of Pontypool Park is limited, the club has confirmed.

Marking its 150th year, the club announced its intention to leave Pontypool Park last week after being plagued by vandalism and anti-social behaviour at the Torfaen council-owned grounds.

The official announcement was made at an urgently-called supporters' meeting held at the Parkway Hotel and Spa this evening [July 17, 2018] by Pontypool RFC’s chief executive officer, Ben Jeffreys.

Mr Jeffreys told supporters Torfaen County Borough Council’s refusal to co-operate on fundamental legal issues as the primary reason for the departure.

“This is a truly devastating blow to the thousands of Pontypool RFC supporters who have called Pontypool Park their rugby home for the last seventy-three years,” he said.

“As a management, we have devoted the last four years in trying to overcome the resistance of Torfaen County Borough Council to give a new lease of life to what is a tired and rapidly deteriorating venue.”

The club has not yet triggered the release clause in its Licence Agreement with Torfaen County Borough Council as they are still looking for an alternative site.

“Pontypool Park is majestic, but the world is not the same place that it was when the club welcomed over 20,000 to the ground on a regular basis and it has become a haven for destructive anti-social behaviour," Mr Jeffreys added.

The antisocial behaviour problems have been ongoing for years at Pooler, but the club believe a fence around the ground would safeguard it from destructive acts.

But a 1920 covenant prevents Pontypool Park being used for anything other than full public use.

In the last five years alone, over 200 seats have been destroyed by vandals and the club’s volunteers have regularly placed their own safety in jeopardy by removing drug paraphernalia and human excrement from the main grandstand prior to matches.

After nearly five years of negotiations, the club has spent over £20,000 on a team of professional advisers who successfully identified the process for overturning the 1920 covenant which currently prevents them from securing the grounds.

Despite the local authority’s acknowledgement of the discoveries and agreement to relax the covenant a month prior, in April 2018 the council’s executive team indicated that they would not take the action previously agreed to.

Pontypool RFC was committed to doing everything possible to ensure the club remained at Pontypool Park and was prepared to commission works costing up to £1 million to completely renew the facility.

“We were prepared to invest heavily in what is and would always remain a council-owned asset. It is incomprehensible that Torfaen County Borough Council would allow that opportunity to fade away," Mr Jeffreys said.

“Resolving the covenant issue was the gateway to the whole development coming to fruition and by failing to support the club at this stage, we could not continue with our proposals to improve the ground. We needed the local authority’s support and we quite simply did not have it.

“We are now facing our biggest challenge since we took ownership of the club back in 2012.

“We run the very real risk of the club losing a central part of its identity and we have to find a way to navigate it through this turbulent and disruptive outcome to ensure all of our progress is not lost.

“We are also enormously grateful for the backing we have received from the supporters. They are knowledgeable, and they know that it is solely the local authority’s lack of vision that has resulted in this outcome.

“But I am very confident that we can weather this storm. The club has proved its resilience in recent years and it has overcome more significant challenges."

Pontypool RFC expressed its sincerest gratitude to Torfaen County Borough Council’s leader, Anthony Hunt, and AM Lynne Neagle, “have been particularly supportive of the club’s ambitions”.

Following last week’s announcement, Mr Hunt tweeted: “The legal situation surrounding the park makes things complicated, but I remain optimistic that, working together, we can reach a way forward that benefits the club, the park, those who enjoy using it and the town as a whole. Have total respect for all at Pontypool RFC.”

When asked for further comment, Mr Hunt said: "I remain optimistic that we can work together to reach a resolution for the best of the club, the park and the town of Pontypool.

"I understand the frustrations of all at the club and have massive respect for what they are trying to do on the pitch taking the club forwards. As a supporter of the club myself, I would be gutted if the club were to leave the park, so you have my word that I will do all I can on this.

"The situation is a complex on not because the council want it to be, but because the legal situation in the park is complex and the decision to change it would not lie with the council. The park was gifted to the people of Pontypool with restrictions on its usage, so legal processes must be followed.

"Otherwise, when a formal application did come in, those who have already expressed concerns could appeal, and that would not be good for the club. However, I am optimistic that a resolution can be found if we all work together.

AM Neagle said: “I am deeply saddened by the news that Pooler and its many loyal supporters and volunteers may no longer call Pontypool Park home.

"I have been involved in negotiations between the club’s owners and the council for a number of years regarding anti-social behaviour and the proposals for perimeter fencing to protect the club’s facilities.

"I will continue to do everything I can to support Pontypool RFC and Torfaen Council to resolve this matter.

"Pontypool Park is a unique and beautiful venue that is recognised worldwide by rugby fans. I really hope a way can be found to ensure that Pontypool RFC continue playing there.”

When asked for a comment, the council previously said: “Pontypool RFC are an asset to the community.

“The council has been working with the police, partners and the club to tackle anti-social behaviour in the park, but we all recognise these issues are ongoing.

“It would be disappointing to see Pontypool RFC leave their spiritual home and the unique setting within Pontypool Park.

“The council has engaged constructively with the club and have offered guidance surrounding the covenant on the park and the club’s aspirations to erect a fence around the rugby pitch, but neither are straightforward and the views of other park users must be considered.

“The council welcomes ongoing dialogue with the club and the community on this issue.”