CHAIRMAN Anthony Hampson insists Worcester City must have “certainty” over the ability to deliver a new ground before switching attention to community ownership.

In an open letter, Worcester City Supporters’ Trust last week indicated an alteration to the club’s constitution “would be a prerequisite of any trust involvement in the current set-up”.

Currently, no one can own more than one per cent of the shareholding but voting rights are based on the number of shares owned.

The trust is keen to move to a fan-owned, one-member one-vote system but Hampson argues the club’s Parsonage Way stadium project needs to be progressed first.

Asked what would be required for the club to support a change to community ownership, Hampson said: “We looked at the different models and took advice from Anthony Collins Solicitors two years ago.

“The advisory document emphasised the principle overriding necessity for any future for the club, for fundraising and changing models, would be to secure a ground in Worcester.

“I think the trust had a copy of it and understood we would need that certainty over where we would be playing first and then change any structure accordingly to provide the finances for that development.

“Hopefully, we are nearly there with Parsonage Way. Once that project can be seen to be able to come to fruition we will look at all models to help finance the construction of the new ground.

“The encouragement we are getting over the ability to access grants and the hope that we can all move forward together will encourage Worcester City Council and Worcestershire FA to continue to support the whole project, something they have been doing for some time.

“If we all work together, I think there is hope of a very good future for the club.

“I think the discussion about the shape of the club is something we all need to look at. If there is definite benefit in changing the ownership model and it is cost effective then of course we will go down that route.”

The trust is continuing with an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate over the rejected proposal for a stadium at Perdiswell, a project the club has since abandoned to pursue Parsonage Way.

“Parsonage Way will happen, it will carry on and keep going whoever gets involved,” said Hampson.

“I am fairly convinced that if I step down it will happen with the support of Worcestershire FA and Worcester City Council.

“Supporters, not only the trust but the fans, the season-ticket holders that have kept this club going over the period of time I have been involved, need to be listened to.

“We will be going to Parsonage Way. The grant application is going in for a fairly-good facility so there is everything to play for at the moment.”