The latest on Worcester City's stadium search: part one

Wood, also chairman of Worcester City Supporters’ Trust, has been leading the homeless club’s quest to return to the city since joining the board with three other trust-affiliated directors in August 2018.

That shift in power saw the City’s focus redirect back towards Perdiswell, the proposed site that has proved a hot potato for those elected into The Guildhall, after plans for Parsonage Way hit the buffers.

The trust’s bid for planning permission was rejected by Worcester City Council against the advice of its officers, a decision that was later overturned by the Planning Inspectorate.

City council leader Marc Bayliss expressed concerns over traffic and that it would be “fairly correct” to say “there is not support on the council for a land transfer at Perdiswell at this point” in August.

FULL STORY | Cllr Marc Bayliss on Perdiswell in August

In October, planning chairman Chris Mitchell insisted “Perdiswell is not the right place” with Green councillor Louis Stephen also vowing to support “overwhelming” opposition from residents.

FULL STORY | Cllr Chris Mitchell on Perdiswell in October

FULL STORY | Cllr Louis Stephen on Perdiswell in October

But having been at the heart of the debate since, Wood believes councillors are sincere about giving City a fair hearing.

“I have had a couple of meetings and they have been quite constructive,” said Wood.

“We met with Marc Bayliss, David Blake (chief executive, Worcester City Council) and Adrian Gregson (deputy leader) and we are due to arrange to meet Louis Stephen.

“Everyone has been open to listening to what we have to say. They are exploratory talks to develop an understanding of where they all stand.

“At some point we need to get together with each of the main parties to sit down and go through our presentation and business plan, to explain the robust nature of the viability of this project.

“I have always said it is about viability, making sure there is longevity and that it is sustainable.

“I don’t think there has been a sense of shift (in council opinion), we have planning permission for a piece of land owned by the city council and it is for us to come forward with our plan.

“They will always listen to what we have to say. They couldn’t just shut us out and we never said they would.

“Marc has explained the facts as they are which is fine, it is what I expected but he is still open to talks. He hasn’t closed it down. Keeping that dialogue is the most important thing.”

Then-club chairman Anthony Hampson said while attempting to deliver Parsonage Way that the council had made clear the Perdiswell land would never be made available but has since supported the new board’s stance.

Asked whether he had been given any indication that the project would not happen, Wood replied: “That has never been the situation from the inception of the whole idea.

“When we first met with council officers in the early days – and we’re probably talking seven years ago now – for exploratory talks about the potential of putting something on Perdiswell it was always given the green light before any of the political angles came into it.

“We understand there is politics in this, though. There are fine lines with the overall running of the council and there are key seats in the (Perdiswell) area, in Claines and St Stephen especially.

“For some reason it has become one of the biggest political discussions in the council for a long time. Many other applications go through without getting the same column inches in the paper, maybe because it is a bit romantic, evocative and heart strings get pulled in different areas.

“A lot of people want it, some people don’t and there is that divide.

“It is for us to convince the city of Worcester that it will be a viable facility for use by all, not just a football team that plays every two weeks.”

Check out part two of our exclusive interview with Dave Wood in tomorrow's Worcester News and online: worcesternews.co.uk/sport