Major business bosses have thrown their weight behind Aberdeen FC’s £50million Kingsford stadium bid as momentum builds behind the move.
Balmoral Group chief executive Jim Milne and Criag Group chairman Douglas Craig are among senior figures who have backed Aurora, The Dons’ campaign to gather support for the proposed new ground.
Nick Dalgarno, managing director of Simmons & Company International, Martin Findlay, office senior partner at KPMG Aberdeen, and John Black, partner at Anderson, Anderson & Brown, have also voiced their support for the replacement for Pittodrie, which would also have a community and sports campus and a football academy on site.
Fellow backers include legendary former boss Sir Alex Ferguson as well as club heroes Willie Miller and Bobby Clark.
Mr Milne insisted that the new stadium is a necessary change for the club.
He said: “The Kingsford development is needed and it’s time for all positive-minded individuals and organisations to rally together to ensure it happens. I urge everyone to support this campaign to help secure a positive future both for the football club and the community trust.”
He added: “At Kingsford, the club would be able to bring its activities and operations together, harnessing and maximising their impact, reach and economies of scale.”
Mr Craig said: “We’ve been through one of the most challenging economic periods in recent years and it’s crucial that we embrace such investments which impact positively on our economy and signal that we are open for business.
“Too often, the vociferous minority drown out the silent majority and the Aurora campaign aims to galvanise and highlight the over-whelming support there is out there for these plans.”
Mr Dalgarno insisted that “neither the Club nor the region can afford to miss this opportunity,” while Mr Findlay said he hoped that discussions would not be “hijacked by a vocal minority.”
And Mr Brown said: “The development provides the platform for the Dons to be even more successful and for the AFC Community Trust to reach deeper into the community.
“The Kingsford Project is critical to the future success of AFC. It is an exciting development for the region and important to the local economy.
“Combining the facilities on one site brings significant benefits, which is why I support these plans.”
