Hibernian plans GBP 3 million training complex

Hibernian unveiled plans for its own GBP 3million training centre on the outskirts of Edinburgh.
 
The club struck a deal to buy a 36-acre site in East Lothian, and the first phase of developing the centre could be ready to begin next year’s pre-season training there.
 
The announcement ends years of searching for that type of facility, with the club previously having to take players around to a series of training venues in Edinburgh.
 
The club agreed to buy the land, currently a working farm between Tranent and Ormiston, for GBP 636,000 subject to planning permission. It is believed there will be few issues in securing the go-ahead.
 
The site currently contains a milk processing building, designed and built ten years ago. It can be converted to provide changing facilities, coaches’ rooms, a treatment area, a gym, a players’ lounge and an indoor short-sided synthetic pitch.
 
Outside, there is enough land to lay out ten full-sized grass pitches with specialist training areas for positions such as goalkeeper.
 
“The board has made it our top priority to secure training facilities, and we are delighted to have taken this important step in doing so,” chairman Rod Petrie said. “It has been a long process but, at the end of the day, securing the club's own training facilities, fully within its ownership, is the ideal way ahead. We have secured the rights to a large area of land plus sizeable buildings and an existing infrastructure which offer us a lot of flexibility.”
 
The club currently has in the works a formal planning application for the training centre, which Hibernian hopes to submit in the next few weeks. The process could take up to six months to approve. Once completed, the club will own the training centre in perpetuity.
 
Manager Tony Mowbray has made it clear of his desire for the club to have a training complex, and has been involved in the development of the plans. He described them as “a very significant investment” for a club noted for home-grown talent.
 
The early phase, including the purchase and creation of a number of pitches and changing facilities, will be funded through the club’s existing resources, although Petrie said they’ll be consulting with fans to help finance the project.
 
“The club is in a rock-sold financial position, performing at better than break-even,” Petrie said. “That platform provides us with confidence in tackling this investment. The club's financial performance has allowed us to commit to this process at the same time as increasing the budget for the football squad.
 
“However, while funding for an initial phase of the work is in place, we will continue with the development over the coming few years to ensure Hibernian has training facilities on a par with anything offered elsewhere.”
 
“To do so, we will be exploring sources of funding including working closely with supporters in the months ahead to explore ways in which the creativity and ingenuity of supporters can help with future work.”
 
Petrie said that the East Mains facility - which he claimed is only 20 minutes’ drive from Easter Road – won’t be the club’s only training facility, with the hope  Hibernian can use synthetic pitches and a full-size indoor soccer barn which Edinburgh City Council are planning to build at Hunter’s Hall in Craigmillar.
 
“It is a very significant investment, and I am certain that in the years ahead it will prove to be money wisely spent as the club continues to develop talented footballers,” Mowbray said.

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