In 2021 the Iron Trust (Scunthorpe United Supporters Society) applied to North Lincolnshire Council for the land then known as the Sands Venue Stadium, now known as Glanford Park, to be declared as an asset of community value (ACV). That request was granted and the land was registered as an ACV.

In early September the Trust was informed that Mr Swann intended to sell the land and the Trust was given until 11 October to decide if it intended to try to make a bid to purchase the asset (GP).

The Trust board has considered this and it was decided to trigger a second period where the Trust, working with others, could investigate putting a bid together. Whilst SUFC is now under new ownership we felt it was important to try to do everything possible to secure GP for future generations and to try do so in such a way that wouldn’t allow for the club and it’s land assets to be split again: ever.

The second “moratorium period” was triggered on the final day possible (11 October) and we felt that we had to take that action to try to enable the club to continue playing at GP. The Council has confirmed to us that this second period will end on 28 February. As the letter from the Council indicates “This period is intended to give the community group time to assemble a bid and if successful, complete the purchase. However, the owner is not obliged to sell to the community group.”

We will now investigate various fund raising options such as using Crowdfunder; a community share option or the Community Ownership Fund . We will also investigate various ownership options to ensure that if the bid is successful the land is owned by the community in perpetuity.

We are at a very early stage in this and when we have more to report we will do so.