Braddan AFC has called on the Isle of Man Government to end “a decade of uncertainty” over the future of the club’s Victoria Road home, after its lease expired in August.
The 103-year-old club says it has been in discussion with Government over a new lease, but that the proposal received does not provide the necessary security to invest in facilities or plan for the future.
The club claims that government has advocated for a 10-year term, which includes a break clause that would allow the lease to be terminated with two years’ notice. The Swans, on the other hand, wish to secure a “minimum 20-year” agreement or pursue alternative terms to protect any investment made by the club.
Craig MacLaren, chair of Braddan AFC, said: “We’ve tried to resolve this patiently and constructively, but we’ve reached the point where the uncertainty is stopping the club from moving forward.
“We’re not asking for anything unreasonable. We need a lease that gives us the confidence to invest for the long term, or appropriate guarantees that the club would not lose that investment if the Government chose to exercise a break clause.”
The Isle of Man Government was approached for comment, and the Department of Enterprise provided the following statement: “While ownership of certain parcels of land in the vicinity of the Grandstand has transferred to the Department for Enterprise, existing lease arrangements remain in place and are unaffected.
“Any future arrangements will be considered in due course following appropriate engagement with leaseholders.”
And If You Know Your History
Braddan teams have played their football at Victoria Road for over 30 years. The club currently operates two senior teams on the site, with the first team competing in the Canada Life Premier League. Expansions to the club’s junior provision have seen an under-14 team added, and the pitches have been used to facilitate junior sides visiting from the UK.
The pitches transform into a campsite during TT, providing vital accommodation options for off-island visitors.
Should a fresh lease be secured, the club says it has plans to replace the existing clubhouse with a two-storey facility, creating further opportunities for community use and additional income streams.
MacLaren added: “This is about being able to plan for the future of a football club that has been part of the Isle of Man community for more than a century.
“We understand that these agreements have to work for everyone, but after 10 years we need some certainty. Our current lease has expired, and we’re effectively no closer to having the long-term security required to move forward.”