Stadium progress delights chairman

ROTHERHAM United chairman Tony Stewart has hailed the start of work on the framework of the club's new stadium as "a big day for Rotherham."

Speaking at a press call to mark the next phase of work on the 12,000-seater complex at the Guest and Chrimes foundry site near the town centre, he said: "This is a big day for the town and a big day for the football club.

"A lot of time and effort has been put into this, including three years of planning, and to see the first stage of structure, it's brilliant."

With a scheduled move-in day in time for the 2012/13 season, the chairman remains confident things are going to plan to hit the scheduled opening day of July 11 next year.

Andy Kemp, who is overseeing the project for GMI Construction and working closely with Mr Stewart, is also encouraged by the progress so far.

He said: "The steel erection has begun and will continue until January when the next phase will take over, but by the end of the year the stadium will be very much visible.

"Next week a second team will come on the site and the south stand will start. Hopefully we'll be able to get the roof on in early January or February."

He also spoke of the pleasure that GMI have taken in being a part of the project.

"It's a very good project. " We're very pleased to be involved with it, especially as it's going to be a community project. It's great to see it growing."