London Welsh: Set to make Oxford their permanent home
London Welsh could buy the Kassam Stadium and make Oxford their permanent home. The Exiles have been playing at Oxford United's stadium this season, their first in English rugby's top-flight, because their Old Deer Park ground in Richmond, south-west London, is too small. The move has been in a success, with over 10,000 attending their last match against Wasps and the Exiles are now looking into the possibility of buying the stadium and making Oxford their permanent home. Welsh's managing director John Taylor told local radio: "We are exploring the possibility. Conversations have been had with Mr Kassam. "When we first came here there was a bit of opportunism about it in that we had to find a stadium that satisfied the minimum stadium's criteria. "This is one of them and seemed the best. But since we have arrived we have decided Oxford is the area for us. "The ground and the demographics of the population make it suitable for us. We have put a lot of work in the local community. We have two community development officers based here now. We are into the schools, we are moving into the clubs and we see this as our long-term home. "We are certainly exploring the possibility and we are looking for ways we can raise the money so we can do it. "A stadium is a big investment but in some ways it is a good investment because you have bricks and mortar. Some investors want some actual structure rather than just a club. "There are some fairly heavyweight guys in the Welsh community who are exploring it with us at the moment. "It would be premature to say any more than that but we are certainly looking into it." Source : http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12331/8379625/London-Welsh-confirm-plan-to-buy-Kassam-Stadium-and-settle-in-Oxford
The Exiles have been playing at Oxford United's stadium this season, their first in English rugby's top-flight, because their Old Deer Park ground in Richmond, south-west London, is too small.
The move has been in a success, with over 10,000 attending their last match against Wasps and the Exiles are now looking into the possibility of buying the stadium and making Oxford their permanent home.
Welsh's managing director John Taylor told local radio: "We are exploring the possibility. Conversations have been had with Mr Kassam.
"When we first came here there was a bit of opportunism about it in that we had to find a stadium that satisfied the minimum stadium's criteria.
"This is one of them and seemed the best. But since we have arrived we have decided Oxford is the area for us.
"The ground and the demographics of the population make it suitable for us. We have put a lot of work in the local community. We have two community development officers based here now. We are into the schools, we are moving into the clubs and we see this as our long-term home.
"We are certainly exploring the possibility and we are looking for ways we can raise the money so we can do it.
"A stadium is a big investment but in some ways it is a good investment because you have bricks and mortar. Some investors want some actual structure rather than just a club.
"There are some fairly heavyweight guys in the Welsh community who are exploring it with us at the moment.
"It would be premature to say any more than that but we are certainly looking into it." Source : http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12331/8379625/London-Welsh-confirm-plan-to-buy-Kassam-Stadium-and-settle-in-Oxford
