‘No' to groundshare with Wasps

Last updated : 19 January 2005 By Alistair Murray

With the current tenancy deal set to expire at the end of this season, a new contract has remained in the pipeline while the rugby club considers its options.

David Davies, chief executive of Wasps issued a guarantee to supporters that they are not in a position to buy a ground in the London area, but said they might consider moving to Oxford United's Kassam Stadium if a new agreement with Wycombe can’t be reached.

Meanwhile, Wycombe chairman Ivor Beeks has assured supporters the club won’t entertain the notion of sharing the Buckinghamshire ground. They would lose out on valuable revenue from rent and other services paid for by the rugby club if they did.

"It’s not on the agenda for Wasps to have a stake in the ownership of the ground. That’s not possible," said Beeks.

In a further twist, Wasps chairman Chris Wright had been linked with buying into Wycombe Wanderers, after selling his 15% share of Queens Park Rangers FC this week.

Wright bought the QPR shares in 1996 to form Loftus Road plc, but he resigned as the football club’s chairman in 2001, after Rangers supporters displayed their disgruntlement at his involvement in the football club’s affairs.