A Tory leader has strongly criticised Salford Council's plans to buy a sports stadium in the midst of a recession. As reported in the Manchester Evening News , plans for Salford City FC to move to the AJ Bell Stadium have collapsed.
The League Two side had hoped to do a switch with Salford Red Devils rugby league side moving to the football club's Penisula Stadium on Moor Lane, Kersal. The football club, in a joint bid with Sale Sharks, who already play at AJ Bell, had made an offer for the Barton stadium. But now it has emerged Salford City Council is attempting to buy the stadium outright
The council currently owns half of the 12,000 capacity venue below Barton Bridge over the M60. The other half is owned by the city's biggest landowners, Peel. It would cost the council millions of pounds to acquire Peel's share.
