Caddick “doing everything possible” to keep Test cricket at Headingley

OWNER of Headingley Stadium Paul Caddick has made assurances that Test cricket will be kept in Headingley despite delays to £38m stadium plans.

Last week it was announced that planning issues had forced developers to push back the start date for construction works at Headingley. This threw doubt on whether the site would be completed by the time of the 2019 World Cup and Test matches between 2020 and 2024.

Demolition work was due to begin in January 2017.

Now, Mr Caddick has made assurances that he is “committed to doing everything possible to maintain Test match cricket at Headingley”.

Mr Caddick acquired Leeds CF&A (which included ownership of the stadium) 20 years ago along with Gary Hetherington. At the time, in October 1996, the Rugby League club had racked up £5m of debt and narrowly avoided relegation. The last major construction on site had been the completion of the Main Stand in 1932. The club was then a tenant to Yorkshire County Cricket Club.

Mr Caddick said: “Throughout the last 20 years all stadium planning and redevelopment works have been supported by the Caddick groups specialist planning, construction and development teams. We now face our next challenge to complete that vision and finally secure once and for all the future of world class cricket at Headingley and in Leeds.

“The clubs have assembled a funding package in principle which involves investment from both clubs and support from both Leeds City Council and other public bodies. In addition, the sale of historical land assets will complete the funding of the scheme leaving the clubs in a stable long term financial position.

“Back in 1996, a vision was outlined to Yorkshire members for a £32 million development of the stadium on both rugby and cricket sides to secure the stadium as a major sporting venue in the country. Since then the total spent on major developments on the stadium and training facilities over the last 20 years now totals over £50m. I am committed to doing everything possible to maintain Test match cricket at Headingley,” added Caddick.