PONTYPOOL RFC will leave their home of 73 years within the next 12 months, the club have confirmed.

The club announced it was going to leave Pontypool Park last week after being plagued by vandalism and anti-social behaviour at the Torfaen council-owned grounds.

An official announcement was made at an emotional supporters' meeting held at the Parkway Hotel and Spa this evening by Pontypool RFC’s chief executive officer, Ben Jeffreys.

Mr Jeffreys told around 200 mainly supportive fans that Torfaen County Borough Council’s refusal to co-operate on fundamental legal issues was the primary reason for the departure.

Speaking to the South Wales Argus after the announcement, Mr Jeffreys said if there was any hope of the club staying at Pontypool Park then Torfaen Council needed to agree with everything the club had put forward.

“They are already coming back to the drawing board with some concessions, but if there’s to be any hope they need to come back and agree to everything we’ve stated we need to move forward,” said Mr Jeffreys.

“There’s no middle ground, we’ve been patient for long enough now. It wasn’t easy standing up there and telling these supporters that we are leaving.

“I’m devastated. Pontypool park means a great deal to me personally, to my family and to all the supporters of the club.

“It has been our home for 73 years, and it’s a huge wrench to have to leave. It’s a devastating blow for the town.

“It’s been a long four or five years, and we’ve been forced to deal with an executive, in terms of Torfaen Council, who in the end didn’t have the appetite to get this over the line.

“But there’s no hiding place for them now. People are very, very angry. The council need to explain to these people why they didn’t share our drive and determination to make this work.”

But, in a statement on the council website, a spokesman for Torfaen tonight refuted the allegation that negotiations have broken down said they are trying to maintain an open and constructive dialogue with the club. 

At tonight's meeting, Mr Jeffreys confirmed the club will continue to play at Pontypool park next season.

But, he added: "There is no plan B at the moment.

"We started looking at a number of grounds 18 months ago. But two we were looking at were not suitable in the end.

"Now we are putting all of our resources into trying to find a new home within the next 12 months.”

In his press statement, released just after the announcement was made, Mr Jeffreys explained that a 1920 covenant prevented anything other than full use of Pontypool Park.

That means a fence, which the club believe would stop the "destructive anti-social behaviour" which has plagued the ground, is not possible. 

After nearly five years of negotiations, the club say they have spent over tens of thousands on a team of professional advisers who successfully identified the process for overturning the covenant.

They say that despite the council's agreement to relax the covenant a month prior, in April 2018 the council’s executive team indicated that they would not take the action previously agreed to.

But the council says they have not reneged on any promises and allegations in the club’s announcement regarding "relaxing" the covenant are "inaccurate".

Pontypool RFC also say they were prepared to commission works costing up to £1 million to completely renew the facility.

“It is incomprehensible that Torfaen County Borough Council would allow that opportunity to fade away," Mr Jeffreys said.

“But I am very confident that we can weather this storm.”

In a statement on the council website, a spokesman for the local Authority tonight said: "At all times the council has tried to engage constructively and support the club’s aspirations, within available resources and following proper process. However, this has been made more difficult given an instruction in May to only contact the club via the Chief Executive’s solicitor.

"This latest announcement is disappointing following messages from the club this week expressing a desire to stay in the park and suggestions of a lack of support for the club's aspirations are incorrect.   

"A planning application was submitted in 2014 but it never progressed. At this stage we have not received a renewed planning application and the planning advice given has been just that, advice, not a decision.  The planning ball is very much in their court. 

"The council are the custodians of the park but any decision to change the covenant on the park rests with the vendors who hold the benefit of the covenant, not the council.

"The Charity Commission will also have to approve the change. However, the council’s legal team have made contact with the covenant vendors who have replied and this dialogue will continue as appropriate.

"The council is a long standing supporter of the club, waiving the rent on the park when the club had financial difficulties, paying utility bills, undertaking urgent maintenance work when required for matches and supporting the clubs lease on the ground. 

"Legal and planning teams have offered professional guidance on the covenant on the park and the club’s aspirations to erect a fence around the rugby pitch, but this a complex situation and the views of other park users must be considered."

At the supporters meeting, Mr Jeffreys tonight expressed his sincerest gratitude to Torfaen County Borough Council’s leader, Anthony Hunt, and AM Lynne Neagle, “have been particularly supportive of the club’s ambitions”.

After tonight's announcement to supporters, Lynne Neagle AM spoke of her deep sadness at the news.

AM Neagle said: "I have been involved in negotiations between the club’s owners and the council for a number of years regarding anti-social behaviour and the proposals for perimeter fencing to protect the club’s facilities.

"I will continue to do everything I can to support Pontypool RFC and Torfaen Council to resolve this matter. Pontypool Park is a unique and beautiful venue that is recognised worldwide by rugby fans. 

"I really hope a way can be found to ensure that Pontypool RFC continue playing there.”

When asked for a comment, Mr Hunt said: "I understand the frustrations of all at the club and have massive respect for what they are trying to do on the pitch taking the club forwards. I would be gutted if the club were to leave the park, so you have my word that I will do all I can on this.

"The situation is a complex on not because the council want it to be, but because the legal situation in the park is complex and the decision to change it would not lie with the council. The park was gifted to the people of Pontypool with restrictions on its usage, so legal processes must be followed.

"Otherwise, when a formal application did come in, those who have already expressed concerns could appeal, and that would not be good for the club. However, I am optimistic that a resolution can be found if we all work together."