Dragons can't dawdle over plans for Parade - chairman Buttress

The Welsh Rugby Union bought the historic nine-acre site from Newport RFC last May, also taking over control of the regional side.

Entrepreneur Buttress became a minority shareholder in the summer and in October appointed a board that he has tasked with improving the financial fortunes of the Dragons.

Key to that is a development in the northern part of the famous ground, which includes the ‘cabbage patch’ training ground and the condemned clubhouse.

Buttress and his board are investigating their options for the land and the chairman says time is of the essence.

“If we can’t develop Rodney Parade to create viable long-term revenue streams then we have to look at all options,” he said.

“I am confident about it, the council have said to us that they want to support us and their video [at the Newport City Summit] included this area.

“I am relaxed that we will be able to do what we need to do but there is definitely an urgency to it – this is not something we can get to in three to five years, we need to get on with it.

“That’s in everyone’s interests whether Newport City Council, our supporters or us as a club. We need to get on with it because this stuff takes time anyway.

“It complex and we will engage with all the key stakeholders but we do need to get to work on it, it’s not something that I can say we will leave for another two or three years. That’s just not an option.

“Is there a desire to get cracking on with it? Yes there is, and I am confident that we will get support from the council given the way that they are looking to develop the city, which is hugely impressive.

“If we didn’t we would look at all options because we have to if we are to create a successful, sustainable team on the pitch, but I am confident we will be able to create a situation that works for them and works for us.

“This is our home but we do need to develop this area.”

Selling the northern end to developers is not an option for Buttress, the aim is to regenerate the area to provide profit that can be ploughed into the rugby operation.

“We are not going to sell the cabbage patch, that would be just about the stupidest thing that this club could ever do,” he said.

“This is a huge opportunity and we will have to invest millions and raise that capital as a board, but we definitely have the ambition and aspiration to do that.

“If it does look like three to five years then we have failed, we should be open about that.

“The old clubhouse needs to be a leisure facility, it could be a hotel, a restaurant or both. Newport is very short of grade-A office space and I have been told by the council there is a demand.

“The great thing about those assets would be that we’d own them as a club and could rent them out with all the revenues and profits being reinvested on the pitch.

“But I also think about the community, can we have some sort of facilities to engage and support kids that have fallen down the wrong path to help them get back on track, using sport as a backdrop to that?”

Buttress is also planning to improve the signage around the city to make Rodney Parade a more noticeable venue and wants to give the back of the Hazell Stand a makeover.

“We are in the city centre and need to make this a destination,” he said. “If you stand on the footbridge and look at Rodney Parade then the Hazell Stand could be the back of an industrial unit. That’s not good enough.

“This is our home and we had five players selected by Wales in the autumn but I don’t see their picture anywhere. Why is that not on the back of the Hazell Stand or on the way into the ground?

“Some things we need people to help with like the council and others we need to do ourselves. We need to brand up those sorts of areas.”

The chairman also wants to establish one shop for all three clubs whose home is Rodney Parade.

“It sends a dreadful message that we are not under one roof as a retail outlet, and I probably include the ticket office in that,” said Buttress.