NORTHWICH Victoria have dealt a major blow to fans by revealing that their £1.8million stadium at Wincham will not be ready for the start of next season and that they are being forced to continue a costly ground-sharing scheme with neighbours Witton Albion until November.
Relegated Northwich were expecting to open their fixtures in the new Conference North in mid-August at Victoria Park which has been under construction for eight months.
"But lack of funds to complete the construction, shortages of materials and insufficient time to give necessary assurances have led to their decision.
Chairman David Stone said: "We are behind schedule for a variety of reasons and we were obliged to inform the Conference that the ground would not be ready by August."
It is expected that Sir Alex Ferguson, who has agreed to help perform the official ground-opening ceremony, will now lead a Manchester United XI in late October rather than early August as originally planned.
