The takeover of Torquay United by Swindon-based firm Gaming International is in the balance and could collapse if the new owners are unable to purchase Plainmoor.
Plainmoor, the Gulls' home since 1921, is currently owned by Torbay Council and if they cannot agree to the sale by July 31, 2016 then the deal will be called off as revealed by United Chairman Dave Phillips.
However, if the council were to agree to this option there are several questions that they would require answers for, owing to the club's importance to the local area and also its economy.
Firstly, if a new stadium is built for the Gulls, who would own and manage the stadium?
Torbay council are the club's current landlords, but as with several of Gaming International interests in Speedway - most notably Poole Pirates - the stadium is leased from Poole Borough Council by GI and managed by them and Poole Pirates sub-lease the stadium from GI.
Would a similar agreement exist with a new stadium for the Gulls?
There is also the question of rent for the new stadium and any ancillary revenues associated with the development.
As mentioned previously on this site, Coventry City were forced to leave the Ricoh Arena in 2013 for over a year for an exile in Northampton over a rent dispute.
If such a situation did arise as a result of such a dispute as this, then it could deprive the Torbay and South Devon economy of revenue from visiting away fans staying in the Bay and surrounding areas on the weekends of matches.
Also if their plan is based around making Torquay United sustainable as a football, which has been previously stated, then surely some agreement should be in place that the club can make use of the ancillary revenues at the stadium, otherwise it would defeat the purpose of ensuring that the club can become self-sufficient.
And let's not forget that United's current ground Plainmoor which, following the construction of Bristow's Bench in 2012, rates amongst the best in the Vanarama National League and League Two and compares favourably to several in League One.
Any new stadium proposals would therefore be a tough act to follow, and if GI are unable to deliver on that front, then it will almost certainly defeat the purpose of their planned relocation.
