Colchester United have reacted furiously to suggestions that alternative sites should be considered for a new community stadium.

Council leader John Jowers told a meeting he did not "see any harm" in club officials and council officers making more inquiries into alternative venues for the new stadium.

But his comments drew a surprised reaction from the U's chief executive Marie Partner, who said it was too late to back out of the scheme.

She said: "I feel that with the stage we have reached at Cuckoo Farm, it is just a case of dotting i's and crossing t's. We don't want the question of any new sites to set us back."

Club chairman Peter Heard told fans on the official U's website: "Mr Jowers was with us at Saturday's game and asked what I thought about alternative venues for the new stadium.

"I replied that an exhaustive consideration had taken place at the council's instigation to consider all possible sites some six years ago - and the council had selected Cuckoo Farm as the best site."

He fears £2 million Football Foundation funding will be lost if work on a new stadium does not begin by next year, as agreed.

Published Thursday, September 9, 2004

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