THE company responsible for running the new £4.9m Oxford Sports Park is hopeful Oxford United will be able to start training there by the end of the month.
The lack of a water supply at the Horspath-based ground has meant it has not been possible to work on the freshly-laid pitches.
The U’s, exempt from any blame for the delay in moving to their new base, have been forced to look at alternative venues in the build-up to the new season while the situation is resolved.
Fusion Lifestyle, which has a 25-year lease to operate the facility – which is on Oxford City Council-owned land – is hopeful everything will be sorted ‘shortly’.
“The new Oxford Sports Park development has progressed well and the floodlit 3G all weather pitches and the pavilion are now complete,” Fusion said in a statement to the Oxford Mail.
“Unfortunately due to the exceptionally dry and hot weather the grass pitches need to be heavily watered before they are playable.
“We expect to have the full watering system operational shortly and this should make the pitches playable by the end of the month
“Oxford United and ourselves are working closely together to get their teams training at the new sports park as soon as possible.”
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