Stadium for Cornwall: Cornish Pirates & Truro City groundshare needs public funding

The Stadium for Cornwall is due to be built at Langarth Farm, just off the A390

Cornish Pirates and Truro City say they need £6m of public funding by May to build the Stadium for Cornwall by 2019.

The proposed £10m ground, to be shared by Truro and Penwith College as well as the two clubs, was originally intended to be funded by private finance.

But a neighbouring retail development, relied on for partial funding, has stalled to leave a cash shortfall.

"The importance of having a stadium available in August 2019 cannot be overemphasised," said a statement.

"Any further delay not only puts the stadium project at risk, it also threatens the future of both the Cornish Pirates and Truro City.

"We are confident that, if a way can be found to secure the remaining funding by May 2018, we can still deliver the stadium in August 2019 and, in doing so, create a new sporting, educational, business and cultural hub for the region."

Truro will leave their Treyew Road ground at the end of the current season in order for it to be redeveloped.

And the National League South football club, who plan to groundshare next season, have been told they will not be allowed to continue playing unless they can demonstrate they will be moving into a permanent new home in the future.

Pirates are seventh in the Championship, and their Mennaye Field stadium does not meet the criteria for Premiership rugby.

Stadium for Cornwall timeline

• May 2010: Cornwall Council launch feasibility study into ground

• May 2012: Councillors vote against public funding

• January 2014: Developers say supermarket would fund stadium

• April 2015: Truro City submit plans for rival ground

• July 2015: PM David Cameron lends support as planning permission given

• December 2016: Pirates director estimates work will start "in middle of 2017"

• March 2017: Truro chairman told their ground is not viable

• April 2017: Truro and Pirates set to share Stadium for Cornwall

• November 2017: Truro re-open Torquay groundshare plan