Sir Alex Ferguson: Cormack Park can help Aberdeen to 'highest level'
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Sir Alex Ferguson, left, opened the facility with Aberdeen chairman Stewart Milne and director Dave Cormack
Sir Alex Ferguson says Aberdeen's new training facilities and football academy can help take the club to "the highest level".
The former Pittodrie boss guided the club to Uefa Cup Winners' Cup success in 1983, as well as three league titles and four Scottish Cups.
He said the Cormack Park hub is "up there with the best" he has seen.
"I think this is an indication of the progress of the club now," the former Manchester United manager added.
"It's absolutely imperative to have a training ground. The positive impact on performance and morale of best-in-class facilities cannot be underestimated - and these are up there with the best I've seen.
"There is no doubt Cormack Park will help the club to attract, retain and develop the players and coaches it needs to compete. This will be the envy of many other clubs, not just in Scotland."
The first stage of the two-phase project - which features the new stadium at Kingsford - is being named Cormack Park, in recognition of vice-chairman Dave Cormack.
It features a training pavilion, groundsman's accommodation, three training pitches, two floodlit 3G surfaces and two grass parks, as well as outdoor and indoor space for community-based sporting and recreational activities.
Cormack Park - Aberdeen's new £12 million training facility campus
The target for the opening of the stadium has been pushed back with the aim for it to be ready for the 2023-24 season, chairman Stewart Milne confirmed.
"We need to take a big deep breath before we tackle the fundraising for the stadium," he told BBC Scotland.
"That is going to be a huge challenge for the club. One way or another down the line we'll find a way to raise the money.
"There's a lot still to do in respect to getting the stadium project teed up, planning permissions to clear we're working on in the background.
"Everyone knows what the property market has been like in Aberdeen for the last five years or so. We need to see that market coming back to be much stronger, so we can realise real value at Pittodrie to underpin fundraising for the new stadium."