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NEWS
From EveningNews24, Norfolk, July 4, 2003:
We're not to blame for South Stand delay
Archaeologists behind a dig which has cost Norwich City FC more than £630,000 in bills and lost revenue today said they were not to blame for the club having to shelve part of its South Stand plans.
As reported in Tuesday's Evening News, the Canaries have been forced to leave the planned infill between the new South Stand and the Norwich and Peterborough Stand unfinished because of the unforeseen costs.
The dig by the Norfolk Museums & Archaeology Service cost the club £130,000 alone, with lost revenue expected to reach £500,000 because the delay means home fans will not be able to take their seats in the new structure before February next year.
The club never budgeted for the six-week dig, as initial studies suggested there would be nothing of interest beneath the ageing stand.
But Brian Ayers, archaeology and environment officer, today said there was always a chance that artefacts would be found there, such as the 10,000-year-old tools which were uncovered.
"The likelihood of significant archaeological deposits at the site has been known since 2001 and trial excavations in 2002 demonstrated that these deposits existed," he said.
"It is national policy and best practice for new developments to ensure that archaeological works are built into construction programmes.
"At Carrow Road, the dig was programmed to take eight weeks. It is actually being completed in six weeks so the discoveries are not delaying the works."
And he said his team was conscious of how much the new stand meant to the football club and its supporters.
"We are well aware of the importance of the new stand to both the club and the people of Norwich and we have worked closely with the building contractor and Norwich City to complete the works quickly."
Neil Doncaster, chief executive of Norwich City, has long maintained the club had built a good relationship with archaeologists and did not blame them for the complications.
"Initial studies told us a dig would not have to take place," he said. "The discovery of the tools has also not affected the plans. It's one of those things."
Until the club finds itself on a firmer financial footing, the top tier of the infill will remain unfinished.
It means the capacity of the Carrow Road ground will be just 24,500 instead of the 26,000 hoped for once work is finished.
Mr Doncaster has said the delay will not affect manager Nigel Worthington's ability to deal in the transfer market this summer.
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