CHIEF executive Nichola Trigg is adamant Worcestershire FA remains on course to bring football back to Claines Lane by the end of September.

The county association had planning permission granted by Worcester City Council for a 3G pitch, floodlights and new changing and office facilities in December 2018.

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Work had been due to start in May in order to be completed by the end of next month – the deadline for highest-ranked tenants Worcester Raiders to have floodlights operational by – but notable signs of progress were absent until last week.

The plans meant Raiders had to start their first season in the West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division with a run of away matches but Trigg says she has no reason to believe that will be extended.

“Work started back in February and there are parts being done all the time. Some may be obvious, others may not be,” said Trigg.

“Our commitment to get the stand and lights completed by the end of September are on schedule, they are signed off and ordered. No one has told me it is not on track.

“The procurement for the whole project is so complex and can change or get confirmed at different stages but it is tracking as expected. All the checks we can do have been done.”

The 3G pitch, which was the subject of a non-material planning amendment to shift the perimeter by four yards, does not affect Raiders.

There is less time pressure on the other elements with Worcestershire FA set to vacate its current offices in Hampton Lovett, Droitwich, in December and Raiders officials set to put in place temporary facilities while building work is completed.

Trigg added: “We are minimising the timescales because we don’t want to be in transit.

“I am not committing to a certain date, some of it is not within our control but a lot is.

“If everything ties in with what contractors say then we will track on time. Some stuff will arrive early, some will be late so it would be foolhardy to commit absolutely to a date.

“If we are not there we will still be fully operational and it will be as seamless as it can realistically be.

“I cannot see there being a drop in service level, we will always plan for the unexpected.”

When asked about pre-planning conditions, Trigg said they were being managed by an employer's agent on Worcestershire FA’s behalf.

“There are always queries but I have not been made aware of any showstoppers," she added.