THE man who has spearheaded Worcester City’s relocation project to Nunnery Way for the past 20 years is standing down.

David Hallmark is to hand over the reins of the move to vice-chairman Jim Panter with immediate effect and will retire as a director of the St George’s Lane club at next month’s annual general meeting.

His decision comes just days after he addressed a meeting of fans at Worcestershire Cricket Club on a proposed £2million stadium at the St Modwen-owned site near the M5.

Hallmark, who will continue to support Panter in an advisory role, feels that after two decades dedicated to the project, a fresh approach is needed.

He said: “Jim has had extensive experience in corporate management and, with his active participation in the many varied discussions of the project since his arrival as a director, is well-placed to succeed to this position of responsibility on which the future survival of WCFC continues to depend.

“The change-over comes at a pivotal time in the evolution of this mandate to move WCFC from St George’s Lane to Nunnery Way which has been established as the policy of both Worcester City Council and the shareholders and directors of WCFC for many years.”

Earlier this month, fans gave their seal of approval for the board to press ahead with a deal to sell the Lane to Careys New Homes for £3.5million.

However, supporters at the Worcestershire County Cricket Club meeting also expressed major concerns over the club’s ability to fund a new stadium, with a £720,000 shortfall highlighted in the figures.

City chairman Anthony Hampson said he would look at alternative sites and report back in March once the Lane sale had been completed and the debt paid to the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Panter added: “David is stepping down from being the director in charge of relocation and I am taking up that mantle. It’s probably advantageous that a fresh pair of eyes looks at the options for relocation as was requested at the meeting.

“From the club’s point of view, we still believe that the sale to Careys and move to Nunnery Way is a sound proposition and if it can be made to work it’s the desirable way forward.

“It does boil down to affordability and the planning issues that have been raised.”