There have been no talks between Aberdeen FC and city council officials on a new stadium at the beach since a row over cash last year.
The Press & Journal says the Dons and the local authority appear to be at a stalemate over proposals for a Pittodrie replacement, which was originally presented as the centrepiece of a multi-million-pound vision for the seafront.
The club was persuaded by the idea of relocating to the beach instead of building at Kingsford.
This was based on the understanding that an element of public funding would help cover the £80million construction costs.
But hopes were torpedoed in late 2022 when the council’s SNP and Lib Dem rulers explicitly vowed not to pledge any cash towards the scheme.
Dons chiefs said the council leaders were “missing the point”, referencing the billion-pound boost a new home for the side could bring the city.
'Potential stadium'
Last week, it emerged that council officers had re-worded any reference to it, now terming it a “potential stadium”.
Council officers were asked by one councillor at a meeting yesterday if there had been any movement on the proposal for the facility.
Leader of the Conservative group Ryan Houghton said a lot of people wanted to know what was happening with the significant part of the beach masterplan.
He asked: “Has there been any recent discussion with the club, and what have the fruits of that been?”
Chief procurement officer Craig Innes explained that the ground formed part of a “jigsaw puzzle” being plotted out along the shore.
He said the recent focus had been on forming the framework for how each stage of the development will take shape.
Next stage
Mr Innes continued: “In December, we got the go-ahead to move these projects onto the next stage.
“We will pick up conversations with all stakeholders, but we have not picked that up with the football club this calendar year.”
Lower Deeside Tory councillor Duncan Massey pointed out that much of the public backing for the overall beach masterplan stems from the football stadium.
Should that be removed from the equation, he suggested, people might sour on the major proposals.
A business case for the stadium is currently being prepared, which will go before councillors in August.
The study could prove crucial in determining whether the authority could be persuaded into a U-turn on investment.
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