Aberdeen stadium “will be ready for 2017”

Aberdeen Football Club’s new stadium at Loirston Loch is set to be built in time for the 2017-18 season, according to club chair Stewart Milne.

Speaking to BBC Scotland, Milne said work to reduce the club’s debt was progressing well, helped by recent good performances on the pitch which earned the team a run in the UEFA Europa League.

Milne has previously said he wants the club to be debt-free before it embarks on relocating to a new home.

Plans originally put forward by the club to build a 21,000-seat stadium at Loirston Loch – close to a proposed community sports centre at Calder Park – came to nothing when Aberdeen City Council rejected plans for the latter in August 2012.

The club has, however, had talks with the council since.

Milne said: “We still see Loirston as the best location for the new stadium and have reopened discussions with the Council.

"We have looked at other sites and there are other venues out there but we have invested a lot of money into the Loirston site and still firmly believe it is the best option."