Palmerston Park terraces could be replaced

Oct 10 2008 by Doug Archibald, Dumfries Standard Friday

All sitting comfortably?

THE LONG deserted, crumbling terraces of Palmerston Park’s Terregles Street end could soon be swept away to be replaced by a spanking new all-seater stand.

A new covered area alongside the main grandstand and the Portland road enclosure, both fitted out with seats, could welcome the fans back at the start of the new season.

The development would turn Queen of the South’s home into a fit-for-purpose venue acceptable to the Scottish Premier League.

That, at least, is the aim of chairman Davie Rae.

No decisions have yet been taken but the directors are seriously looking at what would be required next August if the Doonhamers take the first division championship.

Mr Rae, if anything, prefers to play situations down but, following Saturday’s 6-1 annihilation of league leaders Livingston, he admits the possibility of Queens ending up top of the table can no longer be ignored.

“We’ve got the strongest team and the strongest squad that I think most fans will remember,” he said. “We played at our best on Saturday and demolished Livingston.

“It might not happen but we have to accept the reality of the situation is that we could end up with promotion.”

If Queens sit back and do nothing the chances of them joining Scotland’s footballing elite would be seriously compromised.

Among the many conditions for acceptance by the SPL is the need for an all seater stadium holding a minimum of 6,000 fans.

At the moment Palmerston has seating for just over 3,000.

Mr Rae acknowledges that only two months into a long, tough season is far too early to dwell on the outcome.

Injury, suspension, the January transfer window can all transform a team’s fortunes.

But with planners and building involved, the club cannot afford to wait much longer.

Planning permission to develop both the Terregles Street and Portland Road ends of the Dumfries ground already exists although finite details would no doubt need to be settled.

“The directors are looking hard at the situation,” the chairman went on. “To me the Terregles Street end must be priority.

“Personally I have always wanted to see a stand there built sympathetically to what we know as the knew stand, the same height and design.

“There is a section of empty space alongside the main stand that could be developed into an all seated enclosure and Portland Road would take no time at all.We really just need to put seating in place.

“It doesn’t take long to put up a new stand but we do need to look seriously at the situation now.”