THE Racecourse could need about £1.5 million in maintenance over the next 10 years, according to a survey commissioned by Wrexham AFC.

The results of the survey, which included a detailed condition check of the Colliers Park training ground, were discussed at a Wrexham Supporters Trust (WST) board meeting last month.

Estimated repair costs spread over the next decade are £1.35m for structure and fabric works and £86,000 for engineering services, according to the survey.

Spencer Harris, a director of WST and Wrexham AFC, said the intent of the survey was to give the trust a chance to plan the work it needed to carry out at the stadium over the next 10 years.

“We now know what’s likely to come over the next five or 10 years,” he said.

“Many parts of The Racecourse were built in the 1970s. It’s no surprise it will require a lot of regular maintenance. We took a long-term view with it. It’s like with any other business.”

He added responsibility for repairs would have to be undertaken by “all users” of the stadium, but Glyndwr University, which owns the stadium, would be made aware of any high-risk issues. 

Among the items picked out as high risk include corrosion with cladding on the roofs of the Yale Stand, Eric Roberts Stand and Colliers Park Pavilion are all suffering from cut edge corrosion.

The cladding sheets to the rear elevation of the Yale Stand also require repair and recoating.

The survey found the stadium is suffering from pigeon infestation and current methods of bird control appear to be of limited effect, with a recommendation anti-bird spikes and wires be installed.

It also notes “minor ongoing repairs” need to be carried out on the disused Kop in the interests of health and safety, ahead of any eventual redevelopment of the stand. Surveyors GVA set out its key findings as high risk (critical issues relating to health and safety and property protection), medium risk (non-critical statutory compliance issues and items of significant expenditure) and low risk (for information/routine maintenance and repair).

Among the medium risk findings were the steel frames to the Yale and Eric Roberts stands, found to be suffering from surface corrosion and the fold up seats to the Yale and Eric Roberts stands, which are “severely UV degraded”.

The report notes wholesale replacement of seating blocks will be required in the long term.

The asbestos management survey report indicates confirmed and/or likely asbestos in various locations, mostly in the Yale and Eric Roberts stands.

Surveyors found the fire risk assessment for the stadium is out of date and needs to be updated.

The latest test dates for life safety systems recorded in the Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) are more than two years out of date in some cases.

No assessment was available for the Colliers Park pavilion.

In relation to the structure, the report states the retaining wall to the east end of the Kop has suffered structural movement which appears to be ongoing and should be monitored.

The report adds: “The embankment between the Yale and Eric Roberts stands has suffered from structural movement which appears to be historic but we recommend the area is monitored as a precautionary measure.”

In conclusion, the report states: “There is a significant backlog of maintenance work, and substantial expenditure is required in the short to medium term to prevent further deterioration of the building fabric. Nonetheless, the ground meets the required standards for a Category A stadium under the National League system.”

A spokesperson for Glyndwr University said: “The university is in constant dialogue with Wrexham FC regarding upgrades to the Glyndwr University Racecourse Stadium and will continue to work with the club to identify areas of priority.”