TONY O’Driscoll has set himself a target of Christmas to get Hayes & Yeading’s Sharda Glass Community Stadium ready.
O’Driscoll is the new chairman at Beaconsfield Road following Derek Goodall’s decision to step down from the role.
His first big task is to address the club’s ground situation, with supporters becoming increasingly disgruntled.
The Gazette exclusively revealed United will begin the season back at Woking’s Kingfield Stadium after failing to get the Sharda up to code.
O’Driscoll sympathises with the fans and has told the Hayes & Yeading faithful he has made getting the new stadium ready his top priority.
He told the Gazette: “The first thing is to get the stand built, not necessarily completed, but just so that we can go back and play in the ground and start earning some money. It’s starting to shape up. I know it’s been a slow process, but it’s starting to look good now.
“I’ve spoken to the builders and I’ve asked them to prioritise certain things so that we can get back in there. In my own mind, I’m giving us a target of Christmas to try and get us back in there. I think that’s realistic.
“I do feel for the supporters who have to travel to Woking. We do as well, and every game feels like an away game. Trying to go round the M25 is horrendous and we have to play on Sundays sometimes too.
“I can understand why supporters stay away and the ones that do, God bless them, I think they do ever so well. My aim, straight away, is to push this on and get us to a stage where we can start to play our home games at home.
“All I will say to the fans is please be patient. We’re moving in the right direction. I know it’s been slow and they’ve been frustrated but hopefully they will see the fruits of it by Christmas.
“I will get that place up and ready for us to play home games in as soon as possible. We’ll have a lovely pitch and we’ve got a full-time groundsman starting from the beginning of August.”
O’Driscoll, who has previously held the position of manager and director of football at Hayes & Yeading, believes there is huge scope for his club to progress.
He added: “I was asked if I would like to take over and I was happy to step in. I did it at Chesham and I learned a lot there because I was thrown in at the deep end.
“I got over that and this club is in a healthier state than Chesham was when I took over.
“There is a lot of potential at Hayes & Yeading so I think there’s going to be some good times ahead.”
