ABERDEEN hope to get the green light later this month to move to a new stadium. If proposals for a state-of-the-art community complex aren't passed, the Dons could be forced to play European ties away from Pittodrie because the delapidated ground would be too dangerous. A similar scheme was rejected four years ago but chairman Stewart Milne is confident approval for a ground similar to Bolton's Reebok Stadium will be granted on December 19. It would be situated about a quarter of a mile from Pittodrie toward the beach, with a believed 30,000 capacity and costing about £50million. Milne is desperate to receive the go-ahead because selling their ancestral home would wipe out the club's £13million debt. He said: "A lot of serious work has been done over the past 18 months and a very comprehensive report will go before the council. "We have to be optimistic but you just never know what will happen. However, we feel very positive that real progress is being made. "It's recognised now just how important it is for the club and this city to have a modern stadium. "Hopefully, that will be viewed as an asset at a national level to Scotland as well because there is the possibility of us bidding for Euro 2016. "It would strengthen the case if we had a stadium in the north east and likewise rugby is thinking of going for their World Cup here in 2015. "If we stay at Pittodrie it's going to reach a point where it would be very difficult to stage European games here. "It would be a disaster if we ended up having to play those matches away from Aberdeen and that's just one angle. "Remaining here becomes more expensive in terms of maintaining the stadium. It is a huge financial burden but a community stadium will benefit more than just the football club. "This year we invested money in redoing the main stand roof as that was forced on us from health and safety aspects and the longer we stay the more these things will crop up. "At the moment, if the people of this area want to participate in anything major they have to travel down to the central belt but the north east is a very important part of the Scottish economy. "We should be fulfilling a major role within that and treating people in this area like they are in the central belt. A new stadium would help greatly." Despite the revival under manager Jimmy Calderwood, average league attendances have dropped below 12,000 - a four-year low. And Milne admitted progress could stall unless the Red Army deserters get behind their cause. He said: "We are all surprised the attendances are down even though we appreciate the fans have gone through alot in the past few years. "That can never be ignored but over Jimmy Calderwood's time here there has been continued progress. "We really believed that by now we would have seen some of the benefits of that work reflected by increased numbers through the turnstiles instead of fewer numbers. "It's up to us to find the means to get more people coming to watch the team but we know that the football they play and the success they bring will be a major part. "Finishing third behind the Old Firm and getting back into Europe was a tremendous achievement and we thought that would be the turning point for increased gates. "We want to build on what has happened but if we don't get more support we could slide backwards. "Our plan to grow the crowds has failed. Yet again on Sunday it was a very disappointing attendance. "Jimmy Calderwood is trying to put out a team which will play good football and bring success but the fans haven't come back in the numbers expected and that is alarming." Milne insisted his main priority is to tie Calderwood and assistant Jimmy Nicholl to long-term deals and re-sign the majority of the 10 players out of contract at the end of the season. But he insisted he won't break the bank and plunge his club deeper into the red to hold on to them. He said: "The No.1 priority is to keep the players we want at the club and to get Jimmy and his management team tied down to contracts for a long time. "Much work still has to be done to make that happen and more people coming to the matches would help in generating extra revenue. "It's hard enough trying to persuade players to come here when they know there is a lot more money on offer in England. However, we must deliver success on a cost base that the club can afford. In the past, we made decisions that created debt. "The way forward is to fund youth development and make as much money as we possibly can available to Jimmy to strengthen and build. "There is only a certain level we can go to in wages. If that doesn't match what individuals want the only thing that can happen is that they will leave. "It would be disappointing if Jimmy left but if that situation did arise we would have to deal with it because both parties have been honest with each other. "He has always said that if an offer came for him to move to a much bigger club than Aberdeen that is something we would have to face up to. "He believes he has a very good job here. I think it would take a very good challenge to prise him away and he would readily admit we have worked hard to provide him with the finances to do what he needs. "It is said he is constrained because of our debts but that's not the case. The more money we can generate the more will be ploughed back into the football operation. "He was aware from day one what the limitations were and while we will push the parameters as far as possible we will not do that to a level where we jeopardise the future of the club." | 
