The aim of the preliminary stage is to provide the foundations of its business plan to deliver a sustainable rugby club. The forthcoming business planning process will cover five Key Performance Areas: Playing, Finance, Facilities, Legal, and Operations, each the responsibility of a sub-group of the club’s Strategic Plan Steering Group.

A crucial aspect of the stage is to put the club on firm financial footings from which to launch the journey towards it mission of returning to the National Leagues. The club is therefore pleased to announce the completion of negotiations with New Dawn Homes for the sale of a portion of its land.

New Dawn Homes have submitted a planning application to Stroud District Council to build 14 houses on the unusable embankment land at Fromehall Park which is adjacent to New Dawn’s site at Dudbridge Hill and Bath Road.

Jo Hammonds, Club Chairman said ‘This is an important time for the club. Before we can move forward we must address the hang over of the introduction of the league structure and professionalism.’ He added ‘It’s no secret we have had a difficult few years but now we feel we have turned a corner’.

Jo went on to say ‘As the ‘town club’, we want a club that the people of Stroud can be proud of. We want to attract the best players in the area to play great rugby in the name of Stroud. The new 5 year plan will help us deliver this vision’.

Stroud Rugby Chairman Russ Hillier added ‘Stroud has a strong heritage and tradition but it also has a bright and ambitious future, rugby at all levels must approached professionally nowadays and we want to ensure we have plan and a team off the field that can realise our ambitions and potential on it”.

Stroud Rugby begins the season at home to Cheltenham Saracens next Saturday, KO 3:00pm.