THE leader of Wycombe District's Lib Dems has expressed concerns that passing on stadium maintenance costs may be the “prime driver” behind Wycombe Wanderers moving.

The BBC One football show Late Kick Off – broadcast last week - featured an interview with club owner Steve Hayes about the proposed move from Adams Park to Wycombe Air Park.

He spoke of the high costs as an “important” factor in finding a new ground.

Liberal Democrat Leader Cllr Steve Guy asked Leader Cllr Lesley Clarke, Conservative, what she thought of the programme at a meeting on Monday night.

He said he was “concerned that the prime driver is... to see maintenance costs passed to the district council” – having watched the show.

But Cllr Clarke said: “I have to say that I don't really recall Mr Hayes saying that.

"I think what he said was that the maintenance costs that he's having at the moment are causing concern.

"He did say that moving to a new stadium would ensure that funding could be used properly for the betterment of the club in particular.

“He certainly didn't say that – I don't know what programme you were watching.”

Having previously joked about her own lack of skills working her recording device, she said perhaps Cllr Guy had the same problem.

She added the show had been “a timely reminder that it's an initiative from the football club and the need for change needs to be made – it's for them to prove to us that it is required.”

Watch the programme via the link below.

Mr Hayes was asked by the BBC reporter if he could give assurances on receipts from the sale of the current stadium and training ground.

He replied: “The thing is, you can't raise money on a stadium.

"Even though it's an asset, which it is, you can't borrow money against it, the point is what you really don't want is the maintenance costs.

“There's clubs up and down the country now that spend over £250,000 a year on their maintenance costs.”

In a statement after the show he reiterated that the current ground “carries substantial ongoing liabilities in the form of maintenance and other costs”.

He reassured any fans who think London Wasps will be the main beneficiaries of the move by saying he was a “football fan first and foremost”.