WSDL has admitted “things could have been done differently” with the way its vision of the sports village was presented to south Bucks residents.

Steve Hayes said it was desperate to get the proposals finalised so they could be presented to the district, instead of responding to the “weekly attacks” of protesters and online bloggers.

But WSDL accepts its silence may have been miss-interpreted and vowed to start again by responding to residents’ concerns.

Wycombe Wanderers legend Howard Kennedy, who has joined the WSDL team, said: “Things could have been done differently and better.

“We want to respond to the feedback over the last few months, engage with the community and be completely transparent.”

Bucks Free Press: Stadium: WSDL reveals sports village plans

Mr Hayes hit back at claims made by protest group GASP and bloggers. He said: “I read the stuff on the Bucks Free Press website – it’s just not true.

“Some of the stuff is quite hurtful. Do I spend my life saying ‘that’s not true’?

He went on to reaffirm WSDL’s position that redeveloping Adams Park was not an option.

He said: “I don’t think you can do it [redevelop] with the health and safety issues.

“And it’s not just us, Baker Tilly said it’s not sustainable. We want to encourage the youth to come to football and rugby matches.

“This is about the future and not holding it all on my shoulders, to make sure the club is here for another 100 years.

“I have put money in so far but I can’t do that for the next 20 years, I want people to say this is the future of sport – or we can do it the same as every other club and lose money.”

Mr Hayes went on to say he would like to reserve the commercial operations on the site for ‘local businesses’ and pointed out the social benefits of the sports village, saying: “It’s about leaving a legacy for this town.”

WSDL had “positive meetings” with shareholders and then Wycombe District Council chiefs on Monday, headed up by council leader Alex Collingwood.

Mike Brooks, CEO of WSDL, said: “Cllr Collingwood and his Cabinet were clear that they wanted to judge our proposals on all the facts.

“We were met very well. They were very robust and thorough. We discussed the detail of our plans with the council and look forward to an on-going discussion over the coming weeks.”

Cllr Collingwood said: "It was always my intention to meet with representatives from WSDL first and to listen to their aspirations for a community stadium and sports village.

"Along with my Cabinet colleagues, I am keen to hear first hand the various stakeholder groups' issues, concerns and interest in the project, to help inform our decision at Cabinet on July 18.

"Meetings with other stakeholder groups will continue next week."

Check the BFP website over the weekend and next week for reaction to the stadium plans.