THE revelation that AFC Bournemouth will not be building a stadium at Wessex Fields has raised the question of where the club could possibly find a new home.

The Daily Echo revealed yesterday that Bournemouth council had spent £2.25million buying the site in order to build a new junction on the A338 at Holdenhurst village.

AFC Bournemouth announced last December that it wanted to move away from its Vitality Stadium at Dean Court. It has now ruled out building a ground at Wessex Fields.

Paul Stewart, deputy managing director of Dorset property specialist Goadsby, said the site could have been the best alternative to the club’s current home at Kings Park.

“With the little access road there, it would make sense,” he said.

“I think it’s the best yet. There’s land at Bournemouth Airport but it’s not as accessible as that site would be once that road junction is put in.”

He said planned improvements to the roads between the A338 and the airport could make the Chapel Gate area more feasible than it is at the moment, although it would mean moving AFC Bournemouth into Christchurch.

Another rumoured site, Canford Park Arena, would involve sending traffic along the busy Wimborne bypass, he said.

AFC Bournemouth has said it has “no option” but to move away from Kings Park, where its 11,300-seater stadium has been too small to cater for demand for tickets since the club’s elevation to the Premier League.

Bournemouth Borough Council leader Cllr John Beesley has said the authority will “make every effort” to help the club find a suitable alternative site.

Mr Stewart said he suspected the club would end up working out a deal with stadium owner Structadene to stay where it is.

“If I were the landlord, I would probably want to do a deal with the club. What would any landlord do with it at the end of their lease?” he said.

“The options are limited. The landlord bought that as an investment with the rent as income. There is a land value, but you can’t build houses on it.”