\n<\/p>\n
Barber believes a purpose-built stadium is “important” to give “respect and focus” on the women’s team.<\/p>\n
He hopes it will help the club build a fanbase and capitalise on the growth of women’s football in England.<\/p>\n
“Every club in the country, I think, is looking at how it can integrate women’s and girls’ football more into its mainstream operations,” added Barber.<\/p>\n
“Some clubs have got different strategies to us but we feel that a women’s stadium would be a wonderful thing to have back in the city. <\/p>\n
“We think it would help us build an audience for the women’s team that we don’t currently have and we see this as a long-term project.<\/p>\n
“The women’s game is growing rapidly and we see it as a very viable proposition for the future.”<\/p>\n
Brighton’s plans for the stadium include a “slightly modular” approach that will allow them to expand the size of it as the audience grows.<\/p>\n
But Barber admitted it is “not inconceivable” that both the men’s and the women’s first teams would play regularly at the American Express Stadium in the future.<\/p>\n
“I don’t want to put numbers on it at the moment because that would be a bit premature when we’re still talking to the stakeholders and local authorities,” he added.<\/p>\n
“Ultimately, at some point in the future, it’s not inconceivable that we would unite both our men’s and women’s teams back in the AMEX – when we’ve been able to perhaps modify some of the facilities we have to suit the women’s team.<\/p>\n
“But in the short-term and medium-term, I think a purpose-built women’s stadium is the right way for us to grow our programme.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n