PAUL Hurst believes former club Rotherham United is a shining example of what Grimsby Town's own relocation project could achieve.
Hurst, who spent 16 years with the Millers, says his old club's £20-million New York Stadium shows how a new ground can often be a catalyst for moving a club and its community forward.
He told the Telegraph: "You only have to look at Rotherham to see how well they're doing with their new ground – their crowds are up and they're really prospering.
"Doncaster is yet another club that's benefited from a new ground as well as Chesterfield.
"I went to their new ground the other week and it's fantastic, with all due respect, when compared to Saltergate.
"We are lucky that Blundell Park is still a pretty decent stadium and there's a lot of memories and history that certain people wouldn't want to leave behind and I understand that.
"But if the club really are going to progress and move forward, then a new stadium is the obvious way of doing that.
"I've seen what it's done for clubs in the South Yorkshire area and it's benefitted them without a shadow of a doubt."
He continued: "It's a fact of modern day football that a stadium isn't just something that you turn up to on a Saturday and leave it until the next time you've got a home game.
"It can be something that's a 24/7 venue to bring in extra income for the club – there's just no getting away from that these days.
"Of course, you can look at Barnet, who were relegated after building their new ground but I certainly don't think it's done them any harm in respect of attracting players and bringing in more money.
"I'm sure players would want to play in a new, modern stadium in front of bigger crowds, which I'm sure a new ground would attract in the first instance.
"There's obviously a lot of hard work still ahead and I haven't asked for too many details but when and if I need to know, I'm sure I'll find out.
"It could be the catalyst to really push the club on."
