QUEEN'S PARK will start the season groundsharing with Stenhousemuir after the redevelopment of Lesser Hampden was hit by delays.
The newly-promoted Championship club are building a 2500-seater venue next to the national stadium after selling the Hampden lease to the Scottish FA for £5million in June 2019.
The Spiders spent the entirety of last season playing at Firhill, home of fellow Glasgow outfit Partick Thistle, but the deterioration of the playing surface meant the prospect of an extension was never on the cards.
A statement on the Queen's Park website explained that Lesser Hampden will not be completed in time for the Premier Sports Cup group stages in July, so the team will use Ochilview - some 25 miles from Glasgow city centre - for the start of the new campaign.
"The redevelopment of Lesser Hampden continues, including the installation of our new hybrid playing surface," the statement read.
"Securing delivery of key materials has proved challenging, with delays advised by contractors meaning the club will not be able to play our group stage Premier Sports Cup ties at our own ground.
Lesser Hampden update https://t.co/fnwhIDL2AQ
— Queen's Park FC (@queensparkfc) May 25, 2022
"We can advise today we have reached agreement to play our Premier Sports Cup ties at Ochilview Park, home of Stenhousemuir FC.
"The Warriors are installing a new state of the art artificial pitch, which will provide an excellent playing surface for Owen Coyle’s squad to play on.
"Subject to SPFL approval, we also intend to play a number of our cinch Championship league fixtures at Ochilview while Lesser Hampden is completed.
"We intend to move back to Lesser Hampden as soon as possible and will update supporters on our plans when we have more clarity when we are ready to host matches at our new home.
"We are very grateful to Stenhousemuir FC for their support and we look forward to an exciting opening to the new season."
